Filling machine and method for filling food and adjusting pressure in compression region of pump

Abstract

The invention relates to a filling machine and a method for filling food and adjusting the pressure in the compression region of a pump. The invention relates to a filling machine for filling a filling material, in particular food, comprising a pump having an inlet region (9), a compression region (11) and an outlet region (17), the filling machine further comprising a first pressure sensor for measuring a pressure in the compression region and an adjusting device (40) for adjusting different pressures in the compression region. The invention also relates to a method for filling a filler with a corresponding filling machine.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a filling machine and a method for filling food and adjusting the pressure in the compression region of a pump according to the preambles of claims 1 and 12 . Background Art

[0002] Filling machines are used for filling fillings, in particular food. In this case, for example, Figure 1 As a result, food, such as sausage meat or a paste of vegetarian or vegan products, is filled into the hopper 101 and discharged via a conveyor through the filling pipe 102. When producing portioned food, such as sausages, on the one hand, the properties and consistency as well as the portion accuracy are very important. It is therefore important to produce a constant filling flow and that the filling bundle also has a density that is as constant as possible, so that individual portions with the same weight, the same properties and consistency can be produced.

[0003] In addition to the proper filling of the delivery chamber of the pump, it is also important to prevent pulsations in the discharge of the filling material, as described in EP 0 718 497 B1, EP 0 583 721 B1 and EP 2 532 444 A1. Such pulsations are caused by the pressure difference between the outlet of the pump and the open delivery chamber, i.e., the pressure difference between the compression area and the outlet area of ​​the pump.

[0004] Different pressures may prevail at the outlet of the pump, which are largely determined by the type of product (viscosity, caking properties, cohesion, compressibility, etc.), the filling speed of the pump, and process equipment connected to the pump that causes pressure losses. These can be, for example, pipes, deflectors, filling diverters, etc. These process equipment cannot be detected by the filling machine, so that the machine control has no information for this purpose and cannot take into account the corresponding parameters that influence the pressure.

[0005] If the pressure in the compression region, for example the delivery chamber, is selected such that it corresponds to the pressure in the outlet region of the pump, an ideal pressure balance is achieved and pulsations can be effectively prevented. In the event of a pressure difference between the compression region and the outlet region of the pump, a sudden backflow (P) may occur in the outlet region of the pump when the pressurized delivery chamber opens into the outlet region. 压缩 < P 出口 ) or forward flow (P 压缩 > P 出口 ).

[0006] There have been attempts to minimize the pulsation effect. Pumps for conveying fillers, such as flowable, pasty or lumpy food masses, such as vane pumps, have an inlet region (filler, for example, from which the Figure 1The funnel shown enters the inlet area, into the pump), the compression area (wherein, in the delivery chamber, the volume decreases in the direction of rotation or movement) and the outlet area. The compression area is located between the inlet area and the outlet area. Attempts have been made to limit the compression pressure acting on the compressible or incompressible medium in the compression area. For this purpose, for example, a spring-loaded overpressure valve with a compensation piston as described in EP0718497 B1 is used. If the pressure rises above a certain value, the excess product can be discharged into a return channel through the overpressure valve, for example in the direction of the inlet of the pump, and the compensation piston releases the return channel under actuation. Therefore, the pressure cannot increase or can only increase slightly further. The prior art also includes weight compensation with a storage cylinder without a return channel as described in EP0583721 B1.

[0007] Here, for example, the pressure relief valve and thus the compression are adjusted once so as to be adapted to the air content of a specific filler. The opening pressure of the compensation piston of the pressure relief valve is therefore selected as a function of the desired product protection, leakage in the conveyor and the pressure in the pump outlet. The compression pressure in the prior art is therefore set to a specific value, i.e. is statically determined and determined by using a spring with a specific spring constant / spring characteristic curve and a preload determined by the geometry of the installation space. Here, the device is designed so that, when the opening pressure is exceeded, the excess filler can be directed back to the subsequent conveying chamber in the inflow area, for example, via a bypass channel.

[0008] As from Figure 1 As a result, the filling material is transported, for example, in a baking cart and filled into the hopper 101. It occurs here that different batches differ from one another, ie have different compressibility, agglomeration properties, different air contents, etc.

[0009] The pressure in the compression zone that is set for salami meat filling is not suitable, for example, for white sausage meat filling or a paste of vegan products. However, even in one and the same filling material, batch-dependent fluctuations in the compressibility and thus quality problems on the one hand, but also weight fluctuations can occur.

[0010] Systems which are set to a fixed opening pressure of the pressure relief valve cannot react to such changes.

[0011] In addition, due to different compressibility, for example, a pressure difference between the compression area and the outlet area is caused, which leads to pulsation and therefore to weight fluctuations of the filling bundle, and therefore to poor weight accuracy of the individual portions, for example sausages. According to the pre-packaging regulations (FPackV), it is possible to be slightly lower than the weight specified on the pre-packaging only within a very small range, so that the weight or mass of the portion should be higher than the specified weight by a specific amount, for example 1 gram, so that the fluctuation in compressibility, for example, does not lead to a lower weight than the specified weight. This leads to a huge loss of filler. When producing 200,000 portions with a total weight of 10 tons per day, the loss is within the range of 200 kilograms, which represents a huge economic loss.

[0012] In the prior art, different pressure relief valves are either installed in different fillings or a manual mechanical adjustment is performed, which requires the machine to be shut down. Fluctuations during the process cannot therefore be compensated. Furthermore, it is not possible to precisely adjust or regulate the pressure in the compression area and the outlet area. Continuous, in this respect reliable operation is not possible. Summary of the invention

[0013] Starting from this, the object of the present invention is to provide a filling machine and a corresponding method which allow improved, continuous filling of fillers with fluctuating compressibility.

[0014] This object is achieved according to the invention by the features of claims 1 and 12 .

[0015] The filling machine according to the invention for filling a filling material, in particular a food material, has a pump with an inlet region, a compression region and an outlet region. The compression region is arranged in a spaced manner between the inlet region and the outlet region. The filling machine is designed in particular for filling pastes, in particular compressible media, such as sausage meat, pastes of vegan products, etc., but also for filling dough. In the compression region, the filling material conveyed via the inlet region is transported and compressed by a conveying element in the direction of the outlet region and is removed from the pump via the outlet region, for example into a filling tube for the production of sausages.

[0016] According to the present invention, the filling machine has a first pressure sensor, which is used to measure the pressure in the compression area, for example, the pressure in at least one conveying chamber. Therefore, the pressure in the compression area can be detected. Here, the sensor is preferably arranged so that the sensor measures the following pressure: the pressure is substantially equivalent to the pressure in the conveying chamber before the conveying chamber opens in the outlet area. Here, the compression area can include a first area (in which the volume of the filler is compressed, so that a corresponding pressure occurs) and a subsequent area (for example, in the direction of rotation of a vane pump or in the direction of transport of a screw pump) in which no further compression occurs, but the pressure is substantially maintained. Here, the pressure in the compression area can be set to be equal to or greater than the pressure in the outlet area, for example. If the pressure in the compression area is set higher as described, the pressure drop can be compensated, for example, by leakage.

[0017] A pressure sensor, receiver or detector is therefore understood to be a device for detecting pressure, wherein the detected measured variable is converted into a corresponding electrical signal. For example, the following devices can be used as pressure sensors: piezoresistive sensors, pressure sensors based on strain gauges, inductive or capacitive pressure sensors, etc.

[0018] For example, the sensor can also be integrated in the adjustment device. The pressure or the pressure change can then be detected via a drive, in particular a linear actuator or a spindle drive, by evaluating, for example, the drive current of the piston when in motion or the holding current when stationary, using control technology. The drive current increases as the pressure increases. Thus, a separate pressure sensor can be saved. The sensor can be calibrated accordingly in advance.

[0019] The invention also provides an adjusting device for adjusting different pressures in the compression region during production without machine downtime and production interruption.

[0020] Thus, the pressure in the compression region can be measured continuously or at intervals and set to a specific pressure value during production continuously or at intervals, wherein the pressure value can be changed. In contrast, in the prior art, in which, for example, an overpressure valve which is statically set to a predetermined pressure is used, it is not possible to implement an adjustment during production, in particular a continuous adjustment, and a continuous and dynamic adjustment to different pressures during production is not possible.

[0021] According to the invention, it is possible to react quickly and easily to changing process conditions and fluctuations, such as different air contents in the food and the associated different compressibility, by adjusting the pressure in the compression region. For different filling materials, the pressure in the compression region can be measured and set to a suitable value.

[0022] The limiting conditions in the compression region can be set so that a reaction can be made to a changing pressure in the outlet region in order, for example, to also prevent pulsations. Thus, a higher portion accuracy, i.e., weight accuracy per portion, can be ensured by means of a pressure sensor and a setting device in the compression region, and thus ultimately also a more economical production. In addition, mechanical loading of the filler due to excessive pressure in the compression region can be prevented, since the pressure can be set, especially in the case of changes in the filler. In particular, the maximum possible pressure can now be set in each case for different fillers depending on the air content and the type of product.

[0023] The pressure can be dynamically adjusted by the adjusting device. Dynamic adjustment is understood to mean that different pressures are adjusted by the adjusting device which can be controlled to perform a corresponding movement.

[0024] According to a preferred embodiment, the filling machine has a second pressure sensor in the outlet region, which is used to measure the pressure in the outlet region. If this pressure is known, the pressure in the compression region can be adjusted to the pressure in the outlet region by means of an adjustment device, for example by an operator or in particular also by means of a corresponding control device, which is designed such that it regulates the pressure in the compression region as a function of the pressure measured in the outlet region, wherein preferably the pressure in the compression region is the controlled variable and the pressure in the outlet region is the setpoint variable.

[0025] A corresponding control device has the advantage that during production, the pressure in the compression region, for example, can be continuously and dynamically approached to the pressure in the outlet region, so that even if there are fluctuations in the air content in the filler or a filler change occurs, there are no pulsations. The operator can therefore always assume the correct pressure situation. For example, even if the delivery rate, i.e. the delivery volume per unit time of the pump, changes, the correct pressure situation automatically occurs.

[0026] Here too, the pressure in the compression region is preferably the controlled variable, and the pressure in the outlet region is preferably the setpoint variable.

[0027] The control device is preferably designed so that the pressure in the compression area is regulated as the controlled variable x, and the actual value is the pressure measured by the first pressure sensor and the target value is the pressure measured by the second pressure sensor in the outlet area, and the actuator is the adjustment device.

[0028] According to a preferred embodiment, the regulating device is designed as a pressure limiter and, when a target pressure in the compression region is exceeded, the excess volume can be discharged from the compression region, in particular from the delivery chamber, for example via a discharge element, for example back to the inlet region, or into a compensation cylinder which receives the excess volume and can, if necessary, be returned again (as viewed in the direction of rotation) to a subsequent delivery chamber, for example. In this case, a sufficient volume is discharged so that a suitable pressure, in particular a target pressure, can be achieved.

[0029] According to a preferred embodiment, the target pressure in the compression region is dynamically adjustable and therefore variable and does not have to be constant. For example, the target pressure can correspond to the opening pressure of a setting device, such as an overpressure valve, which opens at a certain pressure. Therefore, this opening pressure is also variable, i.e. dynamically adjustable, and can be changed during production, which is not possible in the prior art.

[0030] Advantageously, the setting device is designed as a valve. For example, this can be a valve that can be controlled by a control device, which opens when the pressure measured in the compression area is too high and allows a sufficient volume to be discharged until the correct pressure is present, and then the valve closes again, for example. According to a special embodiment, the valve is an overpressure valve, which can be integrated in a simple manner in the compression area and opens when the target pressure is exceeded. The setting device can also include a compensation cylinder with a compensation piston, wherein, when the target value is exceeded, the excess volume is discharged into the compensation cylinder, wherein, for example, the compensation piston moves back in the compensation cylinder to a certain extent until the corresponding volume is discharged in order to set the corresponding target pressure.

[0031] The pressure sensor in the compression region is connected to a delivery chamber of a pump, for example a delivery chamber of a vane pump or a delivery chamber of a screw pump or a twin-screw pump, ie a delivery screw, in which the compressed filler is located.

[0032] The setting device is preferably designed as a pressure relief valve and has, for example, a spring preloaded by the device for generating counterpressure, wherein the spring tension can be dynamically set by the device for generating counterpressure and thus the target pressure or opening pressure of the pressure relief valve is dynamically adjustable.

[0033] The opening pressure can thus be adjusted to the target pressure, which enables particularly simple regulation.

[0034] According to a further embodiment, the device for generating a counterpressure generates a counterpressure which acts on the compensation piston, so that a sufficient excess filling volume can be discharged so that the target pressure is achieved.

[0035] The first pressure sensor is preferably connected to the delivery chamber of the pump.

[0036] The pump is preferably a pump from the following group: vane pumps, screw pumps, etc. These pumps are particularly suitable for filling machines. However, the invention is also applicable in principle to gear pumps, piston pumps, claw pumps, etc.

[0037] If the pump is a vane pump or a screw pump, it is advantageous if the pressure sensor has a smaller diameter than the width of the conveying element, for example the vane of the vane pump or the screw winding. The width of the vane of the vane pump is understood to be the dimension of the outer side of the vane that rests on the inner contour of the pump. The width of the screw winding is also understood to be the width of the screw winding on the side of the winding that rests on the housing. It is also possible that the sensor is connected to the conveying chamber via an opening, for example a gap, the width of which is smaller than the width of the conveying element. It can thus be ensured that the pressure is measured in one chamber and not in chambers that are operated one after the other.

[0038] The invention also relates to a method for filling a filler with a filling machine, in particular a filling machine according to at least one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the filler is introduced into an inlet region of a pump, compressed in a compression region and discharged from an outlet region, wherein the pressure in the compression region is adjusted during the filling by measuring the pressure in the compression region with a first sensor and continuously adjusting the pressure in the compression region via an adjustment device. As discussed at the outset, this thus creates the possibility of specifically adjusting and regulating the pressure in the compression region under different process conditions. In particular, the pressure in the compression region can be adjusted continuously.

[0039] In particular, the pressure in the compression region is regulated. However, regulation via a control device, ie, a machine control, is not possible in the prior art.

[0040] Advantageously, according to the method according to the invention, the pressure in the outlet region of the pump is measured via a second pressure sensor and the pressure in the compression region is regulated, wherein the pressure in the compression region is the controlled variable and the pressure in the outlet region is the setpoint variable.

[0041] According to a preferred embodiment, the actual value is the pressure measured by the first sensor and the target value is the pressure measured in the outlet area by the second pressure sensor, and the adjustment device is a corresponding actuator and adjusts the pressure in the compression area so that the pressure preferably corresponds to the pressure in the outlet area.

[0042] Preferably, at the moment of opening the chamber, the pressure in the compression region and the pressure in the outlet region are identical. However, it may also happen that, for example due to leakage, only an approximation with a deviation of, for example, up to + / -10% is possible. The regulation can also be carried out with a corresponding deviation, i.e. the target value is then higher by a certain amount, for example by 0.1% to 20%, than the pressure measured by the second pressure sensor. This amount can be set, for example, in the control device.

[0043] Therefore, the approximation may have a bias, ie the more fluid the product is, the higher the target pressure should be chosen, since leakage may still occur.

[0044] According to a preferred embodiment, in the method according to the invention, a first filling material, in particular a food with a first compressibility, can be filled in a filling machine with a first pressure in the outlet region and a first pressure in the compression region which is adjusted accordingly via a setting device, and subsequently a second filling material, in particular a food with a second compressibility, can be filled, wherein the pressure in the compression region is adjusted via the setting device to be adapted to the second pressure measured in the outlet region. Thus, suitable pressure conditions can be ensured during the filling process. The first and second filling materials can be identical filling materials, but with fluctuating or different compositions, for example different air contents or different agglomeration properties. However, the first and second filling materials can also be different filling materials, for example white sausage filling on the one hand and salami pieces on the other hand. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0045] The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0046] Figure 1 Schematically shows a side view of a filling machine according to an embodiment of the present invention,

[0047] Figure 2 A schematic cross-section through a vane pump according to the invention is shown,

[0048] Figure 3 Schematically shows the Figure 2 A longitudinal section of the pump shown,

[0049] Figure 4 shows a further longitudinal section through a further exemplary embodiment according to the invention having a screw pump,

[0050] Figure 5 A control loop according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0051] Figure 6 A schematic diagram of a further embodiment with a compensating cylinder as the adjustment device is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0052] Figure 1 A filling machine 100 according to an embodiment of the invention is schematically shown. For example, such a filling machine 100 has a hopper 101 into which a filling material, in particular food, such as sausage meat, paste, etc., can be filled. The hopper is connected to a pump 1, for example in this case Figure 2 and Figure 3 The vane pump 1 shown in Figure 4The screw pump shown in FIG. 1 is connected to the filling pipe 102 or the connecting nozzle, for example, to produce sausages, for example, as is generally known. Figure 1 Also shown are a baking trolley and a lifting device, by means of which filling material can be introduced into the hopper 101. The invention furthermore has a control device 104, ie a machine control.

[0053] Figure 2 A cross-sectional view through a pump 1, here a vane pump, is shown as a possible embodiment. Figure 2 As a result, the vane pump 1 includes a pump housing 6 and a rotor 2 eccentrically arranged therein and capable of rotating, as well as vanes 3 supported in the rotor in a radially movable manner, which together with the pump wall 4 of the pump housing 1, the bottom and cover of the pump housing and the outer surface 7 of the rotor 2 form a delivery chamber 8 and interact in a sealing sense, wherein the pump housing 6 has an inlet area 9 and an outlet area 17. There is a compression area 11 between the inlet area 9 and the outlet area 17. In the inlet area 9, the delivery chamber 8 is completely filled with filler. In the compression area 11 of the pump, the volume of the delivery chamber 8 is reduced. As a result, the internal pressure in the delivery chamber 8 is increased. This increase is related to the compressibility of the filler. In addition to the first sector in the rotation direction of the pump in the angular range α in which the volume of the delivery chamber is reduced, the compression area 11 can also have subsequent sectors in the subsequent angular range β, in which the volume of the delivery chamber 8 remains essentially unchanged, and therefore the pressure also remains essentially unchanged, as in particular from Figure 2 As obtained.

[0054] For example, in the compression region 11, a regulating device 40 is provided in the cover of the pump housing 6, such as Figure 3 As obtained. The adjustment device 40 is constructed in the form of an overpressure valve with a compensation cylinder 13 and a compensation piston 14 and a spring 47. The devices 45, 44, 46 for generating a counterpressure preload the spring 47, i.e. the installation space 48 of the spring 47 is shorter than that of a non-preloaded spring, thereby setting a defined opening pressure (e.g. 1.5 bar to 20 bar). By means of the actuators 45, 46, the installation space 48 can be adjusted in length, and thus the preload force associated with the spring characteristic curve of the spring used can also be adjusted. If the pressure increases in the compression area, the force acting on the contact surface 16 of the compensation cylinder 14 will also increase. If the force acting through the internal pressure of the delivery chamber 8 exceeds the preload force, i.e. the pressure in the delivery chamber 8 increases to a pressure greater than the opening pressure, then the compensation piston 14 rises, and the excess filler volume can be discharged, in particular via the discharge piece 33, and again as Figure 3As shown, it is delivered to the inlet area 9, for example. Therefore, the pressure in the delivery chamber 8 can be adjusted to the opening pressure of the pressure relief valve 20. Therefore, the adjustment of the preload force can be achieved by the device composed of the disk 46 of the spindle 45 and the drive 44 for generating the reaction force.

[0055] According to the invention, the setting device 40 (here, for example, a motor 44) is connected to the control device 104. According to the invention, the opening pressure of the compensation piston 14 can be dynamically changed. Thus, the compensation piston can be influenced in a targeted manner. The control of the setting device can also be realized pneumatically or hydraulically.

[0056] The regulating device acts here as a voltage limiter.

[0057] According to the invention, the pump 1 comprises a first pressure sensor 41, which is arranged in the pump wall 4 and can measure the pressure in the compression region 11. Therefore, the pressure sensor 41 can be either flushly integrated in the pump wall 4 of the pump housing 6, or in particular flushly integrated in the bottom of the pump housing 6, or integrated in the cover, or connected to the delivery chamber 8 in the compression region through an opening. However, the pressure sensor 41 can also be integrated in the adjustment device, that is, in this case, in the device for generating the counterpressure acting on the spring 47 or the compensation piston 14, in particular in the corresponding drive (for example, a linear drive or a spindle drive, not shown). Therefore, components are saved. It is only important to obtain the pressure in the compression region 11. The first pressure sensor 41 is connected to the control device 104. Depending on the target, the pressure in the compression region can be kept at a specific level, or it can also be changed. If the pressure in the delivery chamber 8 should be changed, this can be achieved, for example, by changing the opening pressure of the overpressure valve 40, in a manner that the preload of the spring 47 is changed accordingly via the devices 44, 45, 46. Then, the opening pressure is set to the target pressure in the delivery chamber 8. Thus, the pressure in the compression region, i.e. the corresponding delivery chamber 8, can be limited and in particular adjusted in a simple manner. For this purpose, an active drive, in particular the above-mentioned linear drive, can be provided in order to adjust the preload of the spring. The goal can be to set a specific pressure, to achieve a maximum pressure of a specific filling, or to set different pressures depending on the air content and the product type, or to set the pressure in the compression region to the pressure in the outlet region 17. For this purpose, a second pressure sensor 50 can be provided, which measures the pressure in the outlet region 17. This sensor 50 is also connected to the control device 104. Here, the sensor 50 is preferably arranged in the outlet sleeve, the side wall or the bottom of the outlet region.

[0058] As will be explained in greater detail below, the pressure in the compression region can therefore be adjusted as a function of the pressure measured in the outlet region 17 .

[0059] Figure 3 The pressure relief valve shown is only one example of an adjustment device 40. Alternatively, the spring 47 can be omitted and the movement of the compensation piston 14 can be achieved by pressure control or stroke control.

[0060] Figure 6 A further embodiment of the adjustment device is shown, wherein this embodiment substantially corresponds to Figure 3 The embodiment shown, except that the regulating device does not have a spring-loaded overpressure valve. The regulating device has a compensation cylinder 13, wherein the excess volume from the compression region can be conducted into the compensation cylinder in order to set or regulate a specific pressure. For example, a pressure-controlled or stroke-controlled compensation piston 14 is arranged in the compensation cylinder 13, and a device for generating a counterpressure exerts a force on the compensation piston, for example, in order to position the compensation piston in the compensation cylinder, so that the excess filling amount can be discharged, for example, via the discharge piece 33. For this purpose, a corresponding drive, for example a linear drive, i.e. a motor 44, is provided.

[0061] As an alternative to adjusting the preload travel in the installation space 48 , a pressure-adjustable space can be provided, which enables the counterpressure acting on the compensation piston to be controllable.

[0062] The invention has been described in conjunction with a vane pump. Figure 4 The screw pump and twin screw pump shown in.

[0063] The screw pump also has an inlet region 9, a compression region 11, in which the filler is compressed by the screw winding (i.e. the conveying element 3), and an outlet region 17, in which the filler is discharged. Here, too, a first pressure sensor 41 is present in the compression region 11, and a second sensor 50 is present in the outlet region 17. As in the previous exemplary embodiment, the control device 40 is located in the compression region. The functions, sensors and control devices correspond to the elements explained in detail in the previous exemplary embodiment. Thus, in the compression region, the pressure can here also be controlled, in particular regulated, in particular dependent on the pressure measured in the outlet region.

[0064] Advantageously, as in the previous embodiments, the pressure sensor 41 has a diameter a that is smaller than the width b of the conveying element 3, in particular the vanes 3 of a vane pump or the screw winding. Alternatively, as already described above, the pressure sensor is connected to the conveying chamber 8 in the compression region 11 via an opening, for example a gap that is narrower than the width of the conveying element 3.

[0065] Below with the help of Figures 1 to 5 The method according to the invention and the control device according to the invention are explained in more detail. Figure 5 A control loop of a possible embodiment of the invention is shown.

[0066] like Figure 1 As shown, the filler is first filled into the filling funnel 101 and guided to the inlet region 9 of the pump 1. For this purpose, the pump is operated at a certain speed or delivers a certain volume per unit time so that the delivery chamber 8 is completely filled. The filler enters the delivery chamber 8 between the two delivery elements 3 (see Figure 2 and Figure 4 ), wherein the filler is compressed in the compression region and discharged in the outlet region 17. The first pressure sensor 41 measures the pressure in the compression region 11, thus indicating the pressure in the compression region 11. Figure 5 The measuring device mentioned in .

[0067] The controlled quantity x is the pressure in the compression area. The sensor 50 measures the pressure in the outlet area 17. The pressure in the outlet area 17 represents the set quantity w. The pressure measured by the pressure sensor 50 is also directed to the regulator. And the adjustment difference e= w - x is obtained. According to the adjustment difference, the adjustment device, that is, the actuator, for example, the motor 44 of the adjustment device 40 is controlled to adjust the corresponding control parameter, such as the preload or opening pressure of the compensation piston 14. Here, the manipulated quantity is, for example, the mechanical length of the installation space 48 of the spring or the generated spring stress. Here, there are different interference quantities z, such as pressure fluctuations, jamming, friction, temperature, etc. in the controlled system. The sensor 41 measures the pressure generated in the compression area and further directs the measured value to the regulator. If the filler now changes, for example, the air content becomes higher, and therefore the compressibility also becomes higher, then it must be readjusted accordingly. The corresponding situation is carried out continuously during the process.

[0068] If the actual pressure in the compression region exceeds the target value, ie the opening pressure of the pressure relief valve, the pressure relief valve opens and the excess filling material is discharged.

[0069] However, the pressure in the compression region can also be limited, in particular adjusted to a specific value, by means of a setting device independently of the pressure measured in the outlet region.

Claims

1. A filling machine (100) for filling a filling material, in particular a food, comprising: A pump (1) having an inlet region (9), a compression region (11) and an outlet region (17), Features have: a first pressure sensor (41) for measuring the pressure in the compression region (11), and An adjusting device (40) for adjusting different pressures in the compression region.

2. The filling machine (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that The filling machine comprises a control device (104), and the setting device (40) can be controlled by the control device (104) and is designed such that it can dynamically set, in particular regulate, the pressure in the compression region.

3. The filling machine (100) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The filling machine has a second pressure sensor (50) for measuring the pressure in the outlet region (17) and in particular has a control device (104) which is designed such that it regulates the pressure in the compression region (11) as a function of the pressure measured in the outlet region (17), wherein preferably, The pressure in the compression region is the controlled quantity, and the pressure in the outlet region (17) is the set quantity.

4. The filling machine according to claim 3, characterized in that The control device (104) is configured such that the pressure in the compression region (11) is adjusted as a controlled variable (x), and The actual value is the pressure measured by the first pressure sensor (41), the target value is the pressure measured by the second pressure sensor (50) in the outlet area (17), and the actuator is the adjustment device (40).

5. The filling machine (100) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The adjustment device (40) is designed as a pressure limiter and, when a target pressure in the compression region (11) is exceeded, enables excess volume to be discharged from the compression region, in particular from the delivery chamber, in particular via a discharge element or into the compensation cylinder (13).

6. The filling machine (100) according to claim 5, characterized in that The target pressure in the compression region (11) is variable and dynamically adjustable and corresponds in particular to the opening pressure of the setting device (40), wherein in particular the opening pressure of the setting device (40) is variable and dynamically adjustable.

7. Filling machine according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The adjustment device (40) is in fluid connection with the compression region (11), in particular is designed as a valve (40), preferably as an overpressure valve or an actuating valve, or comprises a compensation cylinder with a compensation piston.

8. The filling machine according to claim 7, characterized in that The setting device (40) is designed as a pressure relief valve and has a spring (47) prestressed by means of a device (44, 45, 46) for generating a counterpressure, wherein the spring tension can be dynamically set by means of the device (44, 45, 46) for generating a counterpressure, and thus a target pressure, in particular an opening pressure, of the pressure relief valve (40) can be dynamically set, and / or The adjustment device comprises a compensation cylinder (13) with a compensation piston (14) and a volume that can be discharged from the compression area into the compensation cylinder (13), and the target pressure can thus be adjusted via a device (44, 45, 46) for generating a counterpressure acting on the compensation piston, wherein the device for generating the counterpressure preferably has a drive, preferably a linear or spindle drive, with an integrated pressure sensor.

9. Filling machine according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The first pressure sensor (41) is connected to the delivery chamber (8) of the pump (1) in the compression region (11).

10. The filling machine according to at least one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that The pump ( 1 ) is preferably a vane pump or a screw pump or a twin-screw pump.

11. The filling machine according to at least one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that The pump is a vane pump or a screw pump, wherein the pressure sensor has a diameter (d) that is smaller than the width (b) of the delivery element (3), in particular the vanes (3) of the vane pump or the screw winding of the screw pump.

12. Method for filling a filler material using a filling machine (100), in particular a filling machine according to at least one of claims 1 to 11, in, The charge is introduced into the inlet region (9) of the pump, compressed in the compression region (11) and discharged from the outlet region (17), wherein: The pressure in the compression area (11) is adjusted during filling by: measuring the pressure in the compression region (11) using a first pressure sensor (41), and The pressure in the compression region is adjusted via the adjustment device (40).

13. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that The pressure in the compression region is adjusted, and in particular the adjustment device (40) is actuated by a control device (104) and the pressure in the compression region is adjusted dynamically.

14. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that measuring the pressure in the outlet region of the pump (1) via a second pressure sensor (50), and Therein, the pressure in the compression region (11) is the controlled variable and the pressure in the outlet region is the set variable, and in particular, The actual value is the pressure measured by the first pressure sensor (41), and the target value is the pressure measured by the second pressure sensor (50) in the outlet region (17), and the regulating device (40) acts as an actuator to regulate the pressure in the compression region so that the pressure in the compression region preferably corresponds to the pressure in the outlet region, or The actual value is the pressure measured by the first pressure sensor (41), and the target value is greater than the pressure measured by the second pressure sensor (50) in the outlet area (17) by a certain amount, and the adjustment device (40) acts as an actuator to adjust the pressure in the compression area.

15. The method according to at least any one of claims 12 to 14 or claim 17, characterized in that A first filling material, in particular a first food with a first compressibility, is filled in the filling machine (100) using a first pressure in the outlet region (17) and a first pressure in the compression region (11) which is adjusted accordingly via the adjustment device (40), and then A second filling material, in particular a second food with a second compressibility, is filled, wherein the pressure in the compression region (11) is adjusted via an adjustment device to match a second pressure measured in the outlet region (17).

16. The method according to at least any one of claims 12 to 15, characterized in that The pressure in the compression region (11) is adjusted, in particular adjusted, to be equal to or greater than the pressure in the outlet region (17), in particular to be 0.1% to 20% greater than the pressure in the outlet region.

17. Filling machine according to at least one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that The pressure sensor (41) It is either integrated flush in the pump wall (4) of the pump housing (6), or in particular flush in the bottom of the pump housing (6), or in a cover, or is connected via an opening to the delivery chamber (8) in the compression region, or Integrated into the adjustment device (40), in particular into a corresponding drive (33) of the device for generating a counterpressure acting on the spring (47) or the compensation piston.

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