Volume metering valve, in particular for liquid, viscous and / or scattered products

Abstract

Volume metering valve (1) comprising: a valve body (7) internally defining a feed pipe (8) and a filling pipe (9), respectively connectable to a tank (2) and a container (3), filling at an inlet (4) and a filling port (5); the flow control element (11) can move between a feeding position and a filling position and passes through at least one throttling position between the feeding position and the filling position, in the feeding position, the inlet is completely opened, the filling opening is closed, in the filling position, the inlet is closed, and the filling opening is completely opened; at the throttling position, the inlet is closed, and the filling opening is only partially opened; the filling chamber (15) is communicated with the interior of the valve body; a push rod piston (16) accommodated in the filling chamber, slidable between a loading position, in which the push rod piston is completely withdrawn from the filling chamber to allow the product to flow into the filling chamber, and a discharge position, in which the push rod piston is completely accommodated in the filling chamber to convey the product from the filling chamber to the container, and passing through a drainage position, in which the push rod piston is completely withdrawn from the filling chamber to allow the product to flow into the container; the drainage position is between the loading position and the discharge position.

Description

Invention Field

[0001] This invention relates to a volumetric metering valve, particularly suitable for liquids, viscous and / or products containing pieces. Background Technology

[0002] In the field of filling machines, volumetric metering valves are known, which are placed between the container to be filled and the product tank, usually above the container to be filled, so that filling is carried out by gravity.

[0003] More specifically, these traditional valves are equipped with internal components that function to open and / or close the inlet opening and filling opening of the can and container respectively, while ensuring that the product is filled into the container in the correct quantity, uniformity and purity.

[0004] However, these traditional valves are not without their drawbacks, one of which is that they cannot ensure the repeatability of filling.

[0005] In fact, due to the viscosity of the product itself, or due to uneven mixing between liquid and solid components, the amount of product may vary uncontrollably between one filling and the next.

[0006] Another drawback of traditional valves is that manual cleaning is required every time the product is changed, or even periodically when it is changed under any circumstances, which can lead to difficult machine downtime.

[0007] In fact, due to residue inside the valve, each filling may be contaminated by residue from the previous filling.

[0008] In addition, these residues can accumulate in the seals of internal components, thus affecting their performance. Summary of the Invention

[0009] The present invention aims to provide a volumetric metering valve (particularly for liquids, viscous substances and / or products containing loose matter) that overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages.

[0010] Within this framework, the object of the present invention is to design a method for operating a volumetric metering valve (particularly for liquids, viscous substances, and / or products containing loose matter) that overcomes the aforementioned disadvantages.

[0011] Another object of the present invention is to provide a volumetric metering valve that provides the broadest range of reliability guarantees during operation.

[0012] Another object of the present invention is to provide a volumetric metering valve that can be easily implemented using conventional techniques in the art, and thus keeps the manufacturing cost relatively low.

[0013] The stated purpose, and these and other objectives that will become more apparent below, are achieved by volumetric metering valves (particularly for liquids, viscous and / or products containing loose matter) of various aspects of the invention, which may also have one or more further features. Attached Figure Description

[0014] Further features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the detailed description of preferred, but not exclusive, embodiments of the volumetric metering valve (particularly for liquids, viscous substances, and / or products containing loose matter), which are illustrated by way of non-limiting example with the aid of the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0015] - Figure 1 This is a perspective view of the volumetric filling valve according to the present invention;

[0016] - Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A partial cross-sectional side view of the volumetric filling valve shown;

[0017] - Figure 3-10 There are eight sectional side views, which show the steps of the valve operation method shown in the previous figure in sequence. Detailed Implementation

[0018] Referring to the accompanying drawings, a volumetric metering valve (particularly for liquids, viscous substances and / or products containing loose matter) is generally indicated by the symbol 1 and is configured to be placed between a storage tank 2 and a container 3 to be filled, the storage tank 2 being for liquids, viscous substances and / or products containing loose matter, and the container 3 to be filled being located below the storage tank 2, between an inlet 4 formed on the storage tank 2 and a filling port 5 formed on the container 3.

[0019] In the embodiments, the valve 1 described below is particularly suitable for rotary filling machines.

[0020] Advantageously, inside the storage tank 2, there can be a conveying element 6 near the inlet 4 to facilitate the extraction step and ensure high precision and repeatability of solid / liquid mixing, thereby forming the final product.

[0021] According to the present invention, valve 1 includes valve body 7, inside which there is inlet duct 8 and filling duct 9. Inlet duct 8 is connected to storage tank 2 at inlet 4, and filling duct 9 is connected to container 3 at filling port 5.

[0022] Advantageously, pipes 8 and 9 are superimposed on each other and interconnected by pipe 10 equipped with a siphon located on the opposite side of inlet 4 and filling port 5.

[0023] More specifically, the cross-sections of the feed pipe 8 and the filling pipe 9 are basically rectangular to ensure that the product flow output from the valve 1 is regular and uniform, and to ensure high filling accuracy.

[0024] In the embodiment, the feed pipe 8 is oriented at an angle relative to the horizontal direction towards the pipe 10 equipped with the siphon tube when the valve 1 is in normal use, while the filling pipe 9 is oriented vertically when the valve 1 is in normal use.

[0025] Along with the valve body 7, there is a flow control element 11, which is laterally movable relative to the feed pipe 8 and along the filling pipe 9 at the feed position (see...). Figure 3 (Inlet 4 is fully open while filling port 5 is closed) and filling position (see Figure 5 and Figure 6 It moves between (inlet 4 closed and filling port 5 fully open) and through at least one throttling position (between the feed position and the filling position, see...). Figure 7 (Inlet 4 is closed while pipe 10, equipped with a siphon, is partially open).

[0026] More specifically, in the normal operating state of valve 1, the flow control element 11 is movable in the vertical direction between the feed position and the filling position by means of a mechanical cam with a variable profile, and is guided to move laterally relative to the feed pipe 8 along the inner wall of valve body 7 and the inner wall of filling pipe 9.

[0027] The flow control element 11 includes a radial narrow portion 12, which is adapted to allow the product to pass through the feed pipe 8.

[0028] In this way, at the feeding position, the radial narrow section 12 is placed at the inlet 4, while the end 13 of the flow control element 11 is placed at the filling port 5.

[0029] At the filling position, the end 13 is located at the inlet 4.

[0030] Finally, the flow control element 11 is provided with an adjustment device 14 for adjusting the seal of the flow control element 11, which consists of, for example, a threaded ring, to ensure proper interference fit between the seal and the flow control element 11 and to compensate for any wear of the seal that typically occurs during the use of the valve 1.

[0031] The filling chamber 15 is connected to the valve body 7, and the filling chamber is connected to the pipe 10 equipped with a siphon near the feed pipe 8.

[0032] Along with the valve body 7, there is also a pusher piston 16, which is housed in the filling chamber 15, so that it can... Figure 3The loading position shown is (the pusher piston 16 is fully withdrawn from the filling chamber 15, thus allowing product to flow into the filling chamber 15) and Figure 8 and Figure 9 The product slides between the indicated discharge position (where the pusher piston 16 is fully accommodated in the filling chamber 15, thereby conveying the product from the filling chamber 15 to the pipe 10 equipped with a siphon) and passes through... Figure 4 The drainage position shown is located between the loading position and the discharge position.

[0033] More specifically, under normal operating conditions of valve 1, push rod piston 16 can be moved vertically between a loading position and a discharge position via a mechanical cam with a variable profile.

[0034] In fact, the movement of the push rod piston 16 in the filling chamber 15 limits the required amount of product to be metered, because different amounts of product are drawn as its travel changes.

[0035] Advantageously, the pipe 10 equipped with a siphon tube has a side opening 17 located opposite the feed pipe 8 and the filling pipe 9, and is equipped with a cover 18 (automatically controlled by means of a cam and a cylinder) that can be opened at the end of the washing cycle to completely empty the washing liquid residue in the pipe 10 equipped with the siphon tube.

[0036] The following content improves valve 1 of the present invention:

[0037] - A device 19 for cleaning the flow control element 11 is located at the bottom of the stroke of the flow control element 11 at the filling port 5 (i.e. at the end of the filling step), and during the production process, the device is continuously active in each cycle of the valve, using an air / water mixture to clean and remove product residues from the bottom of the flow control element 11 to ensure high filling accuracy while avoiding contamination of subsequent containers.

[0038] - A first device for cleaning the flow control element 11, located outside the valve body 7, so as to automatically clean the seals of the flow control element 11 after the flow control element 11 exceeds the feed position;

[0039] - A second device for cleaning the push rod piston 16, located outside the valve body 7, is provided to automatically clean the seals of the push rod piston 16 after it has exceeded the loading position.

[0040] Conveniently, the filling chamber 15 includes an end section 20 for additional stroke of the push rod piston 16, which is positioned at the opposite end of the pipe 10 equipped with a siphon tube, where a cleaning operation is performed.

[0041] The method of operating the volume metering valve of the present invention is as follows.

[0042] For details, please refer to the following: Figure 3 There is a step of drawing product, in which when the flow control element 11 is in the feed position, the push rod piston 16 quickly translates from the discharge position to the loading position, thereby drawing product from the storage tank 2 via the feed pipe 8. The amount of product drawn is greater than the amount of product to be transferred to the container 3, approximately twice the amount.

[0043] Then, refer to the specific details. Figure 4 The process involves a diversion step, in which the pusher piston 16 slowly moves from the loading position to the diversion position, thereby discharging a portion of the drawn product into the storage tank 2 through the feed pipe 10.

[0044] This ensures that the product is homogeneous inside the filling chamber 15, and that the solids and liquids are in equal proportions.

[0045] For details, please refer to the following: Figure 5 Then, valve 1 performs a first switch, in which the flow control element 11 is moved from the feeding position to the filling position by simultaneously closing inlet 4 and opening filling port 5, thereby allowing the product to be transferred from filling chamber 15 to container 3.

[0046] During the translation process, the flow control element 11 pauses at the throttling position.

[0047] At this point, please refer to the specific details. Figure 6 The method continues with the step of filling container 3, wherein the pusher piston 16 is moved from the inlet position to the outlet position, thereby pushing the product into container 3 through pipe 10 equipped with siphon tube and filling tube 9.

[0048] While referring to the filling steps just described, please also refer to... Figure 7 Then, valve 1 performs a second switching, wherein before push rod piston 16 transfers the entire product quantity to container 3, flow control element 11 is translated from the feed position to the throttling position to ensure optimal product restoration in pipe 10 equipped with siphon tube, and thus ensure higher filling accuracy, and push rod piston 16 is translated continuously and uninterruptedly until the discharge position is reached.

[0049] Then, refer to the specific details. Figure 8 Valve 1 performs a third switch, in which the flow control element 11 is moved from the throttling position to the feeding position by simultaneously closing the filling port 5 and opening the inlet 4.

[0050] Conveniently, this third switch is performed after the product has been completely transferred from valve body 7 to container 3.

[0051] In addition, please refer to the specific details. Figure 9 A step of cleaning the flow control element 11 can be performed using a cleaning device 19. A mixture of air and water enters at the bottom of the flow control element 11's stroke at the filling port 5 (i.e., at the end of the filling step). During each cycle of valve 1 in production, while container 3 is still below the filling head, the cleaning device 19 actively and continuously cleans and removes product residue from the bottom of the flow control element 11. This ensures high filling accuracy while preventing contamination of subsequent containers by thoroughly cleaning the bottom surface of the flow control element 11.

[0052] Finally, please refer to the specific details. Figure 10 The process includes cleaning the flow control element 11 and the push rod piston 16, which are performed by the first and second cleaning devices, respectively. The flow control element 11 and the push rod piston 16 are overtraveled and moved outside the valve body 7, so that the corresponding seals are located at the first and second cleaning devices, without the need for operator intervention to disassemble the components.

[0053] More specifically, the seal of the flow control element 11 is moved out of its natural position so that it can be cleaned by means of an external nozzle defining the first cleaning device, while the seal of the piston is located in the end section of the filling chamber 15, where it can be bathed by the washing liquid from the second cleaning device.

[0054] In practice, it has been found that the volumetric metering filling valve of the present invention achieves the expected goals and objectives, making it possible to operate a wider range of products than the prior art, while having higher accuracy and better cleaning effect.

[0055] The dimensions and rectangular cross-section of the feed and filling tubes, the diameter of the push rod piston, the diameter of the flow control element, and the geometry of the product channel all make this valve particularly suitable for delivering viscous products containing loose parts of varying sizes, which are common in the pet food industry (jelly blocks or gravy blocks).

[0056] The volumetric metering filling valve thus conceived can be modified and varied in many ways, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims.

[0057] Furthermore, all details can be replaced by other technically equivalent components.

[0058] In practice, as long as the materials used are compatible with the specific purpose and are of appropriate size and shape, they can be selected arbitrarily according to the needs.

Claims

1. A volumetric metering valve (1), particularly for liquid, viscous and / or products containing loose matter, disposed between a storage tank (2) and a container (3) to be filled, the storage tank (2) being for liquid, viscous and / or products containing loose matter, and the container (3) to be filled being located below the storage tank (2) and between an inlet (4) defined on the storage tank (2) and a filling port (5) defined on the container (3); It includes: - A valve body (7) which internally defines a feed pipe (8) and a filling pipe (9) that can be connected to the storage tank (2) and the container (3) at the inlet (4) and the filling port (5), respectively; the feed pipe and the filling pipe (8, 9) are superimposed on each other and interconnected by a pipe (10) equipped with a siphon located on opposite sides of the inlet (4) and the filling port (5); - A flow control element (11) is configured to move laterally relative to the feed pipe (8) and along the filling pipe (9) between a feed position and a filling position, and pass through at least one throttling position between the feed position and the filling position, wherein in the feed position the inlet (4) is fully open and the filling port (5) is closed, in the filling position the inlet (4) is closed and the filling port (5) is fully open, and in the throttling position the inlet (4) is closed and the pipe (10) equipped with a siphon is partially open; - Filling chamber (15), which is connected to the pipe (10) equipped with a siphon tube near the feed pipe (8); - A push rod piston (16) is housed in the filling chamber (15) and is able to slide between a loading position and a discharge position and through a drain position between the loading position and the discharge position, wherein, in the loading position, the push rod piston (16) is completely withdrawn from the filling chamber (15) to allow the product to flow into the filling chamber (15), and in the discharge position, the push rod piston (16) is fully housed in the filling chamber (15) to deliver the product from the filling chamber (15) to the pipe (10) equipped with a siphon.

2. The valve (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein, The cross-sections of the feed pipe (8) and the filling pipe (9) are basically rectangular.

3. The valve (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein, In the normal operating state of the valve (1), the feed pipe (8) is oriented at an angle relative to the horizontal direction toward the pipe (10) equipped with the siphon.

4. The valve (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein, In the normal operating state of the valve (1), the filling tube (9) has a vertical orientation.

5. The valve (1) of claim 1, wherein, The flow control element (11) is movable between the feed position and the filling position by means of a mechanical cam with a variable profile.

6. The valve (1) of claim 1, wherein, The flow control element (11) is laterally guided relative to the feed pipe (8) along the inner wall of the valve body (7) and the inner wall of the filling pipe (9), and includes a radial narrow portion (12) adapted to allow the product to pass through the feed pipe (8); in the feeding position, the radial narrow portion (12) is located at the inlet (4), and the end (13) of the flow control element (11) is located at the filling port (5); in the filling position, the end (13) is located at the inlet (4).

7. The valve (1) of claim 1, wherein, The pusher piston (16) is movable between the loading position and the discharge position by means of a mechanical cam with a variable profile.

8. The valve (1) of claim 1, comprising a side opening (17) of the siphon-equipped pipe (10) on the opposite side of the feed pipe (8) and the filling pipe (9), and provided with a cap (18) which can be opened at the end of the washing cycle to completely empty the washing liquid residue in the siphon-equipped pipe (10).

9. The valve (1) of claim 1, comprising a means (19) for cleaning the flow control element (11) at the bottom of the stroke of the flow control element (11) at the filling port (5), for cleaning and removing product residues at the bottom of the flow control element (11) to ensure higher filling accuracy while avoiding contamination of subsequent containers.

10. The valve (1) of claim 1, comprising a first means for cleaning the flow control element (11), the first means being located outside the valve body (7) to allow automatic cleaning of the seals of the flow control element (11) after the flow control element (11) has traveled beyond the feed position.

11. The valve (1) of claim 1, comprising a second means for cleaning the push rod piston (16), the second means being located outside the valve body (7) to automatically clean the seals of the push rod piston (16) after the push rod piston (16) has traveled beyond the loaded position.

12. The valve (1) of claim 10, comprising means for adjusting the seal of the flow control element (11) to ensure proper interference fit between the seal and the flow control element (11).

13. A method of operating the volume metering valve (1) of claim 1, comprising the following steps: - The product is drawn from the tank (2) by means of the flow control element (11) being in the feed position, wherein the pusher piston (16) is moved from the discharge position to the loading position to draw the product from the tank (2) via the feed pipe (8), wherein the amount of product drawn is greater than the amount to be transferred to the container (3); - Drainage, wherein the pusher piston (16) is moved from the loading position to the drainage position, thereby discharging a portion of the drawn product into the storage tank (2) through the feed pipe (8); - The first switching of the valve (1) wherein the flow control element (11) is moved from the feed position to the filling position by simultaneously closing the inlet (4) and opening the filling port (5) to allow the product to be transferred from the filling chamber (15) to the container (3); during the translation, the flow control element (11) is paused at the throttling position; - Fill the container (3), wherein the pusher piston (16) is moved from the drain position to the discharge position, thereby pushing the product into the container (3) through the pipe (10) equipped with the siphon tube and the filling tube (9); - The second switching of the valve (1) is performed during the filling step; in the second switching: before the pusher piston (16) has transferred the full amount of the product into the container (3), the flow control element (11) is moved from the feed position to the throttling position, and the pusher piston (16) moves continuously and uninterruptedly until the discharge position is reached; - The third switching of the valve (1) wherein the flow control element (11) is moved from the throttling position to the feeding position, thereby simultaneously closing the filling port (5) and opening the inlet (4) to close the circulation; the third switching is performed after the product has been completely transferred from the valve body (7) to the container (3).

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein, The method includes a step of cleaning the flow control element (11) by means of the cleaning device (19), wherein a mixture of air and water is introduced into the bottom of the flow control element (11) at the filling port (5) to clean and remove product residues at the bottom of the flow control element (11), thereby ensuring higher filling accuracy while avoiding contamination of subsequent containers by thoroughly cleaning the bottom surface of the flow control element (11).

15. The method according to claim 13, wherein, The method includes the steps of cleaning the flow control element (11) and the push rod piston (16) by means of a first cleaning device and a second cleaning device, respectively, wherein the flow control element (11) and the push rod piston (16) are overtraveled and translated outside the valve body (7) such that their respective seals are located at the first cleaning device and the second cleaning device.

Images