Cip cleaning system for a vertical filling machine

Abstract

This invention discloses a CIP cleaning system for a vertical filling machine, relating to the field of CIP cleaning systems. It is used to clean filling components including a slide valve, a piston metering pump, and a discharge valve. It also includes a reverse backflushing flow path, with its inlet connected to the outlet side of the discharge valve, to establish a cleaning medium flow direction opposite to the material filling direction. By designing the reverse backflushing flow path with its inlet connected to the outlet side of the discharge valve, the cleaning medium flows in the opposite direction to the material filling direction, preventing residues from being pushed and compacted, and reverse flushing to remove deposits within the precision structure. The reverse backflushing flow path breaks the dead zones of the forward fluid flow and, combined with the design of concave micro-cavitation carrier regions on the surface of the flexible sphere, captures and controls the collapse of bubbles to generate micro-jet streams that act on microscopic dead zones. Gas-liquid mixing forms a bubble flow, and the cavitation effect leverages the removal of residues from the inner wall. A three-phase fluid supply unit is provided to supply sterile high-temperature gas, alkali / acid solution, and flexible spheres, forming a gas-liquid-solid three-phase cleaning fluid, achieving synergistic effects of the three processes.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the technical field of CIP cleaning systems, specifically, it relates to a CIP cleaning system for vertical filling machines. Background Technology

[0002] In the food industry, vertical filling machines are core equipment widely used in the online mixing and quantitative filling of dairy products, fruit-containing beverages, and compound fluid foods. These machines typically have multiple independent metal storage tanks for temporarily storing liquid bases such as milk and syrup, as well as solid or semi-solid additives such as jam, coconut jelly, and fruit pulp. Precise material proportioning and continuous filling are achieved through piston metering pumps, conveying pipelines, and mixing units.

[0003] However, after the production cycle ends, food components, especially those containing sugar, protein, or particles, are prone to residue in the complex internal structures of the filling components. These residues can adhere firmly to components such as the valve core gaps, piston metering pumps, and discharge valves. These residues form biofilms in the dead corners and crevices of the equipment, providing a breeding ground for microorganisms. This not only leads to flavor degradation and quality decline in subsequent products but also seriously violates food safety and hygiene regulations, posing potential health risks.

[0004] Current CIP cleaning technologies primarily rely on a single medium such as pure water, alkaline solution, acid solution, or steam for forward rinsing. However, in the microstructural areas of filling components, due to their complex geometry and the presence of steps, grooves, and other features, fluid dynamics can easily generate low-velocity or stagnant zones, creating a "fluid shielding" phenomenon. The shear force of traditional cleaning methods cannot effectively act on stubborn deposits. Instead, under the action of high-speed fluid, flexible particles such as meat fibers or viscous media such as paste are further pushed and compacted into the depths of crevices, causing the cleaning blind spots to expand. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to provide a CIP cleaning system for vertical filling machines to solve the problems mentioned in the background art.

[0006] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the basic concept of the technical solution adopted by the present invention is as follows: a CIP cleaning system for a vertical filling machine, used to clean a filling assembly including a slide valve, a piston metering pump, and a discharge valve, further comprising: a reverse backflushing flow path, the inlet end of which is connected to the outlet side of the discharge valve, used to establish a cleaning medium flow direction opposite to the material filling direction; a three-phase fluid supply unit, used to provide cleaning medium to the reverse backflushing flow path, comprising: a sterile gas sterilization device, used to provide sterile high-temperature gas; a pure water tank, an alkaline solution tank, and an acid solution tank, used to provide pure water, alkaline, and acidic cleaning solutions; and a cleaning carrier supply unit, used to provide flexible spheres that can move with the fluid; wherein, the sterile high-temperature gas, alkaline solution, acid solution, and flexible spheres are mixed in the reverse backflushing flow path to form a gas, liquid, and solid three-phase cleaning fluid, which flows in reverse direction through the discharge valve, the piston metering pump, and the slide valve in sequence, forming a composite cleaning mechanism of mechanical scrubbing, chemical decomposition, and thermal impact.

[0007] Preferably, it includes: a main pipeline, wherein the pure water tank, the alkali tank, and the acid tank are respectively connected to the main pipeline, and the sterile gas sterilization equipment is respectively connected to tank body one and tank body two; the reverse backflushing flow path includes a sterile gas backflushing pipe with both ends connected to the sterile gas sterilization equipment and the outlet side of the discharge valve, and a liquid backflushing pipe with both ends connected to the main pipeline and the outlet side of the discharge valve.

[0008] Preferably, the system includes: a tank body 1, a spray system 1 connected to a main pipeline at its top, a lower flushing pipe 1 connected to the main pipeline, and a drain pipe 1; a tank body 2, a spray system 2 connected to the main pipeline at its top, a lower flushing pipe 2 connected to the main pipeline, and a drain pipe 2; and a piston metering pump 2 connected to both tank body 1 and tank body 2, and connected to the main pipeline via the flushing pipe 1.

[0009] Preferably, the system includes a mixer connected to the main pipeline and the filling assembly, the discharge valve having a drain pipe, and the piston metering pump and the discharge valve connected to the main pipeline via flushing pipes three and four, respectively.

[0010] Preferably, the system further includes a cleaning carrier conveying mechanism connected to the sterile gas backflush pipe and the liquid backflush pipe, through which the flexible spheres are conveyed to the sterile gas backflush pipe and the liquid backflush pipe; the mixer is provided with a drain pipe four, and a filter box is installed on the drain pipe four to collect the flexible spheres in the waste liquid discharged from the mixer.

[0011] Furthermore, the flexible sphere has several recessed areas.

[0012] Preferably, the concave region is circularly concave, and the concave region includes a conical opening on the surface of the flexible sphere and a circular aggregation cavity opened inside the flexible sphere. A neck is formed between the conical opening and the circular aggregation cavity, forming a microcavitation carrier region.

[0013] Preferably, the concave region is elongated and concave, and the concave region includes a trapezoidal aggregation cavity formed within the flexible sphere. The trapezoidal aggregation cavity includes symmetrical inclined walls and a bottom wall. The trapezoidal aggregation cavity narrows near the surface of the flexible sphere to form a microcavitation carrier region.

[0014] Preferably, the concave region is a concave conical cylinder, and the concave region includes a concave cylindrical aggregation cavity formed on a flexible sphere to form a microcavitation carrier region.

[0015] Preferably, the cleaning carrier conveying mechanism includes a storage box, a discharge pipe is provided at the bottom of the storage box, and a distributing wheel is rotatably connected in the discharge pipe.

[0016] By adopting the above technical solution, the present invention has the following beneficial effects compared with the prior art:

[0017] 1. This vertical filling machine uses a CIP cleaning system, which is designed with a reverse backflushing flow path. The inlet is connected to the outlet side of the discharge valve, and the cleaning medium is opposite to the material filling direction, which avoids the residue being pushed and compacted. The reverse flushing removes the attached substances inside the precision structure. The reverse backflushing flow path breaks the dead zone of the forward fluid flow, and combined with the concave micro-cavitation carrier area designed on the surface of the flexible sphere, it captures bubbles and controls their collapse to generate micro-jet, which acts on the micro-dead zone. The gas-liquid mixture forms a bubble flow, and the cavitation effect prys off the residue on the inner wall. A three-phase fluid supply unit is set up to provide sterile high-temperature gas, alkali / acid liquid, and flexible sphere to form a gas-liquid-solid three-phase cleaning fluid, realizing the synergistic effect of the three actions.

[0018] 2. This vertical filling machine uses a CIP cleaning system. The three-phase cleaning media (gas / liquid / solid) are delivered in a directional manner through the sterile gas backflush pipe and the liquid backflush pipe. They are precisely mixed in the reverse backflush flow path. When the gas flows in the reverse direction through the filling components, the high temperature of the gas improves the chemical decomposition efficiency of the alkali / acid solution. The flow of the liquid provides the motion power for the flexible spheres. The mechanical scrubbing of the flexible spheres makes it easier for thermal impact and chemical decomposition to act on the inner wall of the equipment. The three factors form a composite cleaning mechanism with significant effect.

[0019] 3. The vertical filling machine uses a CIP cleaning system. The concave areas on the surface of the flexible spheres (circular / elongated / conical cylinders) serve as micro-cavitation carrier areas to capture air bubbles. When in contact with the equipment, they generate a local cavitation effect, enhancing the cleaning effect. They also serve as temporary storage areas for residues, preventing the peeled residues from getting stuck or adhering again, and ensuring smooth cleaning flow.

[0020] 4. This vertical filling machine uses a CIP cleaning system, which mixes sterile high-temperature gas into an alkaline / acid solution to form a bubble flow. The bubble flow utilizes the cavitation effect to remove residues. During the generation, expansion, and collapse of the bubbles, not only are micro-jet streams and shock waves released, but the cleaning fluid is also driven to form micro-turbulence in precision gaps. This allows the chemical cleaning fluid to fully penetrate the interface between the residues and the inner wall of the equipment, breaking the interface barrier that liquids cannot penetrate in traditional cleaning. This further enhances the chemical decomposition effect and achieves secondary cleaning through cavitation and turbulence. In addition, some of the bubble flow can be captured by the micro-cavitation carrier region. When the flexible sphere contacts the inner wall of the structure, it squeezes the micro-cavitation carrier region, forcing the captured bubbles to be released or collapse in a controlled manner very close to the wall surface, generating local micro-jet streams and shock waves that directly act on microscopic residues that traditional cleaning forces cannot reach.

[0021] 5. This vertical filling machine uses a CIP cleaning system. The main pipeline serves as the central conveyor for the cleaning medium, supplying alkali / acid / pure water to the reverse backflushing flow path of the filling components. It also provides cleaning medium to tank one / tank two through spray / downward flushing pipes. At the same time, the aseptic gas sterilization equipment provides aseptic high-temperature gas to the storage tanks and filling components simultaneously. This achieves unified supply of cleaning medium for the core components of the filling machine (filling components and tank one / two) and full coverage of the composite cleaning mechanism, avoiding the redundancy and coordination difficulties of multiple independent supply pipelines and improving the overall cleaning efficiency.

[0022] The specific embodiments of the present invention will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Attached Figure Description

[0023] In the attached diagram:

[0024] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a CIP cleaning system for a vertical filling machine proposed in this invention;

[0025] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the flexible sphere in the CIP cleaning system for a vertical filling machine proposed in this invention. Figure 1 ;

[0026] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the conical opening and circular collection cavity of a CIP cleaning system for a vertical filling machine proposed in this invention;

[0027] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the flexible sphere in the CIP cleaning system for a vertical filling machine proposed in this invention. Figure 2 ;

[0028] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the inclined wall, bottom wall 1, and trapezoidal collection cavity of a CIP cleaning system for a vertical filling machine proposed in this invention;

[0029] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the flexible sphere in the CIP cleaning system for a vertical filling machine proposed in this invention. Figure 3 ;

[0030] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the conical cylindrical collection cavity of a CIP cleaning system for a vertical filling machine proposed in this invention;

[0031] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the storage box and dispensing wheel of a CIP cleaning system for a vertical filling machine proposed in this invention.

[0032] In the diagram: 1. Aseptic gas sterilization equipment; 11. Aseptic gas backflush pipe;

[0033] 2. Main pipeline; 21. Liquid backflush pipe; 22. Backup backflush pipe; 23. Pure water tank; 24. Alkali tank; 25. Acid tank;

[0034] 3. Tank body; 31. Spray system; 32. Drain pipe; 33. Lower flushing pipe; 34. Pressure relief pipe;

[0035] 4. Tank body two; 41. Sprayer two; 42. Drain pipe two; 43. Pressure relief pipe two; 44. Lower flushing pipe two; 45. Flushing pipe one; 46. Flushing pipe two;

[0036] 5. Piston metering pump II;

[0037] 6. Mixer; 61. Slide valve; 62. Piston metering pump I; 621. Flushing pipe III; 63. Discharge valve; 64. Drain pipe III; 65. Flushing pipe IV; 66. Drain pipe IV;

[0038] 7. Temporary storage tank; 71. Sprayer system 3; 72. Drain pump;

[0039] 8. Cleaning carrier conveying mechanism; 81. Filter box; 82. Storage box; 83. Feeding pipe; 84. Distributing wheel;

[0040] 10. Flexible sphere; 101. Concave area; 1011. Conical opening; 1012. Circular gathering cavity;

[0041] 1021. Inclined wall; 1022. Bottom wall one; 1023. Trapezoidal gathering cavity; 1031. Conical cylindrical gathering cavity. Detailed Implementation

[0042] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the technical solutions in the embodiments will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following embodiments are used to illustrate the present invention, but are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

[0043] The following is in conjunction with the appendix Figure 1 - Appendix Figure 8 The technical solutions provided in the various embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail.

[0044] Example: Refer to Figures 1-8 A CIP cleaning system for a vertical filling machine is disclosed, used to clean filling components including a slide valve 61, a piston metering pump 62, and a discharge valve 63. The system features a reverse backflushing flow path, with its inlet connected to the outlet side of the discharge valve 63, establishing a cleaning medium flow direction opposite to the material filling direction. Furthermore, the system includes a three-phase fluid supply unit for supplying cleaning media to the reverse backflushing flow path. This unit includes a sterile gas sterilization device 1, a pure water tank 23, an alkali tank 24, an acid tank 25, and a cleaning carrier supply unit for providing sterile high-temperature gas (preferably high-temperature steam), pure water, alkaline and acidic cleaning solutions, and flexible spheres 10 that can move with the fluid. The sterile high-temperature gas, alkali, and acid are mixed with the flexible spheres 10 in the reverse backflushing flow path to form a gas-liquid-solid three-phase cleaning fluid, which flows sequentially in reverse direction through the discharge valve 63, the piston metering pump 62, and the slide valve 61, thereby forming a composite cleaning mechanism of mechanical scrubbing, chemical decomposition, and thermal impact.

[0045] For ease of understanding, the following explains some key terms in this embodiment:

[0046] The CIP cleaning system for vertical filling machines refers to a system used for online cleaning of vertical filling equipment, which can complete internal cleaning and disinfection without disassembling the equipment.

[0047] The filling assembly refers to the collection of core components in a vertical filling machine that directly contact the material and perform the filling operation. It typically includes a slide valve 61, a piston metering pump 62, and a discharge valve 63. These components have a precise structure and are prone to material residue.

[0048] The reverse backflushing flow path refers to a pipeline in which the flow direction of the cleaning medium is opposite to the normal material filling direction during the cleaning process. Its inlet end is connected to the outlet side of the discharge valve 63. It is designed to effectively remove dead corners and attachments that are difficult to reach by traditional forward cleaning through reverse flushing.

[0049] A three-phase fluid supply unit refers to a combination of devices that can provide cleaning media in three states: gaseous, liquid, and solid, to achieve multiple cleaning effects.

[0050] The sterile gas disinfection equipment 1 refers to a device used to generate and transport sterile high-temperature gas, which can be used for preheating, disinfection and providing thermal shock to the equipment.

[0051] Pure water tank 23, alkaline solution tank 24, and acid solution tank 25 are containers used to store pure water, alkaline cleaning solution, and acidic cleaning solution, respectively. These liquid media are selectively introduced during the cleaning process to achieve the chemical decomposition of different types of residues. At the same time, the alkaline solution and acid solution are mixed with high-temperature gas to generate abundant and intense bubble flows, thereby forming intense gas-liquid two-phase turbulence.

[0052] The cleaning carrier supply unit refers to the mechanical scrubbing effect generated by the contact between the flexible ball 10 and the inner wall of the equipment when it moves in the cleaning fluid.

[0053] Gas-liquid-solid three-phase cleaning fluid refers to a cleaning medium formed by mixing sterile high-temperature gas, liquid cleaning agent, and flexible spheres 10. It simultaneously possesses the characteristics of gas, liquid, and solid particles, and can provide comprehensive cleaning capabilities.

[0054] The composite cleaning mechanism refers to a comprehensive approach that combines three different cleaning principles: mechanical scrubbing, chemical decomposition, and thermal shock. It aims to achieve thorough cleaning of filling components through multi-dimensional synergy.

[0055] The core of the CIP cleaning system for the vertical filling machine in this embodiment lies in the cleaning of the filling components. These components include a slide valve 61, a piston metering pump 62, and a discharge valve 63. These components are prone to accumulating residues after material filling, such as in the gap between the valve core and valve body of the slide valve 61, the gap between the piston and pump chamber of the piston metering pump 62, and the sealing surface of the discharge valve 63, all of which can create cleaning dead zones.

[0056] To address the aforementioned issues, the system incorporates a reverse backflushing flow path. The inlet of this path connects to the outlet side of the discharge valve 63, establishing a cleaning medium flow direction opposite to the material filling direction. For example, the cleaning medium can enter in reverse from the outlet of the discharge valve 63, flowing sequentially through the discharge valve 63, the piston metering pump 62, and finally reaching the slide valve 61. This reverse flow method prevents the cleaning medium from pushing residues into dead zones; instead, it effectively flushes away residues adhering to precision structures.

[0057] Sterile high-temperature gas, alkaline solution, or acid solution mixes with flexible spheres 10 in a counter-current backwash flow path to form a three-phase cleaning fluid consisting of gas, liquid, and solid. This mixing can occur in specific areas of the flow path, such as through the convergence of multiple inlets. The three-phase cleaning fluid possesses the high-temperature impact of gas, the chemical dissolution of liquid, and the physical friction properties of the solid flexible spheres 10. This three-phase cleaning fluid is guided to flow counter-currently through discharge valve 63, piston metering pump 62, and slide valve 61. This counter-current flow path ensures that the cleaning medium can fully act on the various precision structures of the filling assembly, especially those areas that are prone to dead zones in forward flow. Ultimately, through the synergistic effect of the above media, this system forms a composite cleaning mechanism of mechanical scrubbing, chemical decomposition, and thermal impact. Mechanical scrubbing is provided by flexible spheres 10, which physically scrape and peel off the deposits; chemical decomposition is provided by alkaline or acidic solutions, which dissolve organic or inorganic residues; thermal shock is provided by sterile high-temperature gases, which soften the dirt and sterilize it; this combination of multiple mechanisms is designed to achieve thorough and efficient cleaning of the filling components of the vertical filling machine.

[0058] The flexible sphere 10 can be made of food-grade silicone or food-grade silicone with a food-grade fluoropolymer coating, ensuring the safety of cleaning.

[0059] Furthermore, during a single backwash, a step-by-step cleaning method should be followed, meaning that only one set of discharge valves 63, piston metering pump 62, and slide valve 61 should be cleaned at a time to ensure cleaning effectiveness. Simultaneously, regarding the mixing order of pure water, alkali solution, and acid solution, simultaneous mixing of alkali and acid solutions should be avoided. When introducing alkali or acid solution, sterile high-temperature gas should be mixed in. This allows the alkali or acid solution to generate abundant and vigorous bubbles, forming a bubble flow. This bubble flow releases microjets and shock waves during its generation, expansion, and collapse. This cavitation effect effectively prys up and peels off residues adhering to the inner walls of the structure, further enhancing the cleaning effect.

[0060] This system establishes a reverse backflushing flow path, enabling the cleaning medium to flush precision components such as the slide valve 61, piston metering pump 62, and discharge valve 63 of the filling assembly in the reverse direction. This effectively avoids the problem of residues being pushed and compacted in traditional forward cleaning. Combined with sterile high-temperature gas, chemical cleaning liquid, and flexible spheres 10 provided by the three-phase fluid supply unit, a gas-liquid-solid three-phase cleaning fluid is formed. In its reverse flow, this fluid, through a combined cleaning mechanism of mechanical scrubbing, chemical decomposition, and thermal impact, can comprehensively remove stubborn residues from the internal pipelines, mixing unit, and filling valves of the filling machine, eliminating fluid shielding and dead zones, thereby ensuring hygiene standards in food production and improving product quality and safety.

[0061] In one implementation, refer to Figure 1It also includes a clean carrier conveying mechanism 8 connected to the sterile gas backflush pipe 11 and the liquid backflush pipe 21. The flexible spheres 10 are conveyed to the sterile gas backflush pipe 11 and the liquid backflush pipe 21 through the clean carrier conveying mechanism 8. The mixer 6 is provided with a drain pipe 4 66, and a filter box 81 is installed on the drain pipe 4 66 to collect the flexible spheres 10 in the waste liquid discharged from the mixer 6. The mixer 6 is connected to the tank 1 3, the piston metering pump 2 5, and the tank 2 4 through the flushing pipe 2 46.

[0062] Specifically, the cleaning carrier conveying mechanism 8 is a device used to precisely and controllably introduce the flexible spheres 10 into the backwash flow path. Its function is to ensure that the flexible spheres 10 can enter the cleaning system in a timely and sufficient manner to participate in the mechanical scrubbing process. The cleaning carrier conveying mechanism 8 can be a pneumatically or hydraulically driven feeding device, pushing the flexible spheres 10 from the storage bin into the flow path through pressure difference or a mechanical pusher; alternatively, it can be a screw conveyor with metering function, adjusting the feeding amount of the flexible spheres 10 by controlling the conveying speed and time. The flexible spheres 10 are conveyed to the sterile gas backwash pipe 11 and the liquid backwash pipe 21 through the cleaning carrier conveying mechanism 8. This step ensures that the flexible spheres 10 can be effectively introduced into the reverse backwash flow path, allowing them to mix with sterile high-temperature gas, alkaline / acidic solutions, and other cleaning media to form a gas-liquid-solid three-phase cleaning fluid.

[0063] Drain pipe 466 is a pipe used to discharge waste liquid in the cleaning system. Its function is to discharge the mixed waste liquid containing cleaning medium, the cleaned dirt and flexible ball 10 from the mixer 6 after the cleaning process is completed, so as to carry out subsequent treatment and recycling of flexible ball 10.

[0064] Filter box 81 is a device for separating solid particles from a fluid. Its function is specifically to intercept and collect the flexible spheres 10 discharged with the waste liquid, preventing their loss and enabling recycling. Filter box 81 can use filter elements such as screens, filter meshes, or perforated plates, with pore sizes designed to be smaller than the diameter of the flexible spheres 10 to effectively trap them. Alternatively, filter box 81 can be designed with a settling zone or cyclone separation function, utilizing density difference or centrifugal force to separate the flexible spheres 10 from the waste liquid.

[0065] Through the above technical solution, the cleaning carrier conveying mechanism 8 ensures that the flexible spheres 10 are introduced into the reverse backflushing flow path in a timely and controllable manner, allowing them to fully participate in the mechanical scrubbing action of the gas, liquid, and solid three-phase cleaning fluid, effectively removing stubborn residues inside the filling assembly. Simultaneously, after cleaning, the mixer 6 discharges waste liquid through drain pipe 66, while the filter box 81 installed on drain pipe 66 efficiently collects the flexible spheres 10 from the waste liquid. This design not only solves the problem of conveying and recovering the flexible spheres 10 during the cleaning process, avoiding sphere loss and resource waste, but also ensures the continuous and effective utilization of the flexible spheres 10, thereby significantly improving the cleaning efficiency and economy of the entire CIP cleaning system. This solution, combined with the reverse backflushing flow path and the three-phase fluid supply unit, allows the mechanical scrubbing action of the flexible spheres 10 to be fully utilized, especially in the precision structure and dead-angle areas of the filling assembly, effectively compensating for the shortcomings of traditional fluid cleaning and ensuring thorough cleaning.

[0066] Furthermore, a backup backflush pipe 22 is also provided on the main pipeline 2 to be switched when the liquid backflush pipe 21 is unusable.

[0067] In one embodiment, the flexible sphere 10 has a plurality of recesses 101, which refer to concave structures or geometric deformations formed on the surface of the flexible sphere 10. These recesses 101 are designed to increase the contact complexity and friction between the flexible sphere 10 and the surface being cleaned, thereby improving the mechanical scrubbing effect. Specifically, the recesses 101 can take various forms; for example, the recesses 101 can be shallow dish-shaped or hemispherical pits uniformly distributed on the surface of the flexible sphere 10. These pits can increase the effective contact points of the sphere and generate micro-vortices during fluid movement, which helps to peel off the attached substances. In addition, the recesses 101 can also be designed as interconnected or independent grooves, spiral patterns, or grid patterns. These structures can provide more scraping edges and allow the cleaning fluid to penetrate more effectively under the residue, thereby promoting its removal. Furthermore, the recesses 101 can also be irregular rough textures or microporous structures, where the recesses 101 are valleys or pores in the texture, thereby maximizing the surface interaction area and forming a large number of micro-scraping points.

[0068] By creating several recessed areas 101 on the flexible sphere 10, this system significantly enhances the mechanical scrubbing ability of the flexible sphere 10 during the cleaning process. When the flexible sphere 10 with recessed areas 101 moves in the reverse backwash flow path with the gas, liquid, and solid three-phase cleaning fluid, the recessed areas 101 can provide additional scraping, shearing, and impact effects. The edges and internal structures of these recessed areas 101 can more effectively "capture" or "remove" stubborn residues adhering to the gaps, grooves, or dead corners inside the filling components (such as the slide valve 61, piston metering pump 62, and discharge valve 63), avoiding the problem that traditional smooth spheres may push and compact the residues. The presence of the recessed area 101 increases the irregularity of the surface of the flexible sphere 10, enabling it to generate stronger local pressure and friction when in contact with the inner wall of the equipment, thereby more thoroughly removing the adhering substances. At the same time, the recessed area 101 also helps to form tiny hydrodynamic effects on the surface of the sphere, such as local turbulence or microcavitation, further assisting in the decomposition and peeling of residues. This improved mechanical action, combined with the chemical decomposition and thermal impact in the cleaning fluid, forms a more efficient and comprehensive composite cleaning mechanism, ensuring thorough cleaning even inside the complex filling equipment, effectively solving the problem of cleaning dead zones and improving the cleaning effect.

[0069] In some of the embodiments described above in this application, a recessed area 101 is proposed to form microcavitation carriers to enhance the cleaning effect. However, in the process of its implementation, the shape of the recessed area 101 may affect the stability and uniformity of the cavitation effect, resulting in poor fluid flow and inconcentrated cavitation energy release during the cleaning process, thereby reducing the cleaning efficiency of the dead corner residues of the equipment.

[0070] In some implementation methods, reference is made to this. Figure 2 , Figure 3 Furthermore, it is proposed that the concave region 101 is circularly concave, and the concave region 101 includes a conical opening 1011 opened on the surface of the flexible sphere 10 and a circular gathering cavity 1012 opened inside the flexible sphere 10. A neck is formed between the conical opening 1011 and the circular gathering cavity 1012, and a micro-cavitation carrier region is formed.

[0071] The conical openings 1011 are evenly distributed on the outer surface of the flexible sphere 10. This design promotes continuous and stable flow of the cleaning medium on the surface of the flexible sphere 10, effectively avoiding turbulence failure or fluid shielding phenomena that may occur in traditional cleaning. In addition, the conical openings 1011 increase the surface area of ​​the flexible sphere 10, enabling it to provide a wider range of mechanical scrubbing action when in contact with the surface being cleaned, thereby improving the efficiency of removing attached residues.

[0072] The circular collection chamber 1012 is designed to temporarily store some of the residue wiped off by the flexible spheres 10 when wiping the structural surface. This effectively prevents the residue from becoming stuck or adhering again during the subsequent passage through the discharge valve 63, piston metering pump 62, and slide valve 61, thus forming a residue storage area. During backwashing, the waste liquid passing through slide valve 61 enters the mixer 6 and is then discharged into the storage tank 7 via drain pipe 66 on the mixer 6. Therefore, when the waste liquid mixed with the flexible spheres 10 enters the mixer 6, the mixer 6 can be activated to stir the waste liquid. The resulting centrifugal force can throw out the residue in the circular collection chamber 1012, thereby achieving the self-cleaning function of the flexible spheres 10 and ensuring the purity of the cleaning medium and the continuity of the cleaning effect. Through this composite cleaning mechanism, this application can effectively remove stubborn residues inside the filling machine, especially in precision components such as the slide valve core, the gap of the micro metering pump, and the sealing surface of the discharge valve. It solves the problems of fluid shielding and dead zones in traditional CIP cleaning technology and significantly improves the hygiene and safety level of food filling equipment.

[0073] Furthermore, when the flexible sphere 10 moves in the reverse backflushing flow path and comes into contact with the inner wall of the filling components (such as the discharge valve 63, the piston metering pump 62, and the slide valve 61), the specially designed concave area 101 on its surface acts as a "bubble trap," capable of capturing and stably carrying tiny bubbles. When the flexible sphere 10 comes into contact with the structure, the contact pressure squeezes the concave area 101, forcing the captured bubbles to be released or collapse in a controlled manner very close to the inner wall of the structure, generating local micro-jet streams and shock waves that directly act on microscopic residues that cannot be reached by traditional cleaning forces, thereby achieving efficient and uniform cavitation and significantly improving the thoroughness of cleaning; therefore, the design of the conical opening 1011 and the circular gathering cavity 1012 promotes the realization of the micro-cavitation carrier region.

[0074] In another implementation, refer to Figure 4 , Figure 5 The concave region 101 is elongated and concave. The concave region 101 includes a trapezoidal aggregation cavity 1023 opened in the flexible sphere 10. The trapezoidal aggregation cavity 1023 includes a symmetrical inclined wall 1021 and a bottom wall 1022. The trapezoidal aggregation cavity 1023 narrows near the surface of the flexible sphere 10 to form a micro-cavitation carrier region.

[0075] Similar to the circular collecting cavity 1012, the elongated concave design provides a directional fluid channel for the cleaning medium, promoting continuous and stable flow of the cleaning medium on the surface of the flexible sphere 10, effectively avoiding turbulence failure or fluid shielding phenomena that may occur in traditional cleaning. Furthermore, the elongated shape increases the surface area of ​​the concave region 101, allowing the flexible sphere 10 to provide a wider range of mechanical scrubbing action when in contact with the surface being cleaned, thereby improving the removal efficiency of attached residues. Compared to the circular collecting cavity 1012, the elongated concave design can gather more bubbles generated by the mixture of high-temperature gas and alkaline / acid solutions, and release longer cavitation impacts when the flexible sphere 10 contacts the inner wall of the structure, enabling the microcavitation carriers within the trapezoidal collecting cavity 1023 to more effectively detach attached residues.

[0076] Furthermore, the trapezoidal gathering cavity 1023 narrows near the surface of the flexible sphere 10, meaning that the width or cross-sectional area of ​​the opening portion of the trapezoidal gathering cavity 1023 (i.e., the area near the surface of the flexible sphere 10) is smaller than the width or cross-sectional area of ​​its interior depth. This narrowing design aims to accelerate the flow velocity of fluid through this area, thereby generating stronger shear forces and cavitation effects at critical locations, and helping to concentrate pressure at the narrowed area when the flexible sphere 10 contacts the device surface, prompting bubbles to collapse more effectively at this location.

[0077] In another implementation, refer to Figure 6 , Figure 7 The concave region 101 is concave in the shape of a conical cylinder. The concave region 101 includes a conical cylindrical aggregation cavity 1031 opened on the flexible sphere 10 and forms a micro-cavitation carrier region.

[0078] The concave conical shape refers to the inwardly recessed area on the surface of the flexible sphere 10, whose overall outline exhibits a geometric feature combining conical and cylindrical shapes. This shape design aims to optimize hydrodynamic properties to more effectively induce bubbles to enter as fluid passes through.

[0079] Specifically, when the cleaning medium carries the flexible sphere 10 through the reverse backflushing flow path, the unique shape of the conical cylindrical collecting cavity 1031 can more effectively guide and concentrate fluid energy, forming a local low-pressure zone inside the cavity, thereby promoting the generation of microcavitation bubbles. These bubbles rapidly collapse in the subsequent high-pressure area, generating powerful micro-jet streams and shock waves, applying mechanical impact force to stubborn residues inside the filling assembly (such as the precision gaps, steps, or grooves of the slide valve 61, piston metering pump 62, and discharge valve 63, which are traditional cleaning dead zones). This effectively overcomes the problems of fluid shielding and dead zones in traditional fluid cleaning, ensuring that the cleaning medium can fully act on the adhering substances. In addition, the conical cylindrical collecting cavity 1031 also has excellent residue temporary storage capabilities. When the flexible sphere 10 wipes the surface of the filling assembly, a portion of the stripped residue can be effectively captured and temporarily stored inside the conical cylindrical collecting cavity 1031, preventing the residue from getting stuck or re-adhering in the cleaning flow path. When the cleaning medium and the flexible spheres 10 enter the mixer 6, the centrifugal force generated by the stirring action of the mixer 6 can throw out the residue in the conical cylindrical collection cavity 1031, thereby achieving self-cleaning of the flexible spheres 10, ensuring the continuity of cleaning efficiency and the reusability of the flexible spheres 10. This composite cleaning mechanism combines mechanical scrubbing, chemical decomposition, and thermal shock, and by optimizing the structure of the micro-cavitation carriers, it significantly improves the thoroughness of cleaning complex filling components, effectively solving the problem of difficult residue removal and ensuring the hygiene and safety of food production.

[0080] In one embodiment, to further enhance the cavitation reaction generated when the flexible sphere 10 comes into contact with the structure, the flow rate of the gas-liquid two-phase flow is controlled so that the flexible sphere 10 is in close contact with the structural wall during the main cleaning stage (high pressure, high speed), which is conducive to cavitation. To further improve the effect of collecting residues in the concave area 101, the flow rate of the gas-liquid two-phase flow is reduced, the contact pressure is reduced, which is conducive to collection.

[0081] Preferably, the diameter of the flexible ball 10 is one-fifth of the smallest diameter channel among the slide valve 61, piston metering pump 62, and discharge valve 63. In order to ensure efficient cleaning effect, the diameter of the flexible ball 10 cannot be too small or too large. The diameter of the pipe used for discharging and discharging the flexible ball 10 cannot be less than the diameter of the flexible ball 10, so as to ensure that the flexible ball 10 can be smoothly discharged.

[0082] In one implementation, refer to Figure 8 The cleaning carrier conveying mechanism 8 includes a storage box 82, a discharge pipe 83 is provided at the bottom of the storage box 82, and a material distribution wheel 84 is rotatably connected in the discharge pipe 83;

[0083] The flexible sphere 10 is stored in the storage box 82. The distributing wheel 84 is rotated by a motor. When the distributing wheel 84 rotates, the flexible sphere 10 in the storage box 82 is discharged into the reverse backflushing flow path through the distributing wheel 84 and participates in cleaning along with the fluid medium.

[0084] In one implementation, refer to Figure 1 It includes: main pipeline 2, pure water tank 23, alkali tank 24, and acid tank 25 are respectively connected to main pipeline 2, and sterile gas sterilization equipment 1 is respectively connected to tank body 3 and tank body 4; the reverse backflushing flow path includes sterile gas backflushing pipe 11 with both ends connected to sterile gas sterilization equipment 1 and outlet side of discharge valve 63, and liquid backflushing pipe 21 with both ends connected to main pipeline 2 and outlet side of discharge valve 63;

[0085] Main pipeline 2 serves as the central transport trunk line for the cleaning medium, designed to simplify the complex piping layout and optimize media distribution. Pure water tank 23, alkali tank 24, and acid tank 25 are connected to main pipeline 2 via their respective transport pumps and control valves. These connections typically employ sanitary clamps or welding to ensure sealing and ease of disassembly. The reverse backflushing path is specifically defined as a sterile gas backflushing pipe 11 and a liquid backflushing pipe 21. Both ends of the sterile gas backflushing pipe 11 are connected to the sterile gas sterilization equipment 1 and the outlet side of the discharge valve 63, respectively. This pipeline is specifically designed for transporting sterile high-temperature gas and can integrate flow meters and pressure sensors to monitor the gas transport status in real time. The two ends of the liquid backflush pipe 21 are connected to the main pipeline 2 and the outlet side of the discharge valve 63, respectively. This pipeline is specifically used to transport liquid cleaning media such as pure water, alkaline solution, and acid solution. The material and connection method of the liquid backflush pipe 21 are similar to those of the main pipeline 2. It should also be made of sanitary stainless steel. Multiple control valves can be installed on the pipeline to achieve precise switching and flow regulation of different cleaning solutions.

[0086] Through the above technical solution, the main pipeline 2, as the central supply node, connects the pure water tank 23, the alkali tank 24, and the acid tank 25 in a unified manner, simplifying the conveying structure of the cleaning medium and avoiding coordination difficulties and pipeline redundancy caused by multiple independent supplies. This ensures that various cleaning liquids and sterile gases can enter the reverse backflushing flow path efficiently and synchronously. At the same time, the reverse backflushing flow path is specifically defined as the sterile gas backflushing pipe 11 and the liquid backflushing pipe 21. The sterile gas backflushing pipe 11 is directly connected to the sterile gas disinfection equipment 1 and the outlet side of the discharge valve 63, and is specifically responsible for the directional conveying of sterile gas. The liquid backflushing pipe 21 is connected to the main pipeline 2 and the outlet side of the discharge valve 63, and is specifically responsible for the directional conveying of cleaning liquid. This branching design realizes the independent and coordinated supply of gas and liquid, effectively preventing uneven mixing or supply interruption, optimizing the flow path of the cleaning medium, thereby improving the overall efficiency and reliability of the reverse backflushing process, ensuring that the cleaning medium can act accurately and stably on the filling components, and solving the problems of uneven supply of cleaning medium and complex pipelines.

[0087] In one implementation, refer to Figure 1 The system includes a tank body 3, with a spray nozzle 31 connected to the main pipeline 2 at the top, a lower flushing pipe 33 connected to the main pipeline 2, and a drain pipe 32 on the tank body 3; a tank body 4, with a spray nozzle 41 connected to the main pipeline 2 at the top, a lower flushing pipe 44 connected to the main pipeline 2, and a drain pipe 42 on the tank body 4; a piston metering pump 5, connected to both tank body 3 and tank body 4, and connected to the main pipeline 2 via a flushing pipe 45; and pressure relief pipes 34 and 43 on both tank body 3 and tank body 4, respectively.

[0088] Tank 3 and Tank 4 are the main objects to be cleaned in the cleaning system. They are usually containers used to store materials to be cleaned or cleaning media. Spray 31 and Spray 41 are respectively set on the top of Tank 3 and Tank 4. Their function is to spray the cleaning liquid from the top of the tank downwards to cover the upper inner wall and top accessories of the tank, effectively rinsing away the residues attached to these areas. These spray devices can take various forms, such as rotating nozzles, which achieve 360-degree spraying without dead angles through rotation; or fixed spray balls, which form a fan-shaped or cone-shaped spray area through multiple spray holes; or fan-shaped nozzles, which distribute the cleaning liquid evenly through high-pressure spraying or atomization.

[0089] The lower flushing pipe 33 and the lower flushing pipe 44 are respectively installed at the lower part of tank 3 and tank 4, and are used to introduce cleaning fluid from the bottom or lower part of the tank to flush the bottom and lower area of ​​the tank, so as to solve the problem of bottom dead corners and sediment that are difficult to reach by traditional cleaning methods.

[0090] Drain pipe 32 and drain pipe 42 are respectively installed on tank body 3 and tank body 4. Their function is to discharge waste liquid or cleaning fluid from the tank body, preventing the accumulation of cleaning fluid and secondary pollution in the tank body. These drain pipes are usually located at the bottom of the tank body, and the liquid is discharged by gravity or in conjunction with a pump. Valves can be equipped to control the flow rate and discharge.

[0091] The flushing pipe 45 serves as a channel for delivering the cleaning fluid, connecting the piston metering pump 5 and the main pipeline 2. Its function is to deliver the cleaning fluid from the main pipeline 2 to the piston metering pump 5, thereby constructing the cleaning path for the piston metering pump 5.

[0092] Through the above technical solution, this application effectively solves the problem of incomplete cleaning of storage tanks. Specifically, by installing spray nozzles 31 and 41 at the top of tank body 3 and tank body 4, the cleaning fluid can thoroughly flush the vertical walls and top area inside the tank from above, effectively removing residues adhering to these areas. Simultaneously, by installing lower flushing pipes 33 and 44, the cleaning fluid can enter from the bottom or lower part of the tank, powerfully flushing the bottom dead corners and areas prone to sedimentation, avoiding the fluid shielding or dead zones formed in these areas by traditional unidirectional fluid flushing methods.

[0093] Given that the aforementioned system also includes a reverse backflushing flow path and a three-phase fluid supply unit, the cleaning system of this application can not only perform efficient reverse backflushing cleaning of the filling components (slide valve 61, piston metering pump 62, and discharge valve 63), but also deliver various cleaning media such as sterile high-temperature gas, pure water, alkaline solution, and acid solution to tank 3 and tank 4 through the main pipeline 2, realizing a composite cleaning of chemical decomposition and thermal shock on the storage tanks. This multi-directional, multi-media cleaning mechanism enables the entire vertical filling machine CIP cleaning system to perform comprehensive and thorough cleaning of all key components of the filling machine, including the filling components and storage tanks, significantly improving the cleaning effect and ensuring the hygiene and safety of food production and product quality.

[0094] In some implementations, refer to Figure 1 It includes a mixer 6, which is connected to the main pipeline 2 and the filling assembly respectively. The discharge valve 63 is equipped with a drain pipe 64. The piston metering pump 62 and the discharge valve 63 are connected to the main pipeline 2 through flushing pipe 621 and flushing pipe 65 respectively.

[0095] Mixer 6 is a device used to uniformly mix two or more fluid or semi-fluid materials. In a filling system, its main function is to ensure that different components (such as matrix liquid and granular excipients) achieve the desired degree of mixing uniformity before the material enters the filling assembly, thereby guaranteeing the consistency of the final product quality. Mixer 6 is connected to the main pipeline 2 to receive cleaning media from the main pipeline 2, thus achieving cleaning of the interior of mixer 6. Simultaneously, mixer 6 is connected to the filling assembly to ensure that the mixed material can be smoothly conveyed to the filling assembly for subsequent filling operations.

[0096] The drain pipe 64 provides an independent waste liquid discharge channel for the discharge valve 63. During the forward cleaning process, the waste liquid is discharged through the drain pipe 64. The drain pipe 64 is connected to the temporary storage tank 7 and is used to discharge the waste liquid into the temporary storage tank 7 for subsequent recycling and processing. A drain pump 72 is installed at the bottom of the temporary storage tank 7 to discharge the waste liquid in the temporary storage tank 7. At the same time, a spray nozzle 71 is installed at the top of the temporary storage tank 7 to clean the inside of the temporary storage tank 7.

[0097] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention in any way. Although the present invention has been disclosed above with reference to preferred embodiments, it is not intended to limit the present invention. Any person skilled in the art can make some modifications or alterations to the above-described technical content to create equivalent embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. Any simple modifications, equivalent changes, and alterations made to the above embodiments based on the technical essence of the present invention without departing from the scope of the present invention shall still fall within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A CIP cleaning system for a vertical filling machine, used for cleaning a filling assembly including a slide valve (61), a piston metering pump (62), and a discharge valve (63), characterized in that, Also includes: The reverse backflushing flow path has its inlet end connected to the outlet side of the discharge valve (63) to establish a cleaning medium flow direction opposite to the material filling direction; A three-phase fluid supply unit, used to supply cleaning medium to the reverse backflushing flow path, comprises: Aseptic gas sterilization equipment (1) is used to provide sterile high-temperature gas; Pure water tank (23), alkaline solution tank (24), and acid solution tank (25) are used to provide pure water, alkaline and acidic cleaning solutions; A cleaning carrier supply unit is used to provide a flexible sphere (10) that can move with the fluid. The sterile high-temperature gas, alkaline solution, acid solution and flexible sphere (10) are mixed in the reverse backflushing flow path to form a three-phase cleaning fluid of gas, liquid and solid, and flow in reverse through the discharge valve (63), piston metering pump (62) and slide valve (61) in sequence to form a composite cleaning mechanism of mechanical scrubbing, chemical decomposition and thermal impact. Includes: main pipeline (2), the pure water tank (23), alkali tank (24) and acid tank (25) are respectively connected to the main pipeline (2); the reverse backflushing flow path includes a sterile gas backflushing pipe (11) with both ends connected to the sterile gas sterilization equipment (1) and the outlet side of the discharge valve (63) respectively, and a liquid backflushing pipe (21) with both ends connected to the main pipeline (2) and the outlet side of the discharge valve (63) respectively. It also includes a clean carrier conveying mechanism (8) connected to the sterile gas backflush pipe (11) and the liquid backflush pipe (21), through which the flexible sphere (10) is conveyed to the sterile gas backflush pipe (11) and the liquid backflush pipe (21); It also includes a mixer (6), on which a drain pipe (66) is provided, and a filter box (81) is installed on the drain pipe (66) to collect the flexible spheres (10) in the waste liquid discharged from the mixer (6); The flexible sphere (10) has several recessed areas (101). The concave region (101) is circularly concave. The concave region (101) includes a conical opening (1011) on the surface of the flexible sphere (10) and a circular aggregation cavity (1012) inside the flexible sphere (10). A neck is formed between the conical opening (1011) and the circular aggregation cavity (1012), and a microcavitation carrier region is formed. Alternatively, the concave region (101) is elongated and concave, and the concave region (101) includes a trapezoidal aggregation cavity (1023) opened in the flexible sphere (10). The trapezoidal aggregation cavity (1023) includes symmetrical inclined walls (1021) and a bottom wall (1022). The trapezoidal aggregation cavity (1023) narrows near the surface of the flexible sphere (10) to form a micro-cavitation carrier region. Alternatively, the concave region (101) is concave in the shape of a conical cylinder, and the concave region (101) includes a conical cylindrical aggregation cavity (1031) formed on the flexible sphere (10) to form a microcavitation carrier region.

2. The CIP cleaning system for a vertical filling machine according to claim 1, characterized in that, Includes a tank body (3), the top of which is provided with a spray nozzle (31) connected to the main pipeline (2), the tank body (3) is provided with a lower flushing pipe (33) connected to the main pipeline (2), and the tank body (3) is provided with a drain pipe (32). Tank body two (4), the top of the tank body two (4) is provided with a spray two (41) connected to the main pipeline (2), the tank body two (4) is provided with a lower flushing pipe two (44) connected to the main pipeline (2), and the tank body two (4) is provided with a drain pipe two (42). Piston metering pump 2 (5) is connected to tank 1 (3) and tank 2 (4) respectively. Piston metering pump 2 (5) is connected to main pipeline (2) through flushing pipe 1 (45).

3. The CIP cleaning system for a vertical filling machine according to claim 1, characterized in that, The mixer (6) is connected to the main pipeline (2) and the filling assembly respectively. The discharge valve (63) is equipped with a drain pipe three (64). The piston metering pump one (62) and the discharge valve (63) are connected to the main pipeline (2) through flushing pipe three (621) and flushing pipe four (65) respectively.

4. The CIP cleaning system for a vertical filling machine according to claim 1, characterized in that, The cleaning carrier conveying mechanism includes a storage box (82), and a discharge pipe (83) is provided at the bottom of the storage box (82). A material distribution wheel (84) is rotatably connected in the discharge pipe (83).

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