Device for filling containers with filling product

Abstract

The utility model relates to a device (1) for filling containers with a filling product, said device comprising: a product conveying device (20), which is configured to provide a filling product; one or more filling mechanisms (10) configured to introduce a filling product into the container; a distribution line (13), to which the filling device (10) is joined and from which the filling device (10) takes the filling product to be filled; a product pump (12), which is configured to transport the filling product from the product conveying device (20) to the distribution line (13); and a pressure maintaining device (30) configured to maintain the pressure in the distribution line (13) constant.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to a device for filling containers with filling products, especially in beverage filling facilities. Background Art

[0002] For filling liquid products in the food industry, filling machines are used which convey the product from a central inlet first to a product tank which, via corresponding lines, supplies a plurality of filling valves which finally introduce the product into the containers to be filled.

[0003] In order to achieve a reproducible filling process with constant filling characteristics, the limiting parameters such as temperature, pressure and in particular the filling volume flow must be kept as constant as possible. The filling volume flow Q introduced into the container to be filled is a function of the pressure drop Δp and the flow coefficient K V is related and can be expressed by the following formula:

[0004]

[0005] The density ρ of the filling product can be neglected, since this value does not change significantly. In order to keep the filling volume flow constant, filling systems are known in which a regulating valve with an adjustable flow coefficient is installed. In principle, the regulating valve can compensate for fluctuating pressure differences accordingly. However, a limitation of such systems is that pressure fluctuations must not be too large and must not occur too quickly.

[0006] Most filling systems use a simple stop valve with two controllable states on / off and a fixed flow coefficient in the open state. It is particularly important in the case to keep the pressure difference constant. This can be achieved by using a product tank with an adjusted liquid level. In the simplest case, each filling valve is connected to the product tank via an individualized pipeline, thereby defining the pressure difference on the static level in the product tank. According to an alternative construction, the filling valve is not directly connected to the product tank, but is combined in a channel and connected to the product tank via a common input pipeline, see, for example, EP 3 838 833 A1. However, in the case, it is usually necessary to use a regulating valve because the pressure difference on the filling valve cannot be easily kept constant.

[0007] The use of product tanks, especially when they are equipped with level control devices for minimizing pressure fluctuations, is mechanically complex, is associated with increased maintenance and cleaning effort and results in additional costs. The overall height of the machine and the protective, cleanroom, etc. that may be associated therewith are not optimal. Furthermore, product tanks with the aforementioned pressure stabilization function restrict the possibility of changing the static level and thus the filling volume flow. Furthermore, product losses can hardly be avoided by maintaining a certain filling level in the product tank for the prescribed filling. Utility Model Content

[0008] The invention is based on the object of providing an improved device and an improved method for filling containers with a filling product, preferably in a beverage filling plant.

[0009] The object is achieved by a device having the features according to the invention and a method having the features according to the invention. Advantageous developments emerge from the following description of the invention and from the description of preferred exemplary embodiments.

[0010] The device is designed to fill containers with filling products. The device is particularly preferably used in beverage filling facilities, such as for filling water (still or carbonated), soft drinks, smoothies, juices, beer, wine, dairy products, mixed drinks, etc.

[0011] The device has a product delivery device, which is configured to provide a filling product. The product delivery device can be implemented with or without a product tank. Preferably, a product tank is installed, but the product tank can be implemented without pressure. Already existing tanks, such as sterile tanks, mixing tanks, supply tanks, etc. can be used as product tanks. If necessary, the product tank can be omitted, for example, in the case of water as a filling product directly from a well or if the filling product is taken from an external product reservoir.

[0012] The device also has one or more filling mechanisms configured to introduce a filling product into the container. The filling mechanism can be designed for different filling concepts, for example as a free jet valve or for a counterpressure or negative pressure method.

[0013] The device further comprises a dispensing line, to which a filling mechanism is coupled and from which a filling product to be filled is taken, and a product pump configured to transport the filling product from a product delivery device to the dispensing line.

[0014] Furthermore, a feed line can be provided which connects the product conveying device and the dispensing line and via which the product pump conveys the filling product from the product conveying device to the dispensing line.

[0015] The terms “engage”, “connected”, “connect” etc. in this context generally include not only a mechanical connection but also a fluid connection, ie the ability to exchange or transport fluids.

[0016] The device also has a pressure holding device, which is configured to keep the pressure in the dispensing line constant. In other words, during a normal filling operation, the pressure holding device, which is preferably installed directly in the dispensing line, ensures a substantially uniform pressure in the dispensing line, i.e. the pressure should have substantially the same magnitude in time and in space along the extension of the dispensing line, so that during a normal filling operation the pre-pressure at the filling mechanism is kept constant.

[0017] In this way, the pre-pressure in the distribution line upstream of the filling element and thus the pressure drop across the filling element can be kept constant without a product tank or with a pressureless product tank or a product tank whose internal pressure or filling level is not regulated.

[0018] The device is compact in machine design (in particular, the overall height can be reduced), requires little maintenance, is easy to clean and is cost-effective. In addition to eliminating or at least simplifying the product tank, a flexibly adjustable pressure drop on the filling mechanism is provided, thereby enabling an almost free selection or setting of the filling volume flow.

[0019] Preferably, the pressure holding device comprises a pressure holding valve installed in the distribution line. The pressure holding valve can be implemented as a reversing valve and / or a regulating valve. A constant pre-pressure for the filling mechanism can be achieved in a compact and reliable manner in terms of machine design in the described manner. The pressure holding valve is preferably hygienically constructed.

[0020] Preferably, the device has an outlet line, wherein the pressure holding device is configured in the described case to remove excess filling product via a discharge line, in particular to convey it back to the product conveying device.Thus, in conjunction with the pressure holding device, the pre-pressure in the distribution line can be reliably kept constant.

[0021] Preferably, the device has a control device which communicates with the product pump and is configured to control the product pump (during normal filling operation) in such a way that more filling product is always delivered to the dispensing line than is withdrawn by the filling mechanism, whereby the product pump generates an overpower. The overpower ensures that a sufficiently high pressure is always provided to the dispensing line, so that the desired pre-pressure is maintained even at high withdrawal rates through the filling mechanism. However, the overpower is preferably kept as low as possible so that as little filling product as possible is conveyed back to the product conveying device, i.e. conveyed “in circulation”.

[0022] By keeping the filling product at least partially in circulation, it can be used in conjunction with the temperature control, in particular cooling, of the filling element.

[0023] Preferably, the device comprises a flow meter downstream of the pressure holding device, ie in particular in the outlet line, which communicates with the control device and is configured to measure the overpower. In this way, the overpower can be correspondingly readjusted by the control device when necessary.

[0024] Preferably, the device comprises a pressure sensor in the dispensing line, the pressure sensor communicating with the control device and configured to measure the pressure in the dispensing line. The pre-pressure for the filling mechanism can be measured directly via the pressure sensor in the dispensing line and adjusted accordingly using a pressure maintaining device actively controlled by the control device.

[0025] In said case, the control device is preferably in communication with the pressure holding device and is configured for actively open-loop and / or closed-loop controlling the pressure holding device for regulating the pressure in the dispensing line.

[0026] However, since pressure changes can occur very quickly, passive, self-regulating pressure-maintaining devices are preferred which are supplied with the preliminary pressure to be maintained or set and then adjust fully automatically to the set pressure.

[0027] Preferably, the device is in a circular rotor configuration / wrap-around configuration In practice, the device comprises a rotatable filler carousel, on the outer circumference of which a filling device is mounted. The containers to be filled are fed to the filler carousel and are filled with a filling product via the filling device during transport along a partial circle.

[0028] In this case, preferably at least one rotary distributor is provided, which is configured to convey the filling product from the feed line into the filler carousel, in particular into the distribution line, as a component of the filler carousel. Preferably, the device comprises two rotary distributors in a surrounding configuration, one each in the feed line and the discharge line.

[0029] Preferably, the product conveying device comprises a product tank which is connected to the supply line, wherein the product tank is preferably non-adjustable in terms of pressure and / or liquid level, whereby the device is mechanically simplified and at the same time, in cooperation with the pressure maintaining device, the working range of the filling mechanism is made more flexible.

[0030] Preferably, the filling mechanism is implemented as a shut-off valve, which has two controllable states, on / off, and has a fixed flow coefficient in the open state. By adjusting and keeping the pre-pressure in the distribution line constant, a regulating valve or proportional valve for implementing the filling mechanism can be omitted, because a simple shut-off function is sufficient, which, together with the flexibly adjustable pressure drop, expands the working range of the filling mechanism.

[0031] The above-mentioned object is also achieved by a method for filling containers with a filling product, preferably in a beverage filling facility, wherein the method comprises: providing the filling product via a product conveying device; transporting the filling product from the product conveying device via an input line and by means of a product pump to a distribution line, to which one or more filling mechanisms are connected; introducing the filling product from the distribution line into the container to be filled by means of the filling mechanism; wherein during the introduction of the filling product into the container to be filled, the pressure in the distribution line is kept constant by means of a pressure maintaining device.

[0032] The features, technical effects, advantages and embodiments described with respect to the device apply analogously to the method.

[0033] For the reasons stated above, therefore, during the introduction of filling product into the container to be filled, preferably more filling product is conveyed into the dispensing line than is extracted by the filling mechanism, whereby the product pump overpowers.

[0034] For the reasons stated above, the excess power is preferably measured by means of a flow meter downstream of the pressure holding device and used to control and / or regulate the product pump.

[0035] Other advantages and features of the utility model are apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments. The features described therein can be implemented individually or in combination with one or more of the above features, as long as these features are not contradictory. The following description of preferred embodiments is hereby made with reference to the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0036] Other preferred embodiments of the present invention are as follows Figure 1 The following description is explained in detail.

[0037] Figure 1 A device for filling containers with a filling product is schematically shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0038] According to the following Figure 1 A preferred embodiment is described, the drawings schematically showing a container to be filled (in Figure 1 Device 1 not shown).

[0039] The device 1 is particularly preferably used in beverage filling plants, for example for filling water (still or carbonated), beer, juice, soft drinks, smoothies, dairy products, etc. The device 1 is preferably designed in a circular configuration, wherein the containers to be filled are fed to a filler carousel and filled with filling product during transport along a partial circle.

[0040] The device 1 has at least one, preferably a plurality of filling mechanisms 10, which are configured to introduce a filling product into a container. The filling mechanism 10 can be implemented as a regulating valve or a shut-off valve, which has two controllable states on / off and has a fixed flow coefficient in the open state. The filling mechanism 10 can be designed as a free jet valve or designed for a counterpressure or negative pressure method, wherein the container is in pressure-tight contact with the corresponding filling mechanism 10 during filling.

[0041] The device 1 has a product delivery device 20 which is configured to provide a filling product. The product delivery device 20 can be implemented with or without a product tank 21 .

[0042] exist Figure 1 In the embodiment of the invention, a product tank 21 is installed, but the product tank can be implemented without pressure. In particular, it is not necessary to adjust the pressure of the product tank 21, for example by focusing on a static filling level and maintaining it by corresponding control. Existing tanks, such as supply tanks, sterile tanks, mixing tanks, etc. can be used as product tanks 21, so that existing facilities for implementing the utility model can be simply retrofitted.

[0043] If necessary, the product tank 21 can be omitted, for example if water is taken directly from a well as the filling product or if the filling product is taken from an external product reservoir.

[0044] The filling product is transported from the product conveying device 20 via the supply line 11 and by means of the product pump 12 to the filling device 10. The filling device 10 is connected to a common channel, which is also referred to as a distribution line 13 here.

[0045] A pressure holding device 30 is also connected to the distribution line 13, which is configured to keep the pressure in the distribution line 13 constant or substantially uniform, i.e. the pressure should have substantially the same magnitude over time and along the extension of the distribution line 13. For this purpose, on the one hand the distribution line 13 is dimensioned sufficiently large, and on the other hand the pressure holding device 30 performs a corresponding pressure compensation for keeping the pressure in the distribution line 13 constant.

[0046] according to Figure 1In the embodiment of the present invention, the pressure holding device 30 is configured to remove excess filling product via the outlet line 14, preferably transported back to the product conveying device 20. For this purpose, the pressure holding device 30 comprises a suitable pressure holding valve 31, which is implemented as a reversing valve in the present embodiment. Alternatively, the pressure holding valve 31 can be implemented as a regulating valve. The pressure holding valve 31 is preferably hygienically designed.

[0047] In order to maintain a constant pressure in the dispensing line 13, the product pump 12 is optionally configured together with a corresponding control device 50 to always provide more filling product during a normal filling process, that is, to convey more filling product into the dispensing line 13 than is removed by the filling device 10. However, the overload is preferably kept as low as possible so that as little filling product as possible can be conveyed back to the product conveying device 20, i.e., conveyed "in circulation".

[0048] By keeping the filling product at least partially in circulation, it can be used in conjunction with the temperature control, in particular cooling, of the filling device 10 .

[0049] Preferably, the device 1 further comprises a flow meter 15, which is installed downstream of the pressure holding device 30 and is thus configured to measure the overpower. The overpower can be readjusted accordingly by the control device 50 when necessary.

[0050] The purpose of the pressure holding device 30 is to keep the preliminary pressure constant at the filling element 10 . The preliminary pressure can be measured via a pressure sensor 16 in the distribution line 13 and can be adjusted accordingly by means of the pressure holding device 30 which is actively controlled by the control device 50 .

[0051] However, since pressure changes can occur very quickly, a passive, self-regulating pressure-maintaining device 30 is preferred which is supplied with the preliminary pressure to be maintained or set and then regulates fully automatically to the set pressure.

[0052] As mentioned above, a control device 50 is provided for controlling the device 1, in particular the filling mechanism 10, the product pump 12 and, if necessary, the pressure holding device 30. In addition, the control device preferably communicates with corresponding sensors, such as a flow meter 15 and a pressure gauge 16. The control device 50 is configured for open-loop control and / or closed-loop control and monitoring of the filling process.

[0053] The communication between the control device 50 and the components to be controlled and / or read can be carried out by wired or wireless, digital or analog means. Communication does not necessarily have to include information exchange in two directions. One-way data flow and / or signal flow are included in the term "communication" in this article. The control device 50 does not necessarily have to be formed by a central computing device or an electronic control device, but includes distributed and / or multi-level systems, control networks, cloud systems, etc. In addition, the control device 50 can be an integral part of a superior facility control device, or communicate with such a superior facility control device.

[0054] If the device 1 is implemented in a surround configuration with a filler carousel, then corresponding rotary distributors 17 are installed in the input line 11 and the output line 14 - at least as long as the product conveying device 20 is not part of the filler carousel - via which the filling product can be conveyed into the rotating filler carousel or out of the rotating filler carousel.

[0055] The device 1 shows how the feed pressure in the dispensing line 13 upstream of the filling device 10 and thus the pressure drop across the filling device 10 can be kept constant without a product tank or with a pressureless product tank 21. The essential component for this is the pressure holding device 30, which adjusts the required constant feed pressure upstream of the filling device 10 independently (passively) or by control via a control device 50 (actively).

[0056] The device 1 is compact in terms of machine construction (in particular, the construction height can be reduced), requires little maintenance, is easy to clean and is cost-effective. In addition to eliminating or at least simplifying the product tank 21, a flexibly adjustable pressure drop on the filling device 10 is provided, which allows an almost free selection or setting of the filling volume flow. A regulating valve or proportional valve for implementing the filling device 10 can be omitted, because a simple shut-off function is sufficient, which, in conjunction with the flexibly adjustable pressure drop, expands the working range of the filling device 10.

[0057] As long as they are applicable, all the individual features described in the embodiments may be combined with one another and / or exchanged without departing from the protection scope of the present invention.

[0058] Reference numerals list

[0059] 1 Equipment for filling containers

[0060] 10 Filling mechanism

[0061] 11 Input pipeline

[0062] 12 Product Pump

[0063] 13 Distribution pipeline

[0064] 14 Output pipeline

[0065] 15 Flow Meter

[0066] 16. Pressure gauge

[0067] 17 Rotary distributor

[0068] 20 Product conveying device

[0069] 21 Product cans

[0070] 30 Pressure maintaining equipment

[0071] 31 Pressure maintaining valve

[0072] 50 Control device

Claims

1. A device (1) for filling a container with a filling product, wherein the device comprises: a product delivery device (20) configured to provide the filled product; one or more filling mechanisms (10) configured to introduce the filling product into the container; a dispensing line (13), to which the filling mechanism (10) is connected and from which the filling mechanism (10) takes the filling product to be filled; a product pump (12) configured to transport the filling product from the product delivery device (20) to the dispensing line (13); and A pressure maintaining device (30) is configured to maintain a constant pressure in the distribution line (13).

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

3. The device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The pressure maintaining device (30) has a pressure maintaining valve (31) installed in the distribution line (13).

4. The device (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that The pressure holding valve (31) is designed as a switching valve and / or a regulating valve.

5. The device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that An outlet line (14) is provided, wherein the pressure holding device (30) is configured to remove excess filling product via the outlet line (14).

6. The device (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that The pressure holding device (30) is configured to transport excess filling product back to the product delivery device (20) via the outlet line (14).

7. The device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that A control device (50) is provided, which communicates with the product pump (12) and is configured to control the product pump (12) so that more filling product is always conveyed into the dispensing line (13) than is extracted by the filling device (10), whereby the product pump (12) generates overpower.

8. The device (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that A flow meter (15) is provided downstream of the pressure maintaining device (30), the flow meter being in communication with the control means (50) and being configured to measure the excess power.

9. The device (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that A pressure sensor (16) is provided in the dispensing line (13), the pressure sensor being in communication with the control device (50) and being configured to measure the pressure in the dispensing line (13).

10. The device (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that The control device (50) is in communication with the pressure maintaining device (30) and is configured to actively open-loop control and / or closed-loop control the pressure maintaining device (30) for adjusting the pressure in the dispensing line (13).

11. The device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The pressure-maintaining device (30) is designed to be self-regulating.

12. The device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that An input pipeline (11) is arranged between the product conveying device (20) and the distribution pipeline (13), and the input pipeline connects the product conveying device (20) and the distribution pipeline (13), wherein the device (1) is implemented in a surrounding configuration with a rotatable filler turntable and has at least one rotating distributor (17), which is configured to convey the filling product from the input pipeline (11) to the filler turntable.

13. The device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The product conveying device (20) has a product tank (21).

14. The device (1) according to claim 13, characterized in that The product tank (21) is non-regulated in terms of pressure and / or level.

15. The device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The filling device (10) is implemented as a stop valve, which has two controllable states, open / closed, and has a fixed flow coefficient in the open state.

Images