Filling equipment

Abstract

The utility model relates to filling equipment. The filling equipment comprises a feeding valve, a first flow path and a material tank, and the first flow path is connected between the feeding valve and the material tank. The filling equipment further comprises a static mixer, and the static mixer is arranged in the first flow path, so that the first raw material and the second raw material can flow through the first flow path through the feeding valve, are mixed in the static mixer and then enter the material tank. The static mixer comprises a pipe body and a plurality of mixing blades arranged in the pipe body, the pipe body comprises at least two straight pipes and bent pipes, the projections of the straight pipes are overlapped in the same projection direction, the bent pipes are connected with the two adjacent straight pipes, and the mixing blades are arranged in the straight pipes. The utility model provides filling equipment which is compact in structure, capable of uniformly mixing raw materials and reducing waste of the raw materials, and particularly suitable for filling low-temperature mixed beverages containing particles.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to the field of fluid filling, and particularly relates to a compact filling device for uniformly mixing at least two raw materials and reducing waste of raw materials. Background Art

[0002] The content of this part only provides background information related to the utility model, which may not constitute prior art.

[0003] In the production process of fluid products such as beverages, there is a need to add particulate matter to liquid-phase raw materials. For example, adding fruit grains, grains and other particulate matter to liquid-phase raw materials such as yogurt and milk to produce mixed beverages. In common low-temperature filling equipment, two flow paths are used to respectively fill the liquid-phase raw materials and particulate matter into beverage packages, and the two are mixed in the beverage packages. Since it is difficult to accurately control the flow rate and velocity of the particulate matter before, this method will result in different particulate matter contents in different packages, and there are relatively large problems with product uniformity.

[0004] Some other filling systems commonly used for filling room-temperature mixed beverages are provided with a long pre-treatment pipeline before the filling station, so that the liquid-phase raw materials and particulate matter are mixed in the pre-treatment pipeline and then filled. This method can alleviate the problem of uneven mixing to a certain extent. However, since the market demand for low-temperature mixed beverages is relatively small and the shelf life is short, a set of low-temperature filling system may need to frequently switch the raw materials to be filled (for example, switch the varieties of particulate matter) to produce a variety of different low-temperature mixed beverages. For the low-temperature filling process that needs to frequently switch raw materials, the long pre-treatment pipeline means waste of raw materials, resulting in an increase in production costs. In addition, the long pre-treatment pipeline requires the filling system to occupy a large installation space, which also indirectly leads to an increase in production costs.

[0005] Therefore, there is an urgent need to seek a compact filling device suitable for producing low-temperature mixed beverages to solve the problem of uneven mixing of liquid-phase raw materials and particulate matter, and at the same time avoid waste of raw materials and control costs. Summary of the Utility Model

[0006] One object of the present disclosure is to provide a filling device capable of uniformly mixing raw materials. Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a filling device capable of reducing waste of raw materials caused during the process of switching raw materials. Still another object of the present disclosure is to provide a filling device with a compact structure.

[0007] The present disclosure provides a filling device. The filling device includes a feed valve, a first flow path, and a storage tank, wherein the first flow path is connected between the feed valve and the storage tank. The filling device further includes a static mixer disposed in the first flow path such that a first raw material and a second raw material can flow through the first flow path via the feed valve and be mixed in the static mixer and then enter the storage tank. The static mixer includes a pipe body and a plurality of mixing vanes disposed inside the pipe body. The pipe body includes at least two straight pipes whose projections in the same projection direction overlap and elbows connecting adjacent two straight pipes, and the plurality of mixing vanes are disposed in the straight pipes.

[0008] In some embodiments, the storage tank extends parallel to the longitudinal direction. The pipe body includes two straight pipes extending along the longitudinal direction and an elbow connecting the two straight pipes, and the elbow is in a U shape or an inverted U shape.

[0009] In some embodiments, the mixing vanes are made by helically twisting wing-shaped vanes, and in the straight pipe, adjacent mixing vanes are in abutting fit.

[0010] In some embodiments, the ratio of the length of the static mixer to the total length of the first flow path is at least 1 / 2.

[0011] In some embodiments, the outlet of the static mixer is arranged close to the inlet of the storage tank.

[0012] In some embodiments, a stirrer for further mixing the mixed liquid of the first raw material and the second raw material is provided in the storage tank.

[0013] In some embodiments, the stirrer includes a rod body extending from the top to the bottom of the storage tank along the longitudinal axis of the storage tank and a helical blade disposed at the end of the rod body and extending spirally around the rod body in the radial direction.

[0014] In some embodiments, the storage tank has an inlet, and the first flow path is connected to the storage tank via the inlet. The inlet is arranged close to the bottom of the storage tank and below the top end of the helical blade.

[0015] In some embodiments, a hollow chamber is defined in the storage tank, and the ratio of the inner diameter of the chamber to the height of the chamber is at least 1 / 3.

[0016] In some embodiments, the storage tank has an outlet provided at the bottom of the storage tank, and the ratio of the inner diameter of the outlet to the inner diameter of the chamber is at least 1 / 5.

[0017] In some embodiments, the first raw material includes a base liquid. The filling device further includes a second flow path for supplying the base liquid. The second flow path is connected to a base liquid source at the upstream end and connected to the first flow path via the feed valve at the downstream end.

[0018] In some embodiments, the second raw material includes granular ingredients, and the filling device further includes a raw material tank for supplying the granular ingredients. The raw material tank is connected to the feed valve through a third flow path, such that the outlet of the raw material tank is connected to the first flow path via the third flow path and the feed valve.

[0019] The filling device according to the present utility model includes a static mixer with mixing blades, so that the liquid-phase raw material and the granular ingredients are sufficiently pre-mixed through the static mixer before entering the storage tank. The static mixer is arranged in a curved pipe shape combined with straight pipes and bent pipes, which is beneficial to reducing the installation space required for the static mixer. The filling device is integrally assembled with a static mixer, a feed valve and a storage tank, which means that the flow path lengths between the base liquid source for supplying the liquid-phase raw material, the raw material tank for supplying the granular ingredients, the feed valve and the storage tank can be significantly shortened, thereby reducing raw material waste and production costs when switching raw materials. In addition, this arrangement also makes the filling device have a compact configuration. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] Embodiments of the present utility model will be described hereinafter only by way of example with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same features or components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. In the drawings:

[0021] Figure 1 A schematic structural diagram of a filling device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown, wherein the dashed box represents the boundary of the filling device;

[0022] Figure 2 and Figure 3 A perspective view of the raw material mixing part of the filling device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure as observed from different angles is shown;

[0023] Figure 4 A cross-sectional view of the static mixer of the filling device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure taken along a middle longitudinal plane is shown;

[0024] Figure 5 A cross-sectional view of the storage tank of the filling device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure taken along a longitudinal plane passing through the inlet of the storage tank is shown; and

[0025] Figure 6 Shown is Figure 5 A cross-sectional view of the storage tank in taken along a longitudinal plane passing through the outlet of the storage tank. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0026] The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present utility model, its applications, and uses. It should be understood that in all these drawings, like reference numerals indicate the same or similar parts and features. Each drawing only schematically shows the concept and principle of the embodiments of the present utility model, and does not necessarily show the specific dimensions and their ratios of the embodiments of the present utility model. In a particular part of a particular drawing, the relevant details or structures of the embodiments of the present utility model may be illustrated in an exaggerated manner.

[0027] In the description of the embodiments of the present utility model, if used, the orientation terms related to "upper", "lower", "top", and "bottom" are described based on the upper and lower positions of the views shown in the drawings. In actual applications, the positional relationships of "upper", "lower", "top", and "bottom" used herein can be defined according to the actual situation, and these relationships may be reversed with each other.

[0028] First, refer to Figure 1 to introduce the overall structure of the filling device 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 1 The structural schematic diagram of the filling device 100 is shown, and the dashed box represents the boundary of the filling device 100. In particular, the filling device 100 according to the present utility model is applicable to the filling of low-temperature mixed beverages (beverages treated by pasteurization).

[0029] Combined with Figure 1 、 Figure 2As shown, the filling device 100 includes a feed valve 110, a storage tank 120, a first flow path 131 connected between the feed valve 110 and the storage tank 120, and a static mixer 140 provided in the first flow path 131. At least two raw material bins can be provided upstream of the feed valve 110, such that a variety of raw materials from these raw material bins flow through the first flow path 131 via the feed valve 110, are mixed in the static mixer 140, and then enter the storage tank 120. The storage tank 120 includes one or more inlets 121 and one or more outlets 122. The inlet 121 of the storage tank 120 is in communication with the first flow path 131, and the mixture flowing out of the outlet 122 of the storage tank 120 is filled into the package 200. A rotatable agitator 123 for further mixing the raw materials entering the storage tank 120 can also be provided inside the storage tank 120. In the present embodiment, the filling device 100 includes a second flow path 132 for transporting a first raw material and a third flow path 133 for transporting a second raw material. The first raw material can include a base liquid. The second flow path 132 is connected at its upstream end to a first raw material bin 151 configured as a base liquid source and at its downstream end to the first flow path 131 via the feed valve 110. The second raw material can include granular ingredients. The third flow path 133 is connected at its upstream end to the outlet of a second raw material bin 152 configured as a raw material tank for supplying granular ingredients and at its downstream end to the first flow path 131 via the feed valve 110. In other embodiments, the first raw material and the second raw material can be set as any suitable type of raw material. For example, the second raw material can be set as a slurry containing particles or a liquid without particles. A pump 160 can be provided in the third flow path 133. The type of the pump 160 can be selected or determined according to the type of the raw material to be transported. For example, when the second raw material contains more particles, the pump 160 can be a rotor pump or a screw pump. For example, when the second raw material is in the form of a slurry (the amount of particles and liquid is relatively balanced or the content of particles is less), the pump 160 can be a piston pump. For example, when the second raw material is in a liquid state, the pump 160 can be a reciprocating pump. The pump 160 is selected or configured to be able to adjust the transport ratio of the first raw material and the second raw material. In particular, the second flow path 132 and / or the third flow path 133 can be set to have a smaller length, such that the first raw material bin 151 and / or the second raw material bin 152 are installed close to the feed valve 110. For example, in some embodiments, the third flow path 133 can be omitted, such that the outlet of the second raw material bin 152 is directly connected to the feed valve 110. This helps to reduce the waste caused by the raw materials remaining in the corresponding flow paths when switching raw materials.

[0030] The filling device 100 may further include other flow paths or devices for assisting in filling. For example, the filling device 100 may include an air flow path 171 connecting the second raw material bin 152 to a clean air source (not shown). When the pump 160 operates to convey the second raw material in the second raw material bin 152, gas is introduced into the second raw material bin 152 via the air flow path 171 to prevent the generation of negative pressure in the second raw material bin 152, which may negatively affect or impede the conveyance of the second raw material. The air flow path 171 may also be connected to a cleaning source 181 to clean the filling flow path and the material tank 120 via the air flow path 171 in a direction opposite to the filling direction. The filling device 100 may further include a compressed gas flow path 172 connecting the material tank 120 to a compressed gas source 182. The compressed gas flow path 172 is used to fill compressed gas above the material in the material tank 120, which is beneficial for conveying and filling the material via the filling flow path. A filter 172a may be provided on the compressed gas flow path 172. The filling device 100 may further include a steam flow path 173 connected to a steam source 183 for conveying steam. A condensation fan 173a may be provided on the steam flow path 173. The steam is condensed into water when flowing through the condensation fan 173a. The condensed water may be supplied to the agitator 123 via the steam flow path 173 to provide a liquid seal for the agitator 123 to prevent leakage, for cooling and / or for providing lubrication. The steam flow path 173 may also be selectively communicated with the compressed gas flow path 172 via a valve to perform steam sterilization on the filter 172a on the compressed gas flow path 172. The filling device 100 may further include a discharge flow path 174. The waste liquid or waste in each component or flow path of the filling device 100 may be discharged to the outside of the filling device 100 via the discharge flow path 174. Various fluid control devices (such as on-off valves, pressure reducing valves, check valves, etc.) and measuring devices (such as flow sensors, temperature sensors, pressure sensors, etc.) may be provided in each flow path of the filling device 100 as needed.

[0031] The following will further describe the structure of the raw material mixing part (including the static mixer 140 and the material tank 120) of the filling device 100 in conjunction with Figures 2 to 6 FIGS. Figure 2 and Figure 3 FIG. Figure 4 shows a perspective view of the raw material mixing part of the filling device 100 observed from different angles, Figure 5 FIG. Figure 6 shows a cross-sectional view of the static mixer 140 of the filling device 100 taken along the middle longitudinal plane,

[0032] FIG. Figure 2 and Figure 3As shown, the material tank 120 extends longitudinally. Preferably, the outlet of the static mixer 140 is arranged close to the inlet 121 of the material tank 120. In particular, the outlet of the static mixer 140 can be directly connected to the inlet 121 of the material tank, which helps to minimize the length of the first flow path 131 while ensuring uniform mixing of the raw materials, so as to reduce waste caused by the raw materials remaining in the first flow path when switching raw materials (such as switching different particulate matters) to produce different beverage products. On the other hand, to ensure that the static mixer 140 can fully mix the raw materials, the ratio of the length of the static mixer 140 to the total length of the first flow path 131 is preferably at least 1 / 2.

[0033] As Figure 4 As shown, the static mixer 140 includes a tube body 143 defining an inlet 141 and an outlet 142, and a plurality of mixing vanes 144 disposed within the tube body 143. Each mixing vane 144 can be formed by helically twisting a wing-shaped vane. For ease of manufacture and installation, the mixing vanes 144 can be fixedly installed within the tube body 143 in a detachable manner. When the first raw material and the second raw material flow into the first flow path 131 via the feed valve 110 and further into the static mixer 140, the mixing vanes 144 force the mixture of the first raw material and the second raw material to flow and mix in the static mixer 140 from the inlet 141 to the outlet 142 along a helical path defined by the helical surface of the mixing vanes 144 and the inner wall of the tube body 143. The tube body 143 of the static mixer 140 includes at least two straight tubes 143a whose projections in the same projection direction overlap, and elbow tubes 143b connecting adjacent straight tubes. A plurality of mixing vanes 144 are disposed within the straight tubes 143a. Preferably, within the straight tubes 143a, adjacent mixing vanes 144 are in abutting engagement to make full use of the space within the straight tubes 143a. In the present embodiment, the tube body 143 includes two straight tubes 143a extending parallel to the longitudinal direction and an elbow tube 143b connecting the two straight tubes 143a, and the elbow tube 143b is generally U-shaped or inverted U-shaped. Making the straight tubes 143a of the static mixer 140 extend parallel to the longitudinal direction like the material tank 120 helps to save installation space and enables the outlet 142 of the static mixer 140 to be arranged close to the inlet 121 of the material tank 120. However, in other embodiments, the static mixer 140 can also be arranged in any other suitable orientation and shape. For example, the straight tubes 143a of the static mixer 140 can be arranged horizontally or inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of the material tank 120. For another example, the static mixer 140 can include three or more straight tubes 143a, and adjacent straight tubes 143a are connected via elbow tubes 143b to form a generally S-shaped. The number, length, and diameter of the straight tubes 143a and elbow tubes 143b of the static mixer 140 can be reasonably set according to factors such as installation space, raw material flow rate, and particle size of the raw materials. In Figure 4In the exemplary embodiment shown, for particulate matter with a diameter in the range of 0 to 8 mm, the static mixer 140 is provided with two straight pipes 143a and an inverted U-shaped elbow 143b connecting the two straight pipes 143a. The length of each straight pipe 143a is in the range of 400 to 500 mm. Five mixing vanes 144 that abut against each other are provided in each straight pipe 143a, and the gap between the mixing vane and the inner wall of the straight pipe is less than 0.1 mm.

[0034] As Figure 5 and Figure 6 shown, the storage tank 120 includes an inlet 121 and an outlet 122 and defines a hollow chamber 124. The inlet 121 may be provided near the bottom of the storage tank 120, and the outlet 122 may be provided at the bottom of the storage tank 120. Preferably, the ratio of the inner diameter of the chamber 124 of the storage tank 120 to the height of the chamber 124 is at least 1 / 3. Also preferably, the ratio of the inner diameter of the outlet 122 of the storage tank 120 to the inner diameter of the chamber 124 is at least 1 / 5. In other words, the storage tank 120 may have a "short and stout" configuration with slightly larger dimensions in the radial direction and slightly smaller dimensions in the height direction, and the outlet 122 of the storage tank 120 may be set as large as possible, which is beneficial to uniformly mixing the mixed material in the storage tank 120 and smoothly flowing out from the outlet 122 of the storage tank 120. The rotatable agitator 123 in the storage tank 120 includes a rod body 123a extending from the top to the bottom of the storage tank 120 along the longitudinal axis of the storage tank 120 and a spiral blade 123b provided at the end of the rod body 123a and radially spirally extending around the rod body 123a. A driver 125, such as a motor, for driving the rod body 123a of the agitator 123 to rotate around the axis of the rod body 123a may also be provided on the storage tank 120. The inlet 121 of the storage tank 120 communicating with the first flow path 131 is provided near the bottom of the storage tank 120 and below the top end of the spiral blade 123b. Thus, the raw material entering from the inlet 121 can be directly rotated and agitated by the spiral blade 123b of the agitator 123 for mixing. The agitator 123 may further include a paddle blade 123c provided at the end of the rod body 123a and radially extending outward relative to the rod body 123a. The paddle blade 123c is preferably provided below the inlet 121 of the storage tank 120 and near the bottom of the storage tank 120 to facilitate fully agitating the raw material at the bottom of the storage tank 120 and preventing particulate ingredients from depositing at the bottom of the storage tank 120 under the action of gravity. A viewing window 126 may also be provided on the tank body of the storage tank 120 to facilitate the operator to observe the situation inside the storage tank 120, such as observing the liquid level height, etc.

[0035] The filling equipment according to the present utility model is provided with a bent static mixer composed of multiple straight pipes and elbows connecting the straight pipes. The inlet of the static mixer can be arranged close to the feed valve and the raw material bin upstream of the feed valve, and the outlet of the static mixer can be arranged close to the storage tank. Thus, sufficient premixing of the raw materials is achieved in a limited space. Due to this static mixer arranged in a bent manner, the raw material bin can be arranged close to the feed valve and the feed valve can be arranged close to the storage tank, thereby significantly shortening the distance from the raw material bin to the storage tank, reducing the waste caused by the raw materials remaining in the flow path between the raw material bin and the storage tank during the process of switching different raw materials, reducing the production cost, and realizing a filling equipment with a compact structure. In addition, the filling equipment according to the present utility model further enhances the uniformity of raw material mixing through the combination of the static mixer upstream of the storage tank and the rotatable stirrer in the storage tank.

[0036] Herein, exemplary embodiments of the filling equipment according to the present utility model have been described in detail, but it should be understood that the present utility model is not limited to the specific embodiments described and illustrated above in detail. Without departing from the gist and scope of the present utility model, those skilled in the art can make various modifications and variations to the present utility model. All such modifications and variations fall within the scope of the present utility model. Moreover, all the components described herein can be replaced by other technically equivalent components.

Claims

1. A filling device, comprising a feed valve, a first flow path and a material tank, in, The first flow path is connected between the feed valve and the material tank. The filling device further comprises a static mixer, which is arranged in the first flow path, so that the first raw material and the second raw material can flow through the first flow path via the feed valve and enter the material tank after being mixed in the static mixer. The static mixer includes a tube body and a plurality of mixing blades arranged in the tube body. The tube body includes at least two straight tubes with overlapping projections in the same projection direction and a curved tube connecting two adjacent straight tubes. The plurality of mixing blades are arranged in the straight tubes.

2. The filling device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The material tank extends in a longitudinal direction, and the tube body includes two straight tubes extending parallel to the longitudinal direction and a bent tube connecting the two straight tubes, and the bent tube is U-shaped or inverted U-shaped.

3. The filling device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The mixing blades are made by spirally twisting wing-shaped blades, and adjacent mixing blades are abutted and matched in the straight tube.

4. The filling device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that The ratio of the length of the static mixer to the total length of the first flow path is at least 1 / 2.

5. The filling device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that The outlet of the static mixer is arranged close to the inlet of the material tank.

6. The filling device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that The material tank is provided with a stirrer for further mixing the mixed liquid of the first raw material and the second raw material.

7. The filling device according to claim 6, characterized in that: The agitator comprises a rod body extending from the top to the bottom of the material tank along the longitudinal axis of the material tank and a spiral blade arranged at the end of the rod body and spirally extending around the radial direction of the rod body.

8. The filling device according to claim 7, characterized in that: The tank has an inlet, the first flow path is connected to the tank via the inlet, and the inlet is arranged close to the bottom of the tank and lower than the top of the spiral blade.

9. The filling device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that The material tank defines a hollow chamber therein, and the ratio of the inner diameter of the chamber to the height of the chamber is at least 1 / 3.

10. The filling device according to claim 9, characterized in that The tank has an outlet disposed at the bottom of the tank, and a ratio of an inner diameter of the outlet to an inner diameter of the chamber is at least 1 / 5.

11. The filling device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that The first raw material includes a base liquid, and the filling device further includes a second flow path for supplying the base liquid, wherein the second flow path is connected to a base liquid source at an upstream end and is connected to the first flow path via the feed valve at a downstream end.

12. The filling device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that The second raw material includes granular ingredients, and the filling equipment also includes a raw material tank for supplying the granular ingredients. The raw material tank is connected to the feed valve through a third flow path, so that the outlet of the raw material tank is connected to the first flow path via the third flow path and the feed valve.

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