Filling device and filling station for filling liquid food product containing particles into package

Abstract

A filling device and a filling station for filling a liquid food product containing particles into a package. The filling device comprises a pipeline with a lower section and an upper section, the lower section is arranged to be fed into the packaging main body during the filling process, the upper section is arranged to be placed above the main body during the filling process, the lower section has an inner width, the lower end of the lower section is provided with an opening with an opening width, and the opening width is smaller than the inner width; a rod arranged to be movable along the central axis of the pipe, the rod being provided in the lower end with a disc member having a width less than the inner width of the lower section of the pipe and greater than the width of the opening, in which the device is configured to be in a closed state in which the disc member of the rod is pushed towards the opening of the pipe to prevent passage of product through the opening, and an open state in which the disc member is pushed towards the opening of the pipe to prevent passage of product through the opening. Placing the disc-shaped member at a distance from the opening such that the product is released via the opening, the opening edge being arranged such that product particles are cut and / or pushed away when the disc-shaped member is pushed toward the opening as the filling device transitions from the open state to the closed state.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model generally relates to packaging technology. More specifically, it relates to a filling device for filling liquid food into packaging, a filling station including such a filling device, and a related method. Background Technology

[0002] Including particles in liquid foods is becoming increasingly popular. For example, in many parts of the world over the past few years, yogurt products containing berries or berry parts have become the preferred alternative to regular yogurt. Another example of liquid foods containing particles is fruit juice containing pulp and / or seeds.

[0003] Processing liquid foods containing particles presents many challenges that food manufacturers typically don't face when processing regular products (i.e., products without particles). One such challenge is heat treatment. Because products with particles and liquids are inherently different in composition, without suitable equipment and processes for handling products with particles, there is a risk that the entire food product (i.e., both the liquid and the particles) may not receive adequate heat treatment. One consequence of this could be unsafe food consumption. Another consequence could be negatively impacted product performance, resulting in taste, texture, and other qualities that do not meet consumer expectations.

[0004] An example of a liquid food with particles is aseptic, high-viscosity yogurt with particles, sometimes referred to as drinking yogurt. Aseptic yogurt should be understood here as having undergone heat treatment using so-called ultra-high temperature (UHT) processing or any other equivalent technique to reduce the number of unwanted microorganisms. By doing so, and using packaging that effectively protects the food from environmental influences once packaged, the food can be stored at room temperature, or in some cases refrigerated, but with an extended shelf life.

[0005] Example processing lines for producing drinking yogurt with particles (sometimes called microparticles) may include: a high-shear mixer to provide product texture and stability; mixing tanks; a pasteurizer; an inoculation unit for adding starter culture; fermentation tanks; a cooler to minimize viscosity breakdown; an indirect UHT system for heat-treating the product while preserving viscosity; aseptic buffer tanks; mixing tanks configured to incorporate particles into the yogurt; and packaging machines, such as... TT / 3AD is an example of a cardboard bottle packaging machine.

[0006] While it is now possible to reliably produce and package yogurt with particles, typically ranging from 50 to 400 cP in viscosity, challenges related to particles remain. One such challenge is the risk that particles can become stuck in the valve mechanism of the filling machine during the filling process. If this occurs, the filling pipe cannot close properly, leading to increased spillage as the package moves from one pack to another within the machine. Another consequence of spillage is that particles can eventually enter the sealing area of ​​the pack being filled. If particles are present in the sealing area, the risk of the package not being properly sealed (sometimes referred to as binding) in the sealing station located downstream of the filling station within the packaging machine increases. Utility Model Content

[0007] The purpose of this invention is to at least partially overcome one or more of the aforementioned limitations of the prior art. In particular, one objective is to provide a filling mechanism capable of handling granules, thereby achieving sufficient closure to reduce dripping during movement from one package to another.

[0008] According to a first aspect, a filling device is provided for filling a package with a liquid food containing particles, the device comprising:

[0009] The pipe has a lower section and an upper section. The lower section is arranged to be fed into the body of the package during the filling process, and the upper section is arranged to be placed above the body during this filling process. The lower section has an internal width, and its lower end may be provided with an opening having an opening width, which may be smaller than the internal width.

[0010] A rod, arranged to move along the central axis of a pipe, has a disc-shaped member at its lower end, wherein the width of the disc-shaped member may be less than the internal width of the lower section of the pipe and greater than the width of the opening.

[0011] The device can be configured to be in the following states:

[0012] In the closed state, the disc-shaped component of the rod pushes against the opening of the pipe, thereby preventing the product from passing through the opening.

[0013] With the device in the open position, the disc-shaped component is positioned at a certain distance from the opening, allowing the product to be released through the opening.

[0014] The edges of the opening can be arranged such that as the filling device moves from an open state to a closed state, the product particles are cut and / or pushed away when the disc-shaped member is pushed toward the opening.

[0015] During the closing process, i.e. when changing from an open state to a closed state, the advantage of arranging the edges of the opening to cut and / or push away the particles is that the risk of particles getting stuck between the disc-shaped component and the edge of the opening is reduced, thereby reducing dripping, but also reducing wear on the filling device.

[0016] The lower section of the pipe can have a rectangular cross-section.

[0017] The advantage of this design is that the rectangular cross-section of the packaging allows for a tight fit. This tight fit results in less space between the packaging and the tubing during the filling process, enabling more controlled filling.

[0018] The rod can be equipped with radially projecting and longitudinally extending guide members, thereby reducing the horizontal movement between the pipe and the rod during the filling process.

[0019] The presence of guiding members reduces the risk of misalignment of the disc member relative to the pipe opening. This, in turn, reduces the risk introduced by the disc member's offset relative to the opening.

[0020] The lower section of the pipe may have a basic rectangular cross-section, and the rod may be provided with four guide members, each of which extends into the corresponding corner of the rectangular cross-section of the lower section of the pipe during the filling process.

[0021] By giving the pipe a rectangular cross-section, a tight fit with the packaging can be achieved, and the guide members are arranged such that each guide member is introduced into the corresponding corner, thus enabling reliable guidance.

[0022] The pipe can have a basic rectangular cross-section, and the opening can be a circular opening.

[0023] As mentioned above, having a rectangular or nearly rectangular cross-section allows for a tight fit with the packaging. Making the opening circular, even if the pipe has a nearly rectangular cross-section, reduces the risk of food (e.g., granules) getting stuck or trapped in the opening.

[0024] The disc-shaped component may have longitudinally circular side surfaces, and the edges of the opening may be inclined downwards.

[0025] The advantage of arranging the disc-shaped components and edges in this way is that the flow formed in the food as the disc-shaped components move towards the edges reduces the likelihood of particles ending up between the edges and the disc-shaped components. Furthermore, if particles do end up between the edges and the disc-shaped components, these particles can be effectively cut.

[0026] The edges of the opening can be tapered.

[0027] The advantage of making the edges conical is that it can cut the particles into fragments more effectively.

[0028] The bottom surface of the disc-shaped component may be provided with protrusions and / or indentations to reduce dripping when closed.

[0029] By having a non-flat surface, the surface area can be increased, which can reduce the occurrence of dripping.

[0030] According to the second aspect, a filling station is provided, comprising:

[0031] According to the filling device of the first aspect

[0032] Product piping, which is arranged to supply liquid food to the filling device.

[0033] A first motor mechanism is used to provide a first relative vertical movement between the filling device and the packaging.

[0034] A second motor device is used to provide a second relative vertical movement between the rod and the pipe of the filling device.

[0035] The control unit is used to control the first and second motor units.

[0036] During the filling process, the control unit can be configured as follows:

[0037] The packaging is moved relative to the filling device, so that the filling device, which is in a closed state, is transferred into the packaging through the open end.

[0038] By using a second motor to move a lever relative to the pipe, the filling device is moved from a closed state to an open state.

[0039] By using a first motor device to move the package relative to the filling device, the filling device, which is in the open state, is transferred away from the package, and

[0040] The filling device is moved from an open state to a closed state by using a second motor to move a lever relative to the pipe.

[0041] As described above, the control unit can be configured to move the package relative to the filling device, such that the filling device, in a closed state, is transferred into the package via the open end. The control unit can be configured to provide this movement until the lower end position is reached. Furthermore, as described above, the control unit can be configured to remove the package, in an open state, from the package. The first device can be configured to provide this movement until the lower end of the filling device conduit is outside the package.

[0042] It can control the movement between the packaging and filling devices, as well as the movement between the rods and pipes, so that the filling process can adapt to various foods with different particle sizes, thereby achieving efficient filling.

[0043] The filling station may also include:

[0044] A conveying device, which is arranged to convey at least one packaging retainer for holding the package,

[0045] The conveying device can be configured to move the packaging holder intermittently, so that the packaging remains horizontally stationary during the filling process.

[0046] The first motor is configured to vertically move the packaging retainer during the filling process.

[0047] The first motor unit can be arranged to move only the packaging retainer.

[0048] The second motor unit is arranged to move only the rod.

[0049] According to a third aspect, a method is provided for filling a package with a liquid food containing particles using a filling station according to a second aspect, the method comprising:

[0050] By using a first motor to move the package relative to the filling device, the filling device, which is in a closed state, is transferred into the package through its open end.

[0051] By using a second motor to move a lever relative to the pipe, the filling device is moved from a closed state to an open state.

[0052] By using a first motor device to move the package relative to the filling device, the filling device, which is in the open state, is moved away from the package, and

[0053] The filling device is moved from an open state to a closed state by using a second motor to move a lever relative to the pipe.

[0054] The same features and advantages as described above also apply to this aspect.

[0055] According to the fourth aspect, a computer program product is provided, which includes instructions that, when executed by a control unit, cause the control unit to perform the method according to the third aspect.

[0056] The same features and advantages as described above also apply to this aspect.

[0057] Other objects, features, aspects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings. Attached Figure Description

[0058] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein...

[0059] Figures 1 to 5 Cross-sectional and perspective views of the filling apparatus and packaging are shown at different steps in the filling process.

[0060] Figure 6 The lower end of the filling station is shown in more detail.

[0061] Figure 7 Broadly showing including Figures 1 to 5 The filling station of the filling device shown.

[0062] Figure 8 This is a flowchart illustrating a method of filling a package with a liquid food containing particles using a filling device. Detailed Implementation

[0063] Figure 1 A filling device 100 is shown by way of example, comprising a conduit 102 having a lower section 104 and an upper section 106. The lower end 108 of the conduit 102 has an opening 110. A rod 112 is disposed inside the conduit 102. A disc-shaped member 116 is disposed in the lower end 114 of the rod 112. The disc-shaped member 116 is arranged to have a width WD. This width WD is less than the internal width WI of the conduit 102, but greater than the opening width WO, i.e., the width of the opening 110. By arranging the rod 112 in this way, the opening 110 of the conduit 102 can be closed by pushing the disc-shaped member 116 toward the edge 118 of the opening 110. As will be further described below, the edge 118 of the opening 110 can be arranged such that any particles of food FP (such as yogurt) are pushed away from the edge 118 before the disc-shaped member 116 encounters the edge, thereby closing the conduit 102, or in other words, entering a closed state (CLOSE). Additionally or alternatively, the edge 118 of the opening 110 and the disc member 116 can be arranged such that the particles are shredded when they finally reach between the edge 118 and the disc member 116, thereby providing sufficient closure.

[0064] As shown in the figure, pipe 102 and rod 112 can extend along the central axis CA. Guide member 120 can be provided on rod 112 such that rod 112 can move perpendicularly relative to pipe 102 without substantially deviating from the central axis CA.

[0065] The bottom surface 122 of the disc-shaped member 116 may be provided with recesses, sometimes referred to as indentations or recesses. These recesses reduce the likelihood of dripping that may occur after the filling device 100 is closed (i.e., transitioning from the open state to the closed state). One reason for this is that the area of ​​the bottom surface 122 is increased due to the presence of these recesses.

[0066] During the filling process at the filling station, the filling device 100, as shown, can be placed above the package 200. As shown, the package 200 may include a body 202 and a top 204. The package 200 illustrated herein has a downward-facing top 204 and an upward-facing bottom during filling, with an open end allowing food FP to be supplied into the package 200 through the bottom. The package 200 can be embodied in various ways. For example, as shown, the top 204 may be made of plastic and also have a threaded neck for applying a lid. An example of such a package is... Sales

[0067] Figures 1 to 5 The image illustrates, by way of example, the filling process that occurs in a filling station, sometimes referred to as a filling sequence. In the first step, as... Figure 1 As shown, the filling device is in the closed state, that is, the disc-shaped member 116 of the rod 112 is pushed against the opening 110 of the pipe 102, thereby preventing the food FP from being released through the opening 110 of the pipe 102.

[0068] In the second step, such as Figure 2 As shown, the filling device 100, still in a closed state, is introduced into the package 200. Introducing the filling device 100 into the package 200 can be achieved by moving the filling device 100 downwards, by moving the package 200 upwards, or a combination of both.

[0069] exist Figure 3 In the third step shown, the filling device 100 is fully inserted into the package 200. Even when fully inserted, there may be a distance between the filling device 100 and the interior of the package 200, so that the package 200 is not at risk of being damaged by the filling device 100. When fully inserted, the rod 112 can move upward relative to the conduit 102, so that the disc member 116 is positioned at a distance D-OS from the opening 110, thereby allowing the food FP to be released from the conduit 102 into the package 200.

[0070] exist Figure 4 In the fourth step shown, the filling device 100 is moved away from the package 200 by moving the filling device 100, by moving the package 200, or a combination thereof. When the filling device 100 is moved away from the package 200, the filling device 100 can be in the OPEN state. The advantage of moving the filling device 100 relative to the package 200 when the filling device 100 is in the OPEN state is that efficient filling can be achieved. For example, splashing and / or bubbling can be reduced.

[0071] In the fifth step, such as Figure 5As shown, the filling device 100 is moved away from the package 200, and the filling device 100 has entered the closed state (CLOSE), that is, the disc member 116 is pushed towards the edge 118 of the opening 110. By moving the filling device 100 away from the package 200, the package 200 now filled with food FP can be moved horizontally and replaced by a new package that has not yet been filled.

[0072] Figure 6 The filling device 100 is shown in more detail. As shown, the edge 118 of the opening 110 may be sharpened and / or tapered to ensure that the particles ultimately reaching the space between the disc member 116 and the edge 118 are cut into small pieces when moving from the open state to the closed state, thereby achieving full closure of the filling device 100. Additionally or alternatively, the edge 110 may be inclined downwards. The advantage of inclining the edge 110 in this manner is that the particles can be pushed away from the interface between the disc member 116 and the edge 118 before the disc member 116 closes the opening 110.

[0073] Figure 7 A filling station 700 is illustrated by way of example. As shown, the filling station 700 may include the filling device 100 described above. Furthermore, the filling station 700 may include a product tube 702, which is arranged to supply food FP into the conduit 102 of the filling device 100. A first motor device 704 may be provided for moving the package 200 relative to the filling device 100. A second device 706 may be provided for moving the rod 112 and the disc member 116 relative to the conduit 102 and the opening 110. A control unit 708 may be provided communicatively connected to the first and second motor devices 704, 706, thereby providing control data to the motor devices. As shown, a conveying device 710, such as a conveyor belt, may be provided for transporting the package 200. As shown, the package 200 may be placed in a package holder 712. The package holder 712 holding the package 200 may be moved horizontally to a clamp 714. Once the package holder 712 reaches the clamp 714, the clamp 714 may clamp the package holder 712. Once clamped, the packaging retainer 712 with the package 200 can be lifted toward the filling device 100 by using the first motor device 704 connected to the gripper 714, thereby allowing it to be adjusted according to the package. Figures 1 to 5 The filling process shown is performed using food FP filling packaging 200.

[0074] Figure 8 This is a flowchart illustrating a method 800 for filling a liquid food product FP containing particles into a package 200 using the filling station 700 described above. The method may include:

[0075] By using the first motor device 704 to move the package 200 relative to the filling device 100 by 802, the filling device 100, which is in a closed state, is transferred into the package 200 through its open end.

[0076] By using the second motor device 706 to move lever 112 804 relative to pipe 102, the filling device 100 is moved from the closed state (CLOSE) to the open state (OPEN).

[0077] By using the first motor device 704 to move the package 200 relative to the filling device 100 by 806, the filling device 100, which is in the OPEN state, is moved away from the package 200, and

[0078] By using the second motor 706 to move the rod 112 relative to the pipe 102 by 808, the filling device 100 is moved from the open state to the closed state.

[0079] As can be seen from the above description, although various embodiments of the present invention have been described and shown, the present invention is not limited thereto and may be embodied in other ways within the scope of the subject matter defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A filling device (100) for filling a liquid food product (FP) containing particles into a package (200), characterized in that, The device includes: A conduit (102) having a lower section (104) and an upper section (106), the lower section (104) being arranged to be fed into the body (202) of the package (200) during the filling process, and the upper section (106) being arranged to be positioned above the body (202) during the filling process, wherein the lower section (104) has an internal width, and wherein an opening (110) is provided at the lower end of the lower section (104), the opening (110) having an opening width, wherein the opening width is smaller than the internal width. A rod (112) is arranged to move along the central axis of the pipe (102), the rod (112) having a disc-shaped member (116) at its lower end, wherein the width of the disc-shaped member (116) is smaller than the internal width of the lower section (104) of the pipe (102) and larger than the opening width. The device is configured to be in the following state: In the closed state, the disc-shaped member (116) of the rod (112) is pushed toward the opening (110) of the pipe (102), thereby preventing the product from passing through the opening (110), and With the product in the open position, the disc-shaped component (116) is positioned at a certain distance from the opening (110), allowing the product to be released through the opening (110). The edge (118) of the opening (110) is arranged such that as the filling device (100) moves from the open state to the closed state, the particles of the product are cut and / or pushed away when the disc member (116) is pushed toward the opening (110).

2. The filling device (100) according to claim 1, wherein, The lower end of the pipe (102) has a rectangular cross-section.

3. The filling device (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The rod (112) is provided with radially protruding and longitudinally extending guide members (120) so that the horizontal movement between the pipe (102) and the rod (112) can be reduced during the filling process.

4. The filling device (100) according to claim 3, wherein, The lower end of the pipe (102) has a generally rectangular cross-section, and the rod (112) is provided with four guide members (120), each guide member extending into a corresponding angle of the rectangular cross-section of the lower end of the pipe (102) during the filling process.

5. The filling device (100) according to any one of claims 1, 2 or 4, wherein, The pipe (102) has a generally rectangular cross-section, and the opening (110) is a circular opening.

6. The filling device (100) according to any one of claims 1, 2 or 4, wherein, The disc-shaped member (116) has a longitudinally circular side surface, and the edge (118) of the opening (110) slopes downward.

7. The filling device (100) according to any one of claims 1, 2 or 4, wherein the edge (118) of the opening (110) is tapered.

8. The filling device (100) according to any one of claims 1, 2 or 4, wherein, The bottom surface (122) of the disc-shaped member (116) is provided with protrusions and / or indentations to reduce dripping in the closed state.

9. A filling station (700), characterized in that, It includes: The filling device (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, Product tube (702), which is arranged to supply the liquid food (FP) into the pipe (102) of the filling device (100), A first motor device (704) is configured to provide a first relative vertical movement between the filling device (100) and the packaging (200). A second motor device (706) is used to provide a second relative vertical movement between the rod (112) and the pipe (102) of the filling device (100). A control unit (708) for controlling the first motor device (704) and the second motor device (706), During the filling process, the control unit (708) is configured to: The package (200) is moved relative to the filling device (100) such that the filling device (100), which is in the closed state, is transferred into the package (200) via the open end. By using the second motor device (706) to move the rod (112) relative to the pipe (102), the filling device (100) is moved from the closed state to the open state. By using the first motor device (704) to move the package (200) relative to the filling device (100), the filling device (100) in the open state is moved away from the package (200), and By using the second motor device to move the rod (112) relative to the pipe (102), the filling device (100) is moved from the open state to the closed state.

10. The filling station (700) according to claim 9, wherein, It also includes: A conveying device (710) is arranged to convey at least one package holder (712) that holds the package (200). The conveying device (710) is configured to intermittently move the package holder (712) so that the package (200) remains horizontally stationary during the filling process.

11. The filling station (700) according to claim 10, wherein, The first motor device (704) is arranged to vertically move the packaging retainer (712) during the filling process.

12. The filling station (700) according to claim 11, wherein, The first motor device (704) is arranged to move only the packaging retainer (712).

13. The filling station (700) according to any one of claims 9 to 12, wherein, The second motor is arranged to move only the rod (112).

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