Apparatus for filling containers

Abstract

The invention relates to an apparatus (1) for filling containers with liquid contents. The apparatus (1) has a rotor (2), which can be driven in circulation about a vertical machine axis (MA) and has a plurality of filling elements (3), which are distributed over the circumference of the rotor (2) and are connected to a container (5) provided for the liquid contents. Also provided are a plurality of spray-nozzle units (6, 6'), which can be supplied with a spray medium and are moved along in circulation with the rotor (2), wherein each filling element (3) is fixedly assigned a spray-nozzle unit (6) which is moved along in circulation, and wherein a nozzle opening (6a) of the spray-nozzle units (6, 6') is directed towards the respectively assigned filling element (3). The invention is distinguished, in particular, in that the spray-nozzle units (6, 6') can be controlled individually, wherein, for this purpose, the spray-nozzle units (6) are equipped with suitable, controllable valves (13) and a control unit (14), which is in communicating connection with the spray-nozzle units (6, 6'), is also provided.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a device for filling containers with a liquid substance, in particular to a device for filling glass bottles with beverages, and a method for doing so.

[0002] The invention relates to container handling machines in the beverage industry, in particular container handling machines with a capacity of more than 1000 containers per hour, and especially container handling machines with a capacity of more than 10,000 containers per hour. In particular, the invention relates to container handling machines which are designed and equipped as so-called filling machines or fillers for filling containers with liquid contents, in particular beverages.

[0003] Such filling machines of the aforementioned type, namely filling devices, have a multitude of processing stations or positions, which can also be understood as filling stations or filling points or filling positions. At each filling position of the filling machine, a filling element or filling device with a filling valve or liquid valve is provided, through whose dispensing opening the liquid material is dispensed into the container. For this purpose, a container support, for example with a container plate, is usually provided at each filling position, over which the container to be filled is lifted by means of a vertically oriented lifting motion towards the filling element and brought into contact with it, and pressed against it. Alternatively, the containers can also be gripped in the neck area and thus pressed against the filling device.For example, the filling material is dispensed into the containers under pressure by means of a so-called "pressure filling", in which the containers to be filled are subjected to a pre-pressure before the filling material is dispensed, namely pre-tensioned.

[0004] Especially when filling glass containers, such as glass bottles, glass breakage frequently occurs during the filling process. For example, a glass container can burst during the pressurization with pressurizing gas or during filling with product until pressure is released. This results not only in larger glass fragments and shards, but also in glass splinters, which pose a significant risk, particularly in the food and beverage bottling sector, and must be considered a particular hazard. It is well known that shards and splinters that get into containers have numerous negative consequences. Quite apart from the health risks to consumers, shards in the container can lead to recalls, damage to the manufacturer's reputation, and even a loss of market share.

[0005] Therefore, numerous efforts are underway to equip filling machines with appropriate safeguards to prevent shards and fragments from bursting or shattering glass containers from entering the containers being filled and thus reaching the consumer. "Shatter safety" is therefore a crucial requirement for filling machines of the type mentioned above, especially counter-pressure and / or hot fillers.

[0006] It is known from the prior art to provide splashdown or spray devices for filling machines to increase safety and remove glass breakage residue. For example, DE 10 2014 103 504 A1 describes a device for filling containers, designed as a filling carousel, which includes a splashdown device to remove glass breakage residue, particularly shards of bottle bottoms, from the container trays of the container carriers at a filling point. The splashdown device, comprising a splashdown pipe and a splashdown nozzle, can be designed to rotate with the filling carousel.The spray nozzles are arranged radially outside the container supports of the filling stations, relative to the axis of rotation of the filler carousel, and at a level below the container plates. They are oriented so that a spray jet exiting a spray nozzle is directed inwards towards the axis of rotation and passes below the container plate. An additional deflector device on the container support redirects the spray jet so that it sweeps across the surface of the container plate, causing container fragments to be blown outwards.

[0007] Furthermore, DE 10 2011 008 878 A1 discloses a container treatment machine and a method for cleaning machine elements on container treatment machines, wherein machine elements arranged at the periphery, such as covers, are sprayed by means of spray nozzles or spray nozzle assemblies. The spray nozzles or spray nozzle assemblies are provided on the machine rotor and rotate around it, and are controlled so that they apply the cleaning medium depending on the rotational position of the rotor, and only when they move past the machine element to be cleaned.

[0008] EP 0 615 947 A1 discloses a circumferentially designed filling machine with an annular vessel attached to the rotor, in which an annular free space, open at the top and bottom, is formed between the annular vessel and the rotor, which is bounded on the inside by a cylindrical protective wall. In the filling machine of EP 0 615 947 A1, a pipeline with several spray nozzles is provided above the free space, spraying the annular vessel, the annular free space, and the bounding protective wall. A spray jet emanating from the spray nozzles is oriented vertically downwards from above and inwards from the outside, towards the axis of rotation, whereby impurities carried along with the sprayed medium, such as glass shards, can flow away unhindered through the free space.If required, the pipeline can be manually or automatically pressurized with a liquid to perform a spraying process for one or more rotations of the rotor. However, a disadvantage of this method is that specific, individual filling positions and their associated filling elements cannot be cleaned individually and as thoroughly as possible.

[0009] From DE 27 39 742 A1, a device and a method according to the preambles of claims 1 and 13 are known, and discloses a filling machine with several filling positions arranged around the circumference of a rotor, each with a filling element and a container carrier, in which a vertically oriented spray tube is provided at each filling position, which is attached between the container carrier and an upper flange on the associated lifting cylinder. Several essentially horizontally oriented spray nozzles are formed in the spray tube, the spray jet of which is directed outwards away from the axis of rotation. The spray tube is also connected to a spray nozzle provided in the container carrier, which can discharge a vertically oriented spray jet from bottom to top. The supply of the spray medium to the spray tube is released by a separate, mechanically actuated valve.This valve is actuated by the lifting cylinder, but only when the lifting cylinder performs a stroke greater than the normal stroke required to press a container against the filling valve. More specifically, when pressing a container against the filling valve, the lifting cylinder's stroke is limited by the container itself. If, for example, the pressed-on container bursts, the lifting cylinder continues its stroke, thus actuating the separate valve. A disadvantage here is that a cleaning process can only be carried out at the directly affected filling position, and only immediately upon the occurrence of glass breakage. Adjacent filling positions cannot be cleaned, so the risk of shards or fragments entering the containers remains due to any shards adhering to these adjacent filling positions.

[0010] Despite the solution being known from the state of the art, there is therefore a need for improved filling machines with increased "broken glass safety".

[0011] The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a device for filling containers with a liquid material, which avoids the disadvantages of solutions known from the prior art and which in particular allows for effective, individual and needs-based removal of impurities and glass breakage residues, thus enabling safer operation.

[0012] The invention solves the problem by means of a device with the features of claim 1 and a method with the features of claim 13. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

[0013] The present invention provides a device for filling containers with a liquid material according to claim 1. The device has a rotor that rotates around a vertical machine axis and has several filling elements arranged around the circumference of the rotor, which are connected to a container for the liquid material. Several spray nozzle units are provided, which can be sprayed with a spray medium and rotate with the rotor. Each filling element has at least one rotating spray nozzle unit permanently assigned to it, and a nozzle opening of each spray nozzle unit faces the respective filling element. The spray nozzle units are individually controllable, and for this purpose, the spray nozzle units are equipped with suitable controllable valves. Furthermore, a control unit is provided that communicates with the spray nozzle units.

[0014] A device for filling containers with a liquid substance is understood, in the context of the invention, to be a rotary filling machine or a circular filling machine, and is also referred to herein as a filling machine, filler, or filling carousel. A filling machine comprises several filling elements which, together with several container supports also rotating with the rotor, form a plurality of filling points or filling positions. Flat dividers can, for example, be installed between the individual filling positions or between the individual filling elements. These dividers are radially oriented such that at each filling position, two dividers form a lateral boundary for a type of chamber for each filling element, with each divider facing adjacent filling elements with its two opposing flat sides.

[0015] In the device according to the invention, each filling element can be sprayed, regardless of the rotor's rotational position, since each filling element has at least one permanently mounted spray nozzle unit that rotates with it. The fact that a nozzle opening of the spray nozzle units faces the respective filling element can also be understood, according to the present invention, to mean that the nozzle opening is designed and oriented such that a spray jet or spray media jet emerging from this nozzle opening of the spray nozzle units strikes at least a section or partial area of ​​the respective filling element, thereby spraying and cleaning at least this section or partial area. A spray nozzle or a spray nozzle body carrying the nozzle opening can be arranged or attached to the rotor or to the respective filling elements themselves.

[0016] For the purposes of the present invention, individually controllable spray nozzle units are understood to mean that the spray nozzle units can be, or are, individually controlled, such that the spray nozzle units can be switched on and off by means of a control unit by opening and closing the corresponding controllable valves. This is also understood here as activation of the spray nozzle units. Spraying processes can therefore be triggered and carried out in a controlled manner. The spray nozzle units can be switched on and off as desired, that is, they can be activated individually, in groups, or in multiples.

[0017] A particularly advantageous feature of the device according to the invention is the ability to individually and arbitrarily control and switch the spray nozzle units, allowing a spraying process to be triggered, initiated, and carried out for each filling position. A significant advantage is that the spray nozzle units can be controlled and switched individually or in groups. For example, if a glass breakage occurs at a specific, critical filling position, not only can this filling position be specifically sprayed or cleaned, but, as a precautionary measure, the filling elements of the two immediately adjacent filling positions and, if necessary, other adjacent filling positions—namely, filling elements upstream and / or downstream filling positions—can also be sprayed or cleaned.

[0018] The switching or activation of the spray nozzle units preferably occurs independently of whether a container is present at the filling position, particularly in a sealing position with the filling element, or whether the filling position is empty. This significantly increases the device's "breakage safety," as glass fragments can be removed both at a critical filling position where glass breakage is likely and simultaneously at filling positions that, while not directly or immediately affected, are located in close proximity and thus within a risk area.

[0019] This highly advantageous design, through the use of a suitable control system, makes it possible to trigger one or more injection processes for each filling position or filling element, or even for a group of filling positions or filling elements, at any desired time. The solution according to the invention not only offers the possibility of removing shards and splinters from the corresponding filling positions, but also allows for the removal of sticky product residues from filling tubes, probes, return gas pipes, and other components in the vicinity of the filling elements. Since it is also known that shard fragments adhere to these sticky product residues, such adhesion can also be advantageously avoided.

[0020] To further increase shard safety, additional optimizations can be implemented, which can be combined with the solution according to the invention. For example, the separating plates between the filling elements mentioned above serve as splinter protection. Additionally, stationary filling tube spray nozzles directed externally onto the filling tubes can be used between the insertion and extraction stars.

[0021] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the spray nozzle units are arranged radially inward with respect to the machine axis relative to the respective associated filling elements, wherein the nozzle opening of each spray nozzle unit is directed toward an inner side of the associated filling element pointing in the direction of the vertical machine axis, and a spray jet emanating from the spray nozzle unit is directed outward from the vertical machine axis and toward the inner side of the associated filling element.

[0022] This method is particularly advantageous for reaching areas with spray medium that, for example, in conventional, often stationary and non-circulating external spraying devices, are located on the inner side of the filling elements and therefore cannot be reached by the spray medium, thus forming spray shadows according to the prior art. Even if such spray jets or spray streams coming "from the outside" have a considerable intensity, they do not strike the inner sides of the filling elements located in the spray shadow.

[0023] In the preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention, cleaning of the filling elements can therefore be ensured also and especially on the inner sides of the filling elements.

[0024] Adhering splinters and / or product residues, which occur on the inner sides of the filling elements due to the spray pattern or spray shadow of conventional spray nozzles, can thus be successfully and effectively removed. This also contributes significantly to product safety. It prevents splinters or fragments from becoming embedded in components of the filling element, thereby counteracting, for example, the unwanted transfer of fragments or shards into subsequent bottles.

[0025] The spraying process described here is particularly advantageous when bottling fruit juices, as sticky residues can form on the filling tube, fill level probe, return gas pipe, etc., during the filling of such products. Even the smallest fragments of glass can adhere to these residues, potentially coming into direct contact with the product during subsequent filling processes. Consequently, these fragments can detach and fall into the bottle. This type of "shard carryover," especially via the inner side of the filling element, can be advantageously avoided with this device.

[0026] According to a further advantageous embodiment, each filling element is formed from several filling element components and comprises at least one filling tube. The at least one spray nozzle unit associated with the filling element is provided on the rotor such that the nozzle opening of the at least one spray nozzle unit is arranged at the same vertical height as at least one section of the filling tube. This allows the filling tube to be cleaned and freed of debris, for example, in long-tube fillers. In addition to the filling tube, the filling elements comprise further components, such as a level sensor, a return gas tube, a centering nozzle, and a filling valve with a dispensing port. The filling elements, or the dispensing of the liquid material into the containers by means of the filling elements, are controlled by a central electronic control unit.

[0027] Preferably, the filling material container is formed by an annular vessel arranged on the rotor, rotating with the rotor, and supporting the filling elements. The filling elements, each extending along a filling element axis, are preferably supported circumferentially on an outer circumference of the annular vessel by means of a support section provided on the upper side of each filling element, through which the filling elements are attached to the annular vessel. A filling or dispensing section of the filling element, extending freely downwards in a vertical direction, adjoins the respective support section along the filling element axis below it. Advantageously, the at least one spray nozzle unit associated with the filling element is provided on the rotor such that the nozzle opening of the at least one spray nozzle unit is at the same height as a lower free end of the filling element.

[0028] Alternatively, the container for the filling material can of course also be formed by a stationary central container and a rotating ring-shaped tubular vessel, whereby the filling elements are not arranged directly on and supported by the ring-shaped tubular vessel, but on the rotor, in particular on a rotor part that supports the filling elements.

[0029] According to a further preferred embodiment, at least one ring line, attached to the inside of the rotor and rotating with it, is provided in a free interior space of the rotor to supply the spray nozzle units with spray medium. The spray nozzle units are connected to the ring line via suitable connections. A pressure line with a rotary distributor is provided for supplying the spray medium to the ring line. A pressurized liquid medium, such as hot or cold water, can be fed into the interior of the filling machine or filling carousel via this pressure line with rotary distributor and supplied to the ring line. The pressure line can, for example, be a pressurized water line. Rinsing or cleaning fluids can also be used as the pressurized medium, namely as the spray medium.

[0030] The spray medium can be water, either cold or hot. Cleaning and disinfecting agents can also be added to the spray medium. Furthermore, the spraying process can be carried out in several stages or steps, for example, first with a spray medium containing cleaning and disinfecting agents, and then in a second stage with potable water. In particular, several ring mains can be provided for this purpose, through which the individual, different spray media can be supplied, preferably in a controlled manner.

[0031] Preferably, a protective wall is provided, concentrically surrounding the vertical machine axis and arranged radially within the filling elements. This wall separates the free interior of the rotor from an external space, with the filling elements being located in this external space. This advantageously prevents glass fragments from bursting bottles from entering the interior of the rotor and thus from reaching the inside of the filling machine.

[0032] In the preferred embodiment with a protective wall, the spray nozzle units are preferably located within the protective wall, with the nozzle openings of the spray nozzle units arranged on an outer side of the protective wall facing the outside. For example, each nozzle body of the spray nozzle unit is received in corresponding recesses provided in the protective wall and extends through the protective wall, with the nozzle body extending at least from an inner side of the protective wall facing the interior into the outside. Furthermore, it is particularly advantageous to house, for example, the control unit and other sensitive components of the spray nozzle units within the interior of the rotor, which is protected from glass shards and liquids.

[0033] In alternative designs, the spray nozzle units can also be provided, in particular arranged and attached, directly or indirectly to the filling elements. It is also possible for the spray media to be supplied through the filling elements, in particular through components or parts of the filling elements.

[0034] Preferably, two or more spray nozzle units are permanently assigned to each filling element, wherein the spray nozzle units assigned to a respective filling element can be controlled individually and / or together in predefined groups. For example, each spray nozzle unit assigned to a filling element can be controlled individually via a separate controllable valve. Alternatively, if several spray nozzle units are assigned to a filling element, all spray nozzle units assigned to the filling element can be controlled via a common valve.

[0035] The multiple spray nozzle units are preferably arranged vertically one above the other, wherein, for example, the spray jets emanating from the multiple spray nozzle units wet or effectively spray different successive sections of the filling tube along the filling element axis. Likewise, the arrangement of the multiple spray nozzle units per filling element makes it possible to ensure that the level probe and / or the return gas pipe and / or the centering tulip and / or the dispensing opening of the filling valve and / or the outlet area of ​​the filling element surrounding the dispensing opening are at least wetted, or better yet, effectively sprayed, and that the separating plates provided between the filling elements are also sprayed.

[0036] Preferably, the controllable valve is a pneumatically controlled media valve. Alternatively, other suitable controllable valves, such as solenoid valves or electrically controlled valves, can also be used.

[0037] Preferably, each filling element is equipped with a pressure sensor for measuring the pressure prevailing in the container. Preferably, the pressure sensor is in communication with the control unit for controlling the valves of the spray nozzle units. This pressure sensor continuously measures the pressure prevailing in the container to be filled, and the corresponding measurement data is transmitted to the central electronic control unit, which controls the filling elements and / or the dispensing of the liquid material into the containers by means of the filling elements. The measurement data is evaluated accordingly by an existing evaluation unit and used for control processes. The central electronic control unit can, for example, be a central control computer.The control unit for the valves of the spray nozzle units can be a separate unit communicating with the central electronic control unit, or it can be part of the central electronic control unit, in particular an integral component thereof. The pressure sensor is in direct communication with the control unit or indirectly via the central electronic control unit. The control unit uses the measured data, or the evaluated measured data, to generate corresponding control signals or output signals, which in turn are used to switch the controllable valves of the spray nozzle units.

[0038] If such a pressure sensor detects, for example, a bottle bursting at an affected filling position due to a sudden pressure drop, at least the affected filling element can be immediately vented or blasted off, preferably from the inside out, for which purpose the corresponding controllable valve to the ring line is opened. Particularly advantageously, however, several upstream and / or downstream filling elements, in addition to the filling element at the affected filling position where the container burst, can also be vented simultaneously in the direction of rotation of the filling machine by corresponding simultaneous, immediately successive, or interval-based activation of the respective valves.

[0039] According to a further preferred embodiment, in addition to the spray nozzle units arranged radially within the filling elements, further spray nozzle units can be provided that are arranged radially outside the filling elements and whose spray jet is directed inwards towards the vertical machine axis. It is also conceivable to provide, in addition to the spray nozzle units arranged radially within the filling elements, a stationary spraying device with several spray nozzle units whose spray jet is directed inwards towards the vertical machine axis. The stationary spraying device can, of course, also be provided if the filling machine has rotating spray nozzle units arranged radially inside and radially outside the filling elements.This allows for advantageous simultaneous spraying from both the outside and the inside, resulting in a particularly complete and reliable removal of glass shards or splinters.

[0040] The present invention also provides a method for filling containers with a liquid material by means of a container filling device according to claim 13. The device comprises a rotor driven around a vertical machine axis, with several filling elements arranged distributed around the circumference of the rotor and connected to a container for the liquid material. Furthermore, each filling element in the device is permanently assigned at least one spray nozzle unit, which can be sprayed with a spray medium, rotates with the rotor, and is controllable.The method is characterized in particular by the fact that, if required, a spraying process is triggered and carried out to spray at least one section of at least one specific filling element, wherein at least one spray nozzle unit assigned to this filling element is individually controlled by a provided control unit, wherein a provided controllable valve of the spray nozzle unit is opened and thereby a spray jet emanating from the spray nozzle unit is directed onto at least one section of the filling element.

[0041] Preferably, a spraying process is triggered and carried out to spray at least a section of at least a specific filling element in response to a glass breakage event at a corresponding filling position, wherein a sudden pressure drop occurring with the glass breakage event is measured by means of a pressure sensor provided at the filling element for measuring an internal container pressure, and wherein, depending on corresponding measurement and evaluation data of such a measured pressure drop, at least the spray nozzle unit assigned to the filling element at the corresponding filling position is controlled by the control unit in order to trigger a spraying process.

[0042] Particularly preferred is the activation of several spray nozzle units in response to a glass breakage event at a corresponding filling position, in order to trigger a spraying process at several filling positions before and / or after the corresponding filling position.

[0043] Although some aspects have been described in connection with a device, it is understood that these aspects also constitute a description of the corresponding process, so that a block or component of a device is also to be understood as a corresponding process step or as a feature of a process step. Similarly, aspects described in connection with or as a process step also constitute a description of a corresponding block, detail, or feature of a corresponding device. Some or all of the process steps may be performed by (or using) a hardware apparatus such as a microprocessor, a programmable computer, or an electronic circuit. In some embodiments, some or more of the main process steps may be performed by such an apparatus.

[0044] The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to exemplary embodiments shown in the figures. The figures show: Fig. 1 shows a partial schematic sectional view of a preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention; Fig. 2 shows a schematic top view of a preferred embodiment of the device; Fig. 3 shows a section of the Figure 2 in enlarged view and Fig. 4 a schematic circuit diagram for a control system in a preferred embodiment of the device.

[0045] The Figure 1 Figure 1 shows a schematic vertical section view of a section or part of a preferred embodiment of a device 1 designed as a rotary machine for filling containers with liquid material.

[0046] The device 1, which is also referred to herein as a filling machine or rotary filling machine, comprises a rotating rotor 2 that is driven or rotated around a vertical machine axis MA. The rotor 2 can, for example, be supported in a height-adjustable manner on the upper side of a support (not explicitly shown in the figures), the support preferably being rotatably mounted on a stationary stand via a slewing ring about the machine axis MA. The machine axis MA also represents the axis of rotation of the rotor 2.

[0047] A filling container 5, designed as an annular vessel, is arranged on and rotates with the rotor 2. This container holds the liquid material and, according to the illustrated example, carries several circumferentially distributed filling elements 3. These filling elements 3 are attached to the radially outer surface of the annular vessel 5. For this purpose, the filling elements 3 are connected to the annular vessel 5, for example, via an upper support section, so that a lower section of the filling elements 3, which has a discharge opening, points freely downwards. This lower section is also referred to as the filling end or filling section.

[0048] Each filling element 3 extending along a filling element axis FA is associated with a container carrier that rotates around it and is movable in the vertical direction. Together with the filling element 3, this container carrier forms a filling point or filling position FP. The container carrier includes a support plate 12, which is arranged below the filling element 3 and is aligned concentrically with the filling element axis FA. In the filling machine 1, for example, 132 filling positions FP can be arranged evenly distributed over the entire circumference of the rotor 2, with the consecutively numbered filling positions FP, starting with filling position 1 and continuing to filling position 132, describing a full circle of 360°. From the in Figure 2 The top view shows the arrangement of the filling elements 3 around the ring vessel 5, wherein in Figure 2For the sake of clarity, only 48 filling elements 3 distributed around the ring vessel 5 are shown. It goes without saying that this representation is not limiting.

[0049] Between the filling elements 3 of the several filling positions FP, preferably flat separating plates 4 are provided (in Figure 1 not recognizable, see Figures 2 and 3 ) arranged in a radial orientation, which advantageously shield the individual filling positions FP to a certain extent from one another. For example, this can also reduce the risk that, in the event of glass breakage at a specific filling position FP (e.g., filling position FP "eleven"), the resulting glass shards and splinters are transferred to the neighboring filling positions FP (filling positions FP "ten" and "twelve") and reach the filling elements 3 there.

[0050] The filling elements 3 of the illustrated embodiment are multi-part and comprise at least one filling tube 7 extending longitudinally in the axial direction of the filling element axis FA, as well as other components not specified in detail in the figures, such as a level probe, return gas tube, filling valve, or centering tulip. The filling elements 3 are controlled by a central control unit.

[0051] In the rotor 2 of the present filling machine 1, a free interior space 9 is formed, which is opposite an exterior space 11. In the preferred embodiment of the filling machine 1 shown, the separation of the interior space 9 and the exterior space 11 is further supported by a cylindrical protective wall 8, which is also provided on the rotor 2 and runs concentrically around the machine axis MA. This protective wall separates the free interior space 9 from the exterior space 11, with the filling elements 3 being arranged in the exterior space 11. The protective wall 8 also advantageously prevents glass shards or fragments from bursting bottles located at the filling positions FP from entering the interior space 9 of the rotor 2 and thus the filling machine 1. Furthermore, the protective wall 8 shields components or parts arranged in the interior space 9 from liquids, contaminants, and glass fragments. For example, sensitive components or parts, e.g.,Circuits, control devices, electrical supply lines or the like are protected and housed in interior space 9.

[0052] The filling machine 1 further comprises several spray nozzle units 6, 6', which can be sprayed with a spray medium and rotate with the rotor 2, for spraying and cleaning at least one section of the filling elements 3, wherein at least one spray nozzle unit 6 is permanently assigned to each filling element 3 and a respective nozzle opening 6a of each spray nozzle unit 6, 6' faces the assigned filling element 3. In the illustrated example, two rotating spray nozzle units 6, 6' are permanently assigned to each filling element 3, arranged one above the other in a vertical direction and in direct spatial proximity to the filling elements 3.

[0053] The spray nozzle units 6, 6' are arranged radially inward relative to the machine axis MA and the filling elements 3, such that the nozzle openings 6a of each spray nozzle unit 6, 6' face an inner side IS of the respective filling elements 3, pointing in the direction of the vertical machine axis MA. A spray jet emanating from the spray nozzle unit 6, 6' is directed outward away from the vertical machine axis MA and toward the inner side IS of the filling end or filling section of the respective filling element 3.

[0054] The spray nozzle units 6, 6' of the illustrated example are arranged on the rotor 2 such that of the two spray nozzle units 6, 6' provided for each filling element 3, one is arranged at the same vertical height as a section of the filling tube 7 and the other is positioned slightly higher, for example, approximately at the level of the centering tulip or the return gas tube. By triggering a spraying process using both spray nozzle units 6 assigned to a filling element 3, the corresponding filling element 3 can thus preferably be effectively sprayed and cleaned at several sections.

[0055] The spray nozzle units 6, 6' are arranged such that the spray jets emanating from them at least wet, or better yet effectively spray, the filling tube 7 and / or the level probe and / or the return gas tube and / or the centering tulip and / or the discharge opening of the filling element 3 and / or the outlet area of ​​the filling element 3 surrounding the discharge opening and / or the separating plates 4 that shield the filling element 3 laterally.

[0056] In the preferred embodiment shown, the spray nozzle units 6, 6' are provided in the area of ​​the protective wall 8, with the nozzle openings 6a being arranged on an outer side of the protective wall 8 facing the outer chamber 11. For this purpose, corresponding openings or recesses are provided in the protective wall 8, in which a respective nozzle body of the spray nozzle units 6, 6' is received such that the nozzle body protrudes through the protective wall 8, extending from an inner side of the protective wall 8 facing the interior 9 into the outer chamber 11, where the nozzle opening 6a is finally located.

[0057] Inside the rotor 2, a ring line 10 is provided, attached to the inside of the rotor and rotating with the rotor 2, to supply the spray nozzle units 6, 6' with spray medium. The spray nozzle units 6, 6' are connected to the ring line 10 via suitable connections. The ring line 10 itself is supplied, for example, via a pressure line (not shown in the figures) with a rotary distributor, which is in fluid communication with the ring line 10. Preferably, a pressurized liquid medium, such as hot or cold water or cleaning medium, is used as the spray medium. This medium is fed into the interior 9 of the rotor 2 of the filling machine 1 via such a pressure line with a rotary distributor and is then introduced into the ring line 10 connected to the pressure line.

[0058] The spray nozzle units 6, 6' are individually controllable or controllably switchable. For this purpose, a control unit 14 is also in communication with the spray nozzle units 6, 6' (in Figure 1 not designated, see Figure 3The spray nozzle units 6, 6' are provided and are equipped with suitable, controllable valves 13, which are arranged together in a protected manner within the interior 9. The controllable valves 13 can be designed as pneumatically controlled media valves. Electrically controlled valves are also possible. Each spray nozzle unit 6, 6' can be controlled individually, and of course, several spray nozzle units 6, 6' can be switched simultaneously, so that a spraying process can be triggered with several spray nozzle units 6, 6', which are grouped together as required. In this case, this is equivalent to the fact that the spray nozzle units 6, 6' can be switched individually and as required, as well as in groups.

[0059] Advantageously, due to the spray nozzle units 6, 6' which can be controlled and switched independently as desired, in the event of a glass breakage event at filling position "eleven", both the filling element 3 at this affected filling position "eleven" can be sprayed and cleaned, and at the same time, as a precaution, the filling positions FP "ten" and "twelve" as well as the filling positions FP "nine" and "thirteen", etc.

[0060] Preferably, the spray nozzle units 6, 6' can also be switched at intervals. Provided, as in the illustrated example, the Figure 1If several vertically stacked spray nozzle units 6, 6' are assigned to a specific filling element 3, the uppermost spray nozzle unit 6 can be activated first to trigger a sequence of spray jets at a predetermined time interval. The lower spray nozzle units 6' can, for example, also be activated at intervals but with a time delay compared to the uppermost spray nozzle unit 6, so that the filling element 3 is successively sprayed from top to bottom, preferably with several spray pulses.

[0061] The Figures 2 and 3 The figures further illustrate the arrangement of the filling elements 3, the protective wall 8, and the spray nozzle units 6, 6' on the rotor 2, both relative to each other and relative to the machine axis MA. Starting from the machine axis MA, the filling elements 3 are arranged radially outwards in the outer space 11, with the spray nozzle units 6 (in Figure 2(omitted for clarity), which, according to the illustrated example, are provided in the area of ​​the protective wall 8 and are arranged radially within the filling elements 3. The nozzle openings 6a of the spray nozzle units 6 face the inner side IS of the filling elements 3.

[0062] The Figure 4Figure 1 shows a schematic circuit diagram for a control system in a preferred embodiment of the present filling machine 1, wherein in this embodiment each filling element 3 is additionally equipped with a pressure sensor 16 for measuring the pressure prevailing in the container. The pressure sensor 16 is in communicative communication with the control unit 14 for controlling the valves 13 of the spray nozzle units 6, 6' and continuously measures the pressure prevailing in the container to be filled. In the illustrated example, the control unit 14 for controlling the valves 13 is designed as an integral part of a central electronic control unit 15, to which the corresponding measurement data from the pressure sensors 16 are transmitted and which controls the filling elements 3 and / or the dispensing of the liquid material into the containers by means of the filling elements 3.Each pressure sensor 16 communicates via this central electronic control unit 15 with the control unit 14 for controlling the valves 13, which outputs control signals for switching the controllable valves 13 of the spray nozzle units 6, 6', using the measurement data of the pressure sensors 16 or evaluation data of these measurement data processed accordingly in an evaluation unit of the central electronic control unit 15.

[0063] As soon as a pressure sensor 16 at an affected filling position FP measures a sudden pressure drop, which occurs, for example, due to glass breakage, this measurement data is used to immediately switch, via the control unit 14, at least the controllable valve 13 of the spray nozzle units 6, 6' assigned to the filling element 3 of the affected filling position FP, namely to open it in order to spray or siphon off the affected filling element 3. Preferably, the control unit 14 can also simultaneously open at least the controllable valves 13 of the spray nozzle units 6, 6' of the filling elements 3 arranged adjacent to the affected filling element 3. Reference symbol list

[0064] 1 Device for filling containers 2 Rotor 3 Filling element 4 Dividing plates 5 Filling container 6, 6' Spray nozzle unit 6a Nozzle opening 7 Filling pipe 8 Protective wall 9 Interior 10 Ring line 11 Exterior 12 Support plate 13 Controllable valves 14 Control unit 15 Central control device 16 Pressure sensor FAF filling element axis FPF filling position IS inner side of the filling elements MA machine axis

Claims

1. Apparatus (1) for filling containers with liquid contents, having a rotor (2) which can be driven in circulation about a vertical machine axis (MA) with a plurality of filling elements (3) which are distributed over the circumference of the rotor (2) and are connected to a container (5) provided for the liquid contents, wherein a plurality of spray-nozzle units (6, 6') are provided which can be supplied with a spray medium and are moved along in circulation with the rotor (2), wherein each filling element (3) is fixedly assigned at least one spray-nozzle unit (6) which is moved along in circulation and each filling element (3) can be sprayed independently of the rotational position of the rotor (2), and wherein a nozzle opening (6a) of the spray-nozzle units (6, 6') is directed towards the respectively assigned filling element (3), characterised in that the spray-nozzle units (6, 6') can be controlled individually such that the spray-nozzle units (6, 6') can be switched in a controlled manner and can be activated individually, in a plurality or in groups, wherein, for this purpose, the spray-nozzle units (6) are equipped with suitable, controllable valves (13) and a control unit (14), which is in communicating connection with the spray-nozzle units (6, 6') is also provided.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterised in that the spray-nozzle units (6, 6') are arranged in relation to the machine axis (MA) radially inwards relative to the respectively assigned filling elements (3), wherein the nozzle opening (6a) of each spray-nozzle unit (6, 6') faces an inner side (IS) of the assigned filling element (3) pointing towards the vertical machine axis (MA) and a spray jet emanating from the spray-nozzle unit (6, 6') is directed outwards away from the vertical machine axis (MA) and towards the inner side (IS) of the assigned filling element (3).

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that each filling element (3) is formed from a plurality of filling element components and comprises at least one filling pipe (7), wherein the at least one spray-nozzle unit (6) assigned to the filling element (3) is provided on the rotor (2) such that the nozzle opening (6a) of the spray-nozzle unit (6, 6') is arranged at the same vertical height as at least one section of the filling pipe (7).

4. Apparatus according to claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the container (5) is formed by an annular vessel arranged on the rotor (2) and rotating with this rotor (2) and carrying the filling elements (3), or in that the container (5) is formed by a stationary central container and a rotating tubular annular vessel arranged on the rotor (2), the filling elements (2) (3) being carried on the rotor (2).

5. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that, in a free inner space (9) of the rotor (2), at least one ring line (10) is provided, which is attached to an inner side of the rotor and moved along in circulation with the rotor (2), in order to supply the spray-nozzle units (6, 6') with spray medium, the spray-nozzle units (6, 6') being connected to the ring line (10) via suitable connections.

6. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that a protective wall (8) concentrically surrounding the vertical machine axis (MA) is provided, which is arranged radially inside the filling elements (3) and delimits the free inner space (9) of the rotor (2) with respect to an outer space (11), the filling elements (3) being arranged in the outer space (11).

7. Apparatus according to claim 6, characterised in that the spray-nozzle units (6, 6') are provided in the region of the protective wall (8), the nozzle openings (6a) of the spray-nozzle units (6, 6') being arranged on an outer side of the protective wall (8) facing the outer space (11).

8. Apparatus according to claim 7, characterised in that a respective nozzle body of the spray-nozzle units (6, 6') is accommodated in corresponding recesses provided in the protective wall (8) and projects through the protective wall (8), the nozzle body extending at least from an inner side of the protective wall (8) facing the interior (9) into the outer space (11).

9. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that each filling element (3) is fixedly assigned two or more spray-nozzle units (6, 6'), wherein the spray-nozzle units (6, 6') assigned to a respective filling element (3) can be controlled individually and / or jointly in predefined groups.

10. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the controllable valve (13) is a pneumatically controlled media valve.

11. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that each filling element (3) is equipped with a pressure sensor (16) for measuring the pressure existing in the container, the pressure sensor (16) being in communicating connection with the control unit (14).

12. Apparatus according to claim 2 and optionally any of claims 3 to 11, characterised in that, in addition to the spray-nozzle units (6, 6') arranged radially inside the filling elements (3), further spray-nozzle units are provided which are arranged radially outside the filling elements (3) and whose spray jet is directed inwards towards the vertical machine axis (MA).

13. Method for filling containers with liquid contents by means of an apparatus for filling containers, wherein the apparatus has a rotor (2) which can be driven in circulation about a vertical machine axis (MA) with a plurality of filling elements (3) which are distributed over the circumference of the rotor (2) and are connected to a container (5) provided for the liquid contents, wherein each filling element (3) in the apparatus is fixedly assigned at least one spray-nozzle unit (6) which can be supplied with a spray medium and which can be moved along in circulation with the rotor (2) and can be controlled and wherein each filling element (3) can be sprayed independently of the rotational position of the rotor (2), characterised in that, in the method, a spraying process is triggered and carried out as required in order to spray at least one section of at least one specific filling element (3), wherein, for this purpose, at least the at least one spray-nozzle unit (6) assigned to this filling element (3) is individually controlled by a provided control unit (14) which is in communicating connection with the spray-nozzle units (6, 6'), such that the spray-nozzle units (6, 6') can be switched in a controlled manner and can be activated individually, in a plurality or in groups, wherein a provided controllable valve (13) of the at least one spray-nozzle unit (6) is opened and a spray jet emanating from the spray-nozzle unit (6) is directed onto at least one section of the filling element (3).

14. Method according to claim 13, characterised in that a spraying process for spraying at least one section of at least one specific filling element (3) is triggered and carried out in response to a glass breakage event at a corresponding filling position (FP), wherein, by means of a pressure sensor (16) provided at the filling element (3) for measuring an internal container pressure, a sudden pressure drop occurring with the glass breakage event is measured and wherein, depending on corresponding measurement and evaluation data of such a measured pressure drop, the control unit (14) actuates at least the spray-nozzle unit (6) assigned to the filling element (3) at the corresponding filling position (FP) in order to trigger a spraying process.

15. Method according to claim 14, characterised in that, in response to a glass breakage event at a corresponding filling position (FP), a plurality of spray-nozzle units (6) are actuated in order to trigger a spraying process at a plurality of filling positions (FP) before and / or after the corresponding filling position (FP).

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