Filling device for a beverage filling machine, beverage filling machine, and method for filling containers

Abstract

The invention relates to a filling device for a filling machine, in particular a beverage filling machine, comprising an outlet (1) on the underside, liquid flow systems (4) opening out at the outlet (1), and a gas flow system (5) likewise opening out at the outlet (1). According to the invention, the liquid flow system (4) has a first liquid branch (10a) and a second liquid branch (10b) as well as, at the outlet (1), an inner liquid opening (12a), which is associated with the first liquid branch (10a), and, separate from the inner liquid opening, an outer liquid opening (10b), which is associated with the second liquid branch (10b), the gas flow system (5) having a gas opening (13) between the inner and the outer liquid opening (12a, 12b).

Description

[0001] Description

[0002] Filling device for a beverage filling machine, beverage filling machine and method for filling containers

[0003] The invention relates to a filling device for a filling machine, in particular a beverage filling machine, with an outlet on the bottom side, a liquid path system opening at the outlet and a gas path system also opening at the outlet.

[0004] The invention further relates to a beverage filling machine with at least one such filling device and to a method for filling containers in a beverage filling machine with a filling device.

[0005] Known beverage filling machines typically feature a filling carousel with a plurality of filling devices arranged around the circumference of the filling carousel. Empty containers in the form of bottles or cans are transferred to a respective filling device on the filling carousel and filled. The filled containers are then removed from the filling carousel and usually sealed.

[0006] To allow for the fastest possible filling, it is usually also necessary to vent gas, which is displaced by the liquid entering the container during filling. This is especially true when filling with carbonated liquids, when the containers are tightly connected to the filling device and pressurized.

[0007] Beverage filling machines with filling devices are available in various designs. In a well-known system, the "Innofill Glass DRS" from the KHS Group, filling takes place via an outer wall of the container, with gas, particularly in the form of a protective atmosphere, being added centrally. For information about this well-known system, please refer to the online video "KHS Group: KHS Innofill Glass DRS - Glass bottle filler. Published on December 5, 2013. URL: https: / / www.youtube.com / watch?v=Qlb9-rsluis [accessed on February 17, 2021]. As shown in this prior art, evacuation and / or purging with gas such as CO2 can be performed before filling, as required.

[0008] Furthermore, it is known to fill containers for beverages, such as bottles or cans, using a free-jet process, whereby the product exits the outlet of the filling device centrally and gas displaced from the container can escape or be discharged into the remaining annular space on the circumference. Examples of this are DE 10 2016 104 185 A1 and DE 35 90 070 C2.

[0009] EP 2 650 253 A1 relates to a filling device with several adjacent liquid outlets, which, depending on the design, can also be positioned jointly over a container opening and used for filling. This makes it possible to fill containers with multi-component liquids.

[0010] The invention is based on the object of providing a filling device that can further optimize the filling process. Furthermore, a filling machine and a method for filling containers are to be provided.

[0011] The subject matter of the invention and the solution to the problem are a filling device according to patent claim 1, a filling machine according to patent claim 11 and a method for filling containers in a filling machine with a filling device according to patent claim 13.

[0012] Starting from a generic filling device with the features of the preamble of patent claim 1, it is thus provided according to the invention that the liquid path system has a first liquid branch and a second liquid branch and, at the outlet, an inner liquid mouth assigned to the first liquid branch and a separate outer liquid mouth assigned to the second liquid branch, and that the gas system has a gas mouth between the inner and outer liquid mouths.

[0013] The two separate and spaced-apart liquid outlets allow the filling process to be faster, more variable, and / or more reliable, depending on the design. Filling can be carried out particularly in a free jet using the inner liquid outlet, while the product to be filled is filled using the outer liquid outlet adjacent to or preferably against a container wall. The cross-sections available for the passage of the product to be filled and the flow behavior can be improved within the scope of the invention, with gas displaced from the container being discharged through the gas outlet arranged between the inner and outer liquid outlets.

[0014] Instead of filling with a free jet, according to a variant of the invention, the inner liquid outlet can be formed on a pipe section extending into the container. The drop height of the product being filled is reduced according to the penetration depth. A sufficient distance to the container bottom must be provided to ensure a uniform outflow at the inner liquid outlet. With such a variant, it is generally acceptable that the pipe section extending into the container is wetted by the product.

[0015] It is preferably provided that the outer liquid mouth and / or the gas mouth surround the inner liquid mouth in a ring shape, in particular in a circular ring shape.

[0016] The inner liquid outlet itself is usually cylindrical, especially circular-cylindrical, and preferably runs along a vertical central or symmetrical axis. To ensure effective gas removal even at high pouring rates and to achieve the most uniform flow of the filled product possible, the product is expediently directed directly onto the container wall via the outer liquid outlet. Depending on the shape of the container, the product flow entering the container wall will then continue to follow the contour, for example, a flared section in a bottle.

[0017] The outer liquid outlet is preferably defined by an outer collar, wherein the outer collar is configured for tight contact with an upper edge of the container. It is advantageous if the outer diameter of the outer liquid outlet is matched to the inner diameter of the container at its upper edge, enabling a continuous or essentially continuous, and thus laminar, transfer of the product from the filling device into the container, even at high flow velocities. In particular, a seal or the like can be provided on the outer collar for end support on the container.

[0018] Preferably, a first switchable valve means is provided in the first fluid branch leading to the inner fluid outlet, and a second switchable valve means is provided in the second fluid branch leading to the outer fluid outlet. The first and second valve means are expediently switchable separately in order to be able to influence and control the filling process as needed.

[0019] For example, it is possible to operate the first and second valve means differently during a filling process. For example, with a product that tends to foam, it can be problematic if the product first hits the container bottom directly during filling using a free jet. In this context, it may be expedient to start filling via the container wall in order to create a kind of buffer at the container bottom before the free jet hits it.

[0020] In addition, the flexibility of the filling device according to the invention also allows, under appropriate boundary conditions, only the inner liquid outlet or the outer liquid outlet to be used during a filling process. For example, the filling device can be used on a beverage filling machine for different bottle types that differ in their geometry. Depending on the geometry, the inner liquid outlet and the outer liquid outlet can then be used alternatively to one another or in combination, whereby the opening and closing times of the valve means can also be adjusted during a single filling process - as already explained above.

[0021] For example, PET bottles in particular are sometimes designed with container geometries that are unsuitable, or only partially suitable, for filling via the container wall due to relatively significant contour changes in the head area. For filling such containers with the filling device according to the invention, it can then be provided that only the inner liquid outlet is used for free-jet filling, which may then result in a longer filling time and thus a reduction in throughput. Thus, when changing the bottle type, a precisely adapted, optimized filling is always possible.

[0022] In principle, it is conceivable for the first and second liquid branches to be separated from each other throughout the filling device, so that different liquids could even be supplied if necessary. Within the scope of such a design, the product could also be mixed from two liquids, with the mixing ratio then being able to be adjusted as needed using the valves, which can preferably be switched separately.

[0023] In such a variant, it is then provided that the first liquid branch and the second liquid branch are connected to separate, separate inlets.

[0024] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, however, the filling device has only one inlet for the product, with the fluid path system then branching into the first fluid branch and the second fluid branch between the outlet and a feed area with the inlet at a distribution structure. The product is then divided between the two fluid branches at the distribution structure.

[0025] In a further development, it is then provided that, in the supply area, a gas channel of the gas path system is surrounded by an annular channel of the liquid path system, wherein the gas path system is then preferably transferred from the gas channel to an intermediate region between the first liquid branch and the second liquid branch at the distribution structure. In other words, the liquid path system and the gas path system then intersect. For this purpose, the distribution structure can have radial passages distributed around the circumference for the liquid path system and the gas path system, for example in the form of through openings.

[0026] The invention also relates to a beverage filling machine with at least one filling device, which is designed as described above. The beverage filling machine preferably comprises a filling carousel on which a plurality of filling devices are arranged around the circumference. As already explained in connection with the filling device itself, the combination of the inner and outer liquid outlets can increase the pouring capacity and thus accelerate the filling process. In order to achieve a predetermined throughput, the number of filling devices can be reduced compared to a design of the beverage filling machine known from the prior art at an increased speed of the filling carousel, resulting in considerably lower investment and maintenance costs.Additionally or alternatively, within the scope of the invention, a further increase in the throughput of containers can be achieved if required compared to known beverage filling machines.

[0027] Within the scope of the invention, the fill quantity can optionally be determined and / or controlled in different ways. The fill quantity can be determined, for example, volumetrically, in particular by a flow measurement, by measuring the fill level, and / or by weighing systems.

[0028] The filling device or the beverage filling machine formed thereby can be designed and configured for pressure filling as well as pressureless filling without restriction.

[0029] Finally, the invention also relates to a method for filling containers in a beverage filling machine with a filling device, which is preferably designed as described above. During each filling process, a first partial amount of liquid is poured centrally into the container, in particular as a free jet, while a second partial amount of liquid is poured along or adjacent to a container wall with at least partial temporal overlap. Preferably, gas is discharged into an annular space between a central axis of the container and the container wall.

[0030] As already explained in connection with the filling device itself, the different timing of the control of the first partial quantity of liquid and the second partial quantity of liquid can be provided during a filling process. For example, it can be expedient to start by filling the second partial quantity of liquid so that the first partial quantity of liquid filled as a free jet does not immediately hit the bottom of the container at high speed at the beginning of the filling process. In principle, variable control with further variation options can be provided. Even during a filling process, valve means for the first partial quantity of liquid and / or the second partial quantity of liquid can be actuated several times, particularly to optimise the filling process. For example, even during a single filling process, an intermediate, if necessaryMultiple interruptions may also be provided.

[0031] Embodiments of the invention are explained below with reference to drawings which show various operating modes of a filling device for a beverage filling machine.

[0032] They show specifically:

[0033] Fig. 1 shows a filling device according to the invention with a container connected thereto before the start of a filling process,

[0034] Fig. 2 the filling device according to Fig. 1 during a filling process,

[0035] Fig. 3 and 4 show the filling device according to Fig. 1 with alternative configurations of the filling process compared to Fig. 2,

[0036] Fig. 5 shows an alternative embodiment of a filling device according to the invention in a state analogous to Fig. 1,

[0037] Fig. 6 shows a further alternative embodiment of a filling device according to the invention in a schematic representation,

[0038] Fig. 7 shows a further alternative embodiment of a filling device according to the invention, particularly suitable for containers in the form of cans.

[0039] Fig. 1 shows a filling device for a beverage filling machine with a bottom outlet 1 connected via a seal 2 to a container 3, which in the illustrated embodiment is designed as a bottle. The bottle can be made of glass or plastic and can be designed, without restriction, for a disposable or reusable system. Other containers 3, such as cans, are also possible with a correspondingly adapted geometry of the filling device (see also the following section on Fig. 7).

[0040] Figure 1 shows the filling device before the start of the filling process. The filling device comprises a liquid path system 4 opening at outlet 1 and a gas path system 5 also opening at the outlet.

[0041] Starting from an inlet 6 in a feed area 7, the liquid path system 4 initially extends with an annular channel 8 in the direction of the outlet 1, before a branching of the liquid path system 4 into a first liquid branch 10a and a second liquid branch 10b is provided at a distribution structure 9.

[0042] The first fluid branch 10a merges into an inner fluid mouth 12a via a first valve means 11a.

[0043] The second fluid branch 10b merges via a second valve means 11b into an annular outer fluid mouth 12b, which surrounds the circular-cylindrical inner fluid mouth 12a extending along a vertical central axis M.

[0044] The gas path system 4 has, between the inner liquid mouth 12a and the outer liquid mouth 12b, a gas mouth 13 which is also circular in the exemplary embodiment.

[0045] The first valve means 11a and the second valve means 11b can be switched separately by a respective associated first drive arrangement 14a and second drive arrangement 14b, respectively. Corresponding drive arrangements 14a, 14b are known to those skilled in the art, so a detailed description of them is not necessary within the scope of the invention.

[0046] Starting from a gas connection 15, the gas path system 5 initially has a gas channel 16, wherein at the distribution structure 9, the gas path system 5 is transferred from the gas channel 16 into an intermediate region 17 between the first liquid branch 10a and the second liquid branch 10b. The intermediate region 17 ultimately leads to the gas outlet 13. Accordingly, the liquid path system 4 and the gas path system 5 intersect at the distribution structure 9, for which purpose, passage openings 18a for the liquid path system 4 and passage openings 18b for the gas path system 5 are provided in the distribution structure 9, distributed around the circumference.

[0047] Furthermore, it can be seen that the outer liquid mouth 12b is delimited by an outer collar 19 on which the previously described seal 2 is arranged.

[0048] Fig. 2 shows the filling device according to Fig. 1 with both valve means 11a, 11b in the open state. During the filling process, the product 20 to be filled, in the form of a beverage, is filled with a first partial amount of liquid via the inner liquid outlet 12a as a free jet, with a second partial amount of the product 20 being filled at a container wall 21 of the container 3. The partial amount of liquid filled at the container wall 21 flows evenly along the widening contour of the container wall 21, with gas 22 being discharged via the gas outlet 13 in an annular space between the central axis M and the container wall 21.

[0049] By dividing the liquid into the first and second partial quantities, a particularly good pouring performance and thus a particularly fast process can be achieved. For a given throughput, a filling carousel with its attached filling devices can be driven faster, so that a smaller number of filling devices is sufficient overall. Alternatively, the invention can also be used to further increase the throughput of a beverage filling machine.

[0050] Since the valve means 11a, 11b can be switched separately, filling at the container wall 21 and filling by means of a free jet can be freely varied within the scope of the invention. For example, depending on the embodiment, it may be expedient to provide different times for the start and / or end of filling for the first liquid portion and the second liquid portion during a filling process.

[0051] In principle, it is also conceivable that, for example, when changing containers, filling may only take place via a free jet (Fig. 3) or only via the container wall 21 (Fig. 4) due to the requirements to be taken into account at that time. As indicated in Fig. 3, filling may only be provided via a free jet, for example, if the container wall 21 of a container 3 is not suitable for filling via the container wall 21 itself due to its shape.

[0052] Fig. 5 shows an alternative embodiment of a filling device. This embodiment differs from the embodiment according to Fig. 1 in that, instead of filling via a free jet, the inner liquid outlet 12a is formed on a pipe section 23 extending into the container 3. This results in the advantage that the fall height of the product 20 during filling via the inner liquid outlet 12a is reduced. However, the pipe section 23 must be inserted into the container prior to the filling process, for example, by a lifting movement, and wetting of the pipe section 23 with the product 20 must generally also be accepted.

[0053] Figure 6 shows, in a highly schematic manner, that according to a further variant of the invention, the first liquid branch 10a and the second liquid branch 10b are connected to separate, mutually distinct inlets 6a, 6b. This makes it possible to provide different liquids and only mix them in the container 3 itself.

[0054] According to the embodiments described in Figs. 1 to 6, bottles are shown as containers 3 by way of example, whereby the filling device can also be designed for other containers.

[0055] Fig. 7 shows an example of a filling device designed for containers 3 in the form of cans, wherein the basic structure and the general functionality correspond to the previously described embodiments.

[0056] A special requirement, however, is that the cans intended as containers 3 must be rinsed with an inert fluid immediately before filling at the filling device. For example, when filling beer or other sensitive products, the aim is to largely remove or at least reduce oxygen in order to avoid any impairment of the quality of the product and / or a reduction in its shelf life during subsequent storage. Carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrogen (N2), or steam, for example, can be used for rinsing. In this context, various fluid paths are represented by different lines in Fig. 7. It is understood that the various fluid paths are assigned to sequential process steps and are shown together solely for the purpose of explanation.

[0057] According to the previously described structure, the filling device has the bottom outlet 1, which is connected to the container 3 in the form of a can via the seal 2. Also in the embodiment according to Fig. 7, the first liquid branch 10a passes via the first valve means 11a into the inner liquid outlet 12a, and the second liquid branch 10b passes via the second valve means 11b into the annular outer liquid outlet 12b, which surrounds the circular-cylindrical inner liquid outlet 12a extending along a vertical central axis M.

[0058] The first valve means 11 a is shown by way of example in the open position, wherein the first valve means 11 a is closed during the flushing process explained below in connection with Fig. 7.

[0059] The flushing process with the inert fluid, which precedes the actual filling process, is represented by dot-dash arrows. A flushing fluid is introduced through the annular gas orifice 13 in the container 3 and is directed via an outer annular gap 24 and through a bellows 25 to an outlet 26 for the flushing fluid.

[0060] Filling of the container 3 can then take place—as previously described—either via the first liquid branch 10a and / or the second liquid branch 10b. During filling, the gas 22 (dashed arrow) displaced by the added product 20 (solid arrows) can then be discharged through the gas outlet 13 via the gas path system 5. List of Reference Symbols

[0061] 1 outlet

[0062] 2 Seal

[0063] 3 containers

[0064] 4 Fluid pathway system

[0065] 5 Gas path system

[0066] 6, 6a, 6b inlet

[0067] 7 Feeding area

[0068] 8 ring canal

[0069] 9 Distribution structure

[0070] 10a first fluid branch

[0071] 10b second fluid branch

[0072] 11 a first valve means

[0073] 11 b second valve means

[0074] 12a inner fluid orifice

[0075] 12b outer liquid outlet

[0076] M central axis

[0077] 13 Gas outlet

[0078] 14a first drive arrangement

[0079] 14b second drive arrangement

[0080] 15 Gas connection

[0081] 16 Gas duct

[0082] 17 Intermediate area

[0083] 18a Passage openings (for the fluid path system 4)

[0084] 18b Passage openings (gas path system 5)

[0085] 19 outer collar

[0086] 20 product

[0087] 21 Container wall

[0088] 22 Gas

[0089] 23 Pipe section

[0090] 24 Annular gap

[0091] 25 bellows

[0092] 26 Exit

Claims

Patent claims 1. Filling device for a filling machine, in particular for a beverage filling machine, with an outlet (1) on the underside, a liquid path system (4) opening at the outlet (1) and a gas path system (5) also opening at the outlet (1), characterized in that the liquid path system (4) has a first liquid branch (10a) and a second liquid branch (10b) and at the outlet (1) an inner liquid opening (12a) associated with the first liquid branch (10a) and a separate outer liquid opening (12b) associated with the second liquid branch (10b) and that the gas path system (5) has a gas opening (13) between the inner and outer liquid openings (12a, 12b).

2. Filling device according to claim 1, characterized in that the outer liquid outlet (12b) and the gas outlet (13) surround the inner liquid outlet (12a) in a ring shape.

3. Filling device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the inner liquid outlet (12a) is cylindrical.

4. Filling device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the outer liquid outlet (12b) is limited by an outer collar (19), wherein the outer collar (19) is designed for tight contact with an upper edge of a container (3).

5. Filling device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a first switchable valve means (11a) is provided in the first liquid branch (10a) leading to the inner liquid outlet (12a) and a second switchable valve means (11b) is provided in the second liquid branch (10b) leading to the outer liquid outlet (12b).

6. Filling device according to claim 5, characterized in that the first and the second valve means (11 a, 11 b) can be switched separately.

7. Filling device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a branching of the liquid path system (4) into the first liquid branch (10a) and the second liquid branch (10b) is formed between the outlet (1) and a feed area (7) on a distribution structure (9).

8. Filling device according to claim 7, characterized in that in the feed area (7) a gas channel (16) of the gas path system (5) is surrounded by an annular channel (8) of the liquid path system (4).

9. Filling device according to claim 8, characterized in that the gas path system (5) is transferred from the gas channel (16) to an intermediate area (17) between the first liquid branch (10a) and the second liquid branch (10b) at the distribution structure (9).

10. Filling device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the first liquid branch (10a) and the second liquid branch (10b) are connected to separate, mutually isolated inlets (6a, 6b).

11. Filling machine, in particular beverage filling machine, with at least one filling device according to one of the preceding claims.

12. Filling machine according to claim 11 with a plurality of filling devices which are arranged on a filling carousel of the filling machine.

13. Method for filling containers (3) in a filling machine with a filling device, in particular with a filling device according to one of claims 1 to 10, wherein in each filling process a first partial quantity of liquid is filled centrally into the container (3), in particular as a free jet, and wherein a second partial quantity of liquid is filled with at least partial temporal overlap along or adjacent to a container wall (21).

14. Method according to claim 13, wherein gas (22) is discharged in an annular space between a central axis (M) of the container (3) and the container wall (21).

15. Method according to claim 13 or 14, wherein in each filling process the filling of the second liquid portion begins before the filling of the first liquid portion.

Images