Monitoring system for monitoring a multichamber rotary union of a rotative filling machine

Abstract

Filling machine (1) for filling containers with a pourable product, the machine (1) being configured for operating in a test mode and in a production mode, and comprising: a monitoring system (2) comprising an automatic control unit (CU), wherein, in the test mode, the system (2) is configured for performing, by means of the control unit (CU), a first pressurizing step, a first monitoring step and a second monitoring step.

Description

[0001]“MONITORING SYSTEM FOR MONITORING A MULTICHAMBER ROTARY UNION OF A ROTATIVE FILLING MACHINE” TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a rotative filling machine for filling containers with a pourable product, which is provided with a monitoring system for predicting the wear of the rotary sealing systems of the machine. In the field of packaging pourable products by means of containers, it is known to use rotative filling machines. The rotative filling machine comprises a conveyor for conveying a plurality of filling devices, and one or more fluid chambers which are integral with the conveyor. The filling machine comprises also a fluid circuit which is not integral with the conveyor, and each chamber is in fluid communication with the circuit by means of a respective rotary sealing system. Each rotary sealing system comprises at least one gasket or another sealing device. Each rotary sealing system can be subject to damage or deterioration, which can cause an undesired leakage of fluid. As it is difficult to monitor the wear status or the possible damaging of the rotary sealing systems for each production run, the risk of a progressive increase of the wear or of the level of damage of at least one rotary sealing system is high. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A monitoring system according to present description or according to any of the appended system claims allows for improving the capacity of monitoring the wear status or the level of possible damage of each rotary sealing system of a rotative filling machine. A rotative filling machine according to present description or according to any of the machine claims comprises a monitoring system according to present description or according to any of the appended system claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In the following detailed description, a possible embodiment of a rotative filling machine according to present description and a possible embodiment of a monitoring system according to present description will be described. The embodiment of the machine will be named for simplicity “machine”, while the embodiment of the system will be named for simplicity as “system”. In the drawings, Figure 1 is a schematic representation of the machine. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS The machine 1 is for filling containers with a pourable product. The machine 1 comprises a rotary conveyor 3 for conveying a plurality of filling devices. Each filling device is configured for filling subsequently a plurality of containers with the pourable product, while being conveyed by the conveyor 3. The container can be a bottle or a flacon or a jar or a can or any other kind of container. The pourable product can be a food product, or a product for personal care, or a product for home care. For example the pourable product can be tea, milk, water, beer, juice or a pulp. The machine 1 comprises a first fluid chamber 4, a second fluid chamber 5, and a third fluid chamber 6, which are integral with the rotary conveyor 3. Each chamber moves together with the conveyor 3 when the filling devices are conveyed. The machine 1 comprises a first rotary sealing system 41, a second rotary sealing system 51 and a third rotary sealing system 61. Each rotary sealing system comprises a respective sealing device, which can comprise at least one gasket. Each rotary sealing system acts between at least two parts which are rotating with respect to each other when the conveyor 3 is conveying the filling devices. The sealing systems can be coaxial with respect to each other. The conveyor 3 can be a carousel, in which case the conveyor 3 conveys the filling devices by rotating about the axis of the carousel. The sealing systems can be coaxial with respect to the axis of the carousel. The machine 1 comprises at least one fluid circuit 7, which is not integral with the conveyor 3. The at least one circuit 7 can be integral with and / or fixed with respect to an external support which supports the conveyor 3. The conveyor 3 moves with respect to the support when the filling devices are conveyed. The conveyor 3 moves with respect to the at least one circuit 7 when the filling devices are conveyed. The first chamber 4 is in fluid communication with the at least one circuit 7 through the first rotary sealing system 41. The second chamber 5 is in fluid communication with the at least one circuit 7 through the second rotary sealing system 51. The third chamber 6 is in fluid communication with the at least one circuit 7 through the third rotary sealing system 61. The machine 1 is configured for operating in a test mode, for testing the level of wear or possible damage of the rotary sealing systems 41, 51 and 61. The machine is configured for operating in a production mode, for filling the containers. The at least one circuit 7 comprises a first line 71. The machine 1 is configured so that, in the test mode, the first line 71 feeds the pressurization gas at least to the first chamber 4. The machine 1 is configured so that, in the production mode, the first line 71 feeds the pourable product to the first chamber 4. The machine 1 is configured so that, in the production mode, the filling devices receive the pourable product from the first chamber 4, to deliver the product in the containers. The first chamber 4, in the production mode, corresponds to a product chamber. The machine 1 is configured for filling containers with a carbonated product, like for example sparkling water or any other carbonated beverage. The at least one circuit 7 comprises a second line 72. The machine is configured so that, in the production mode, the second line 72 feeds a pressurization gas to the second chamber 5. The machine 1 is configured so that, in the production mode, the filling devices receive the pressurization gas from the second chamber 5, to deliver the pressurization gas in the containers. In fact, if the pourable product is carbonated, each container shall be pressurized before the delivery of the pourable product in the container. The second chamber 5, in the production mode, corresponds to a pressurization chamber. The at least one circuit 7 comprises a third line 73. The machine is configured so that, in the production mode, the third line 73 receives the pressurization gas from the third chamber 6. The machine 1 is configured so that, in the production mode, the third chamber 6 receives the pressurization gas from the filling devices, to collect the pressurization gas that came out of the containers during a depressurization phase. In fact, if the pourable product is carbonated, each container shall be also depressurized after the delivery of the pourable product in the container. The machine 1 comprises a tank 8. The tank 8 is configured for containing the pressurization gas and / or the pourable product. The machine 1 is configured so that, in the test mode, the tank 8 supplies the pressurization gas to the first line 71. The machine 1 is configured so that, in the production mode, the tank 8 supplies the pourable product to the first line 71. The machine 1 is configured so that, in the production mode, the tank 8 supplies the pressurization gas to the second line 72. In the production mode, the tank 8 contains both the product and the pressurization gas. The first rotary sealing system 41 is interposed between the first chamber 4 and the first line 71. The second rotary sealing system 51 is interposed between the second chamber 5 and the second line 72. The third rotary sealing system 61 is interposed between the third chamber 6 and the third line 73. The machine comprises a pressure sensor 8, which is positioned in the first chamber 4. The machine 1 comprises a monitoring system 2. The system 2 comprises an automatic control unit CU. In the test mode, the system 2 is configured for performing, by means of the control unit CU, a first pressurizing step, during which the first chamber 4, the second chamber 5, and the third chamber 6 are pressurized. This first pressurizing step is carried out by keeping opened the fluid communication between the first chamber 4, the second chamber 5 and the third chamber 6. In the test mode, the system 2 is configured for performing, by means of the control unit CU and after the first pressurizing step, a first monitoring step, during which the time trend of the pressure detected by the sensor 8 is monitored. This first monitoring step is carried out while keeping closed the fluid communication between the first chamber 4 and the second chamber 5 and while keeping closed the fluid communication between the first chamber 4 and the third chamber 6. In the test mode, the system 2 is configured for performing, by means of the control unit CU and after said first monitoring step, a second monitoring step, during which the time trend of the pressure detected by the sensor 8 is monitored. This second monitoring step is carried out while keeping opened the fluid communication between the first chamber 4 and the second chamber 5 and while keeping closed the fluid communication between the first chamber 4 and the third chamber 6. In the test mode, the system 2 is configured for performing, by means of the control unit CU and after said second monitoring step, a third monitoring step, during which the time trend of the pressure detected by the sensor 8 is monitored. This third monitoring step is carried out while keeping closed the fluid communication between the first chamber 4 and the second chamber 5 and while keeping opened the fluid communication between the first chamber 4 and the third chamber 6. In the test mode and by means of the control unit CU, the system 2 is configured for detecting, for each of the first monitoring step, the second monitoring step, and the third monitoring step, a respective pressure drop, and for informing a user about the detected pressure drop. In the test mode and by means of the control unit CU, the system 2 is configured for alerting the user if the pressure drop is too high. If the pressure drop is too high in the first monitoring step, it means that there is a problem of wear or damage related to the first rotary sealing system 41. If there is a too high pressure drop in the secondo monitoring step, it means that there is a problem of wear or damage related to the second rotary sealing system 51. If there is a too high pressure drop in the third monitoring step, it means that there is a problem of wear or damage related to the third rotary sealing system 61. For each monitoring step, the pressure drop corresponds to the difference between the pressure detected by the sensor 8 at the start of the respective step, and the pressure detected by the sensor 8 at the end of a predetermined time interval spanning from said start. In this way, in the test mode and by means of the pressure sensor 8, a possible leakage or damage of at least two rotary sealing systems of the machine can be detected using the pressure sensor 8 positioned in one of at least two chambers which are connected to the at least one circuit 7 by means of said at least two rotary sealing systems, respectively. In fact, if there is a leakage in the first rotary sealing system 41, this leakage will be detected by means of the first monitoring step, because the pressure sensor 8 is in communication with only the first chamber 4 and the second chamber 5 and the third chamber 6 are excluded. If there is a leakage in the second rotary sealing system 51, this leakage will be detected by means of the second monitoring step, because the pressure sensor 8, in the second monitoring step, is in communication with the first chamber 4 and the second chamber 5, and the third chamber 6 is excluded. If there is a leakage in the third rotary sealing system 61, this leakage will be detected by means of the third monitoring step, because the pressure sensor 8, in the third monitoring step, is in communication with the first chamber 4 and the third chamber 6, and the second chamber 5 is excluded. Therefore, a rotative filling machine 1 is provided which, by means of a simple system 2, allows to improve the prediction capability about the wear status or the possible level of damage of at least two rotary sealing systems of the machine. In particular, the pressure sensor 8 positioned in the first chamber 4 is used also for detecting a possible problem in the rotary sealing systems 51 and 61, which are associated to other chambers. In the test mode, the system 2 is configured for performing, by means of the control unit CU and between the first monitoring step and the second monitoring step, a second pressurizing step. During the second pressurizing step, the first chamber 4 and the second chamber 5 are pressurized by means of the at least one circuit 7. The second pressurizing step is carried out by keeping opened the fluid communication between the first chamber 4 and the second chamber 5 and by keeping closed the communication between the first chamber 4 and the third chamber 6. In the second pressurizing step, also the fluid communication between the second chamber 5 and the third chamber 6 is closed. In this way, it can be recovered the pressure drop which has occurred in the first chamber 4 during the first monitoring step, also in case this pressure drop was not too high. In the test mode, the system 2 is configured for performing, by means of the control unit CU and between the second monitoring step and the third monitoring step, a third pressurizing step. During the third pressurizing step, the first chamber 4 and the third chamber 6 are pressurized by means of the at least one circuit 7. The third pressurizing step is carried out by keeping closed the fluid communication between the first chamber 4 and the second chamber 5 and by keeping opened the communication between the first chamber 4 and the third chamber 6. In the third pressurizing step, also the fluid communication between the second chamber 5 and the third chamber 6 is closed. In this way, it can be recovered the pressured drop which has occurred in the first chamber 4 during the second monitoring step, also in case this pressure drop was not too high. By means of the first pressurizing step which is carried out by keeping opened the fluid communication between all the chambers, each of the second pressurizing step and the third pressurizing step can be carried out only to recover the pressure drop which has occurred during the last monitoring step, to simplify the execution of the test mode of the machine 1, and in particular the automatization of this execution. The system 2 is configured, by means of the control unit CU, for performing each pressurizing step by feeding the pressurization gas through the first line 71 and the first rotary sealing system 41. In this way, it is reduced the number of components required or used for the execution of the test mode, to reduce the wear and / or the mechanical complexity of the machine 1 configured for operating in the test mode and in the production mode. The system 2, by means of the control unit CU, can be configured for performing a monitoring step which is after the first monitoring step, only if a too high pressure drop was not detected in the previous one. Therefore, the second monitoring step would be carried out only if no too high pressure drop was not detected in the first monitoring step. Also, the third monitoring step would be carried out only if no too high pressure drop was detected in the second monitoring step. In this way, a save of energy can be obtained, in that the system 2 stops the test mode immediately after a possible problem is detected. The system 2, by means of the control unit CU, is configured for preventing the production mode if a too high pressure drop is detected in the test mode, and for allowing the production mode if no too high pressure drop is detected in the test mode. In this way, if there is a problem in any of the rotary sealing systems, the production mode is prevented to avoid any possible further deterioration of the machine 1. The machine 1 comprises a product valve 13 for inserting the pourable product in the tank 8. The system 2 is configured for preventing the production mode by keeping closed the product valve 13. The product valve 13 is not integral with the conveyor 3. In this way, in case of a problem is detected in any of the rotary sealing system, a possible deterioration of the product is avoided, which is in particular useful to avoid a possible contamination, if the product is sterilized. The machine 1 comprises a first valve 10 for regulating the fluid communication between the first chamber 4 and the second chamber 5. The first valve 10 is integral with the conveyor 3. The system 2 is configured for keeping opened or closed the fluid communication between the first chamber 4 and the second chamber 5 by acting on said first valve 10. The machine 1 comprises a second valve 11, which is interposed between the first valve 10 and the second chamber 5, for regulating the fluid communication between the first chamber 4 and the second chamber 5. The second valve 11 is integral with the conveyor 3. The system 2 is configured for keeping opened or closed the fluid communication between the first chamber 4 and the second chamber 5 by acting also on the second valve 11. The machine 1 comprises a third valve 12, which is interposed between the first valve 10 and the third chamber 6, for regulating the fluid communication between the first chamber 4 and the third chamber 6. The third valve 12 is integral with the conveyor 3. The system 2 is configured for keeping opened or closed the fluid communication between the first chamber 4 and the third chamber 6 by acting also on said third valve 12. The second valve 11 and the third valve 12 are in parallel with each other. The machine 1 comprises also a first external valve 42, which is not integral with the conveyor 3 and operates along the first line 71. The machine 1 comprises also a second external valve 52, which is not integral with the conveyor 3 and operates along the second line 72. The machine 1 comprises also a third external valve 62, which is not integral with the conveyor 3 and operates along the third line 73. The third line 73 is in fluid communication with an external collecting element 9. The machine 1 comprises a fixed external frame. The at least one circuit 7 is fixed with respect to a fixed external frame. The tank 8 is fixed with respect to said frame. The collecting element 9 is fixed with respect to said fixed external frame. Each of the external valves is with respect to said fixed external frame. The external frame can comprise the above-mentioned support. The monitoring system 2 comprises a user interface UI for informing the user about the pressure drop, and / or for informing a user about the time trend of the pressure detected by the pressure sensor 8, and / or for alerting the user if a pressure drop is too high. Any of the chambers 5 and 6 can be used, alternatively, for containing a cleaning fluid. The pressurization gas is preferably carbon dioxide or air. The control unit CU can comprise at least one electronic or electric control device or a plurality of electronic or electric control devices, and all the connections or communications elements which are required by the control unit CU to carry out the steps described above. Each control device can be programmable. Globally, the system 2 provides therefore the possibility of carrying out automatically different monitoring steps during which the pressure detected by the same sensor 8 is monitored, with different configurations of fluid communication between the chambers, so that at least one monitoring step can be indicative of a problem also affecting at least one rotary sealing system which is not associated to the chamber in which the sensor 8 is positioned. The sealing systems and the chambers define a multichamber rotary union. Therefore, the system allows for efficiently monitoring the wear or possible damage status of a multichamber rotary union of a rotative filling machine.

Claims

1. Rotative filling machine (1) for filling containers with a pourable product, the machine (1) being configured for operating in a test mode and in a production mode, and comprising: - a rotary conveyor (3) for conveying a plurality of filling devices, the filling devices being configured for filling the containers with the pourable product; - a first fluid chamber (4) and a second fluid chamber (5) which are integral with the rotary conveyor (3); - at least one fluid circuit (7) which is not integral with the conveyor (3); - a first rotary sealing system (41), the first chamber (4) being in fluid communication with the at least one circuit (7) through the first rotary sealing system (41); - a second rotary sealing system (51), the second chamber (5) being in fluid communication with the at least one circuit (7) through the second rotary sealing system (51); - a pressure sensor (8) positioned in the first chamber (4); - a monitoring system (2) comprising an automatic control unit (CU); wherein, in the test mode, the system (2) is configured for performing the following steps, by means of the controlunit (CU): - a first pressurizing step, to pressurize the first chamber (4) and the second chamber (5) by means of said at least one fluid circuit (7), and by keeping opened the fluid communication between the first chamber (4) and the second chamber (5); - after the first pressurizing step, a first monitoring step, to monitor the time trend of the pressure detected by the sensor (8), while keeping closed the fluid communication between the first chamber (4) and the second chamber (5); - after said first monitoring step, a second monitoring step, to monitor the time trend of the pressure detected by the sensor (8), while keeping opened the fluid communication between the first chamber (4) and the second chamber (5).

2. Machine according to Claim 1, comprising a first valve (10) for regulating the fluid communication between the first chamber (4) and the second chamber (5) and which is integral with the conveyor (3); the system being configured for keeping opened or closed the fluid communication between the first chamber (4) and the second chamber (5) by acting on said first valve (10).

3. Machine according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein, in the test mode of the machine (1), the system (2) is configured for performing, by means of the control unit (CU) and between the first monitoring step and the second monitoring step, asecond pressurizing step, to pressurize the first chamber (4) and the second chamber (5) by means of the at least one circuit (7), and by keeping opened the fluid communication between the first chamber (4) and the second chamber (5).

4. Machine (1) according to any of the previous Claims, comprising: - a third fluid chamber (6) which is integral with the conveyor (3); - a third rotary sealing system (61), the third chamber (6) being in fluid communication with the at least one circuit (7) through the third rotary sealing system (61); wherein the system (2), by means of the control unit (CU), is configured for performing said first pressurizing step to pressurize also said third chamber (6), and by keeping opened also the fluid communication between the first chamber (4) and the third chamber (6); wherein the system (2), by means of the control unit (CU), is configured for performing said first monitoring step and said second monitoring step, while keeping closed the fluid communication between said first chamber (4) and said third chamber (6); wherein, in the test mode of the machine (1), the system (2) is configured for performing, by means of the control unit (CU) and after said second monitoring step, a third monitoring step, to monitor the time trend of the pressuredetected by the sensor (8), while keeping closed the fluid communication between the first chamber (4) and the second chamber (5) and while keeping opened the fluid communication between the first chamber (4) and the third chamber (6).

5. Machine according to Claims 3 and 4, wherein the system (2), by means of the control unit (CU), is configured for performing said second pressurizing step by keeping closed the fluid communication between the first chamber (4) and the third chamber (6) and by keeping closed the fluid communication between the second chamber (5) and the third chamber (6).

6. Machine according to Claim 4 or 5, comprising: - a second valve (11), which is interposed between the first valve (10) and the second chamber (5) for regulating the fluid communication between the first chamber (4) and the second chamber (5), and which is integral with the conveyor (3), the system being configured for keeping opened or closed the fluid communication between the first chamber (4) and the second chamber (5) by acting also on said second valve (11); - a third valve (12), which is interposed between the first valve (10) and the third chamber (6) for regulating the fluid communication between the first chamber (4) and the third chamber (6), and which is integral with the conveyor (3), the system being configured for keeping openedor closed the fluid communication between the first chamber (4) and the third chamber (6) by acting also on said third valve (12).

7. Machine according to Claim 6, wherein the second valve (11) and the third valve (12) are in parallel with respect to each other.

8. Machine according to any of Claims from 4 to 7, wherein, in the test mode of the machine (1), the system (1) is configured for performing, by means of the control unit (CU) and between the second monitoring step and the third monitoring step, a third pressurizing step, to pressurize the first chamber (4) and the third chamber (6) by means of the at least one circuit (7), and by keeping closed the fluid communication between the first chamber (4) and the second chamber (5), by keeping opened the fluid communication between the first chamber (4) and the third chamber (6), and by keeping closed the fluid communication between the third chamber (6) and the second chamber (5).

9. Machine according to any of the previous Claims, wherein the machine is for filling containers with a pourable product and the at least one circuit (7) comprises: - a first line (71), the machine (1) being configured so that, in the test mode, the first line (71) feeds the pressurization gas to the first chamber (4), and, in the production mode, the first line (71) feeds the pourableproduct to the first chamber (4) and the filling devices receive the pourable product from the first chamber (4), to deliver the product in the containers; - a second line (72), the machine (1) being configured so that, in the production mode, the second line (72) feeds a pressurization gas to the second chamber (5), and the filling devices receive the pressurization gas from the second chamber (5), to deliver the pressurization gas in the containers before the delivery of the product; wherein: - the machine (1) comprises a tank (8) which is not integral with the conveyor (3), the machine (1) being configured so that, in the test mode, the tank (8) supplies the pressurization gas to the first line (71), and, in the production mode, the tank (8) supplies the pourable product to the first line (71) and the pressurization gas to the second line (72); - the first rotary sealing system (41) is interposed between the first chamber (4) and the first line (71), and the second rotary sealing system (51) is interposed between the second chamber (5) and the second line (72); - the system (2) is configured for performing each pressurizing step by feeding the pressurization gas through the first line (71) and the first rotary sealing system (41).

10. Machine according to any of Claims 4 to 8 andaccording to Claim 9, wherein the at least one circuit (7) comprises: - a third line (73), the machine (1) being configured so that, in the production mode, the third chamber (6) receives the pressurization gas from the filling devices, to collect the pressurization gas that came out of the containers during a depressurization phase, and the third line (73) receives the pressurization gas from the third chamber (6); wherein the third rotary sealing system (61) is interposed between the third chamber (6) and the third line (73).

11. Machine according to any of the previous claims, wherein the system (2) is configured, by means of the control unit (CU), for detecting, for each monitoring step, a respective pressure drop, and for informing a user about the detected pressure drop.

12. Machine according to Claim 11, wherein the system (2), by means of the control unit (CU), is configured for alerting the user if the pressure drop is too high.

13. Machine according to Claim 11 or 12, wherein the pressure drop corresponds to the difference between the pressure detected by the sensor (8) at the start of the respective monitoring step and the pressure detected by the sensor (8) at the end of a predetermined time intervalspanning from said start.

14. Machine (1) according to any of Claims from 11 to 13, wherein the system (2), by means of the control unit (CU), is configured for performing a monitoring step which is after the first monitoring step, only if a too high pressure drop was not detected in the previous one.

15. Machine (1) according to any of Claims from 11 to 14, wherein the system (2) is configured, by means of the control unit (CU), for preventing the production mode if a too high pressure drop is detected in the test mode, and for allowing the production mode if no too high pressure drop is detected in the test mode.

16. Machine (1) according to Claims 15 and Claim 9 or 10, comprising a product valve (13) for inserting the pourable product in the tank (8), wherein the system (2) is configured for preventing the production mode by keeping closed the product valve (13).

17. Monitoring system for a filling machine according to any of the previous claims.

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