Container filling equipment

Abstract

TITLE: Container filling equipment The present invention relates to container filling equipment with a liquid product, comprising a distribution box (2) and at least one liquid product reservoir (31, 32, 33) connected to the distribution box (2) by a pipe, the distribution box (2) having a lower face (22), a part of the lower face (22) forming a support surface (221) suitable for being placed on a flat surface defining a support plane, the center of gravity of the distribution box (2) being located above the support surface.According to the invention, the distribution box (2) has a projecting portion (222) extending below the support plane, the projecting portion (222) being configured so that, when the support surface (221) is placed on a flat surface, a portion of the distribution box (2) is cantilevered next to this flat surface, and the pipes enter the distribution box (2) at the cantilevered portion. Abbreviated figure: Figure 1.

Description

Title of the invention: Container filling equipment Scope of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to container filling equipment.

[0002] It relates in particular to equipment capable of filling containers that can be closed, such as bottles, with a liquid product. Previous art

[0003] The retail sale of liquid products, whether food or non-food, is most often carried out by selling a closed container, such as a bottle, containing the product. Increasingly, however, efforts are being made to avoid waste associated with the single use of containers. "Bulk" sales practices for liquid food and non-food products are becoming more and more common in retail outlets. These outlets are thus equipped with filling equipment allowing a customer to fill a container they have brought with the liquid product.

[0004] However, installing such filling equipment poses difficulties for retail businesses. Indeed, such businesses commonly offer a wide variety of different liquid products. Their bulk distribution therefore requires that the business be equipped with filling equipment for each of these liquid product references. This filling equipment occupies a significant amount of space in retail establishments.

[0005] It is possible that such filling equipment may be designed to dispense several different products. However, such filling equipment allowing the dispensing of several distinct liquid products occupies a relatively large volume, generally larger than filling equipment allowing the dispensing of a single liquid product.

[0006] Filling equipment in retail stores often forms bulky units that occupy space previously used for shelving. Because this equipment is separate from the shelving, it is difficult to display bulk liquids and filled bottles of the same products side-by-side in the store. This complicates the customer journey. Finally, the space occupied by this bulk dispensing equipment reduces the available shelf space, and therefore the number of products that can be offered to the consumer.

[0007] Furthermore, the furniture used in bulk liquid dispensing equipment must be opened to change and connect the liquid product tanks. These operations are time-consuming for store staff.

[0008] When filling equipment consists of several smaller components, these components can be placed on the shelves of racking units. In this case, the connecting pipes between the different components can make the filling equipment unsightly. In other cases, the connecting pipes can be placed on the back faces of the components and run behind them to be more discreet. In this case, however, the installation of the filling equipment is more difficult and often requires modifications to the racking unit, such as drilling or cutting to allow the pipes to pass through. Description of the invention

[0009] The present invention aims to overcome these drawbacks of the prior art. In particular, the invention aims to facilitate the distribution of liquid products by filling equipment.

[0010] The invention also aims to enable businesses to reduce the bulk and cost of filling equipment dispensing bulk liquid products.

[0011] One objective of the invention is in particular to facilitate the installation and maintenance of filling equipment in shops.

[0012] A particular objective of the invention, according to some of its embodiments, is to facilitate the distribution of several distinct liquid products by the same filling equipment.

[0013] These objectives, as well as others which will become clearer later, are achieved using equipment for filling containers with a liquid product, this equipment comprising a dispensing box and at least one liquid product reservoir connected to the dispensing box by a pipe, the dispensing box having a lower face, a part of this lower face forming a support surface suitable for being placed on a flat surface defining a support plane, the center of gravity of the dispensing box being located above this support surface.According to the invention, the distribution box has a projecting portion extending below the support plane, this projecting portion being configured so that, when the support surface is placed on a flat surface, a portion of the distribution box must be cantilevered next to this flat surface, with the pipes entering the distribution box at the level of this cantilevered portion.

[0014] The filling equipment according to the invention can easily be placed on the shelves of a shelving unit. When the support surface of the dispensing unit is placed on a shelf, its protruding portion can rest against an edge. The lateral section of this shelf features a protruding portion that acts as a guide, preventing the entire underside of the distribution box from resting on the shelf. This protruding portion, cantilevered along one edge of the shelf, allows for easy passage of pipes running from the distribution box to reservoirs located below. The protruding portion prevents these pipes from being pinched or trapped by the shelf. Furthermore, the pipes can be oriented to minimize their length and extend almost straight between components, thus improving their appearance. Finally, because these pipes extend along the front of the shelving unit, their installation and handling, for example during maintenance, are considerably simplified.

[0015] Preferably, the pipes enter the distribution box at the level of an underside of the cantilevered portion.

[0016] Preferably, the pipes enter the distribution box at the protruding portion.

[0017] Preferably, the distribution housing has a front side face, carrying a user interface and / or a liquid distribution nozzle, and the protruding portion forms the bottom of the front side face.

[0018] According to an advantageous embodiment, the pipelines comprise pipes connected to connection ends of the distribution box, the connection ends being placed at the cantilevered portion.

[0019] In this case, the pipes also include internal piping portions of the distribution box, running from the distribution fittings to internal components of the distribution box, such as pumps.

[0020] In this case, the distribution nozzles are preferably placed on an underside of the protruding portion.

[0021] According to another advantageous embodiment, the conduits comprise pipes connected inside the distribution box, entering the distribution box at said cantilevered portion.

[0022] In this case, the pipes preferably enter the distribution box through an underside of the protruding portion.

[0023] Advantageously, the filling equipment includes at least two liquid product tanks, each of these tanks being connected to the distribution box by a pipeline.

[0024] In the preferred embodiment, the filling equipment thus comprises three liquid product tanks.

[0025] The invention also relates to a shelving unit having a plurality of superimposed shelves, equipped with a filling device as described below. above, in which the distribution box is placed on one of the first shelves so that its support surface rests on this first shelf and its protruding portion is placed next to this first shelf, along an edge of this first shelf, the liquid product reservoir(s) being placed on shelves located below the first shelf.

[0026] Preferably, the reservoir(s) are located below the distribution housing.

[0027] This configuration allows for a practical arrangement of the distribution unit, making it possible to retain shelving space on the shelves most easily accessible to customers.

[0028] Advantageously, the filling equipment includes several tanks, placed below the distribution box, distributed over several shelves.

[0029] According to an advantageous embodiment, the shelving unit includes at least one masking panel, suspended from the projecting portion and extending in front of at least one of the tanks.

[0030] In the preferred embodiment shown, the shelving unit can thus carry several masking panels, masking the tanks and the pipes connecting these tanks to the distribution box.

[0031] This masking is facilitated by the direct routing of the pipes between the components of the distribution equipment. Description of the figures

[0032] The invention will be better understood upon reading the following description of preferred embodiments, given by way of simple figurative and non-limiting example, and accompanied by the figures, among which: - Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a liquid distribution equipment according to an embodiment of the invention, installed on the shelves of a shelving unit. - Fig. 2 is another perspective view of the liquid dispensing equipment of Fig. 1 installed on the shelves of a shelving unit, in which masking panels are placed in front of the liquid product tanks. - Fig. 3 is a side view of the liquid dispensing equipment from Fig. 1, installed on the shelving. - Fig. 4 is a side view of the bottom of the front face of the dispensing equipment, placed on a shelf. Description of the implementation methods

[0033] Figures 1, 2 and 3 represent a container filling device according to an embodiment of the invention, which is placed on the shelves of a piece of furniture Commercial shelving. This container filling equipment consists of a distribution box 2 and three liquid product tanks 31, 32 and 33, which are connected to the distribution box 2.

[0034] It is placed on a shelving unit 1 having, in the embodiment shown, five shelves 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15.

[0035] The dispensing unit 2 has a side face called the front face 21, which is intended to be positioned facing the user. This front face 21 has a user interaction interface and at least one filling nozzle suitable for filling a container.

[0036] In the embodiment shown, this front panel 21 has at least one touchscreen 210 allowing the user to select their product, the quantity of liquid they wish to purchase, etc. This front panel 21 may also, in certain embodiments of the invention, include payment means such as a payment card reader, or means for generating an invoice such as a printer for printing a receipt. This dispensing unit 2 then includes means for measuring the quantity of liquid dispensed, in order to allow for billing of this liquid.

[0037] In this embodiment shown, the front face 21 also has the opening of a niche 212, in which a bottle can be positioned. One or more filling nozzles (not visible in the figures), positioned at the top of this niche, allow the chosen liquid to be poured into the bottle inserted into the niche.

[0038] In the embodiment shown, the liquid distribution unit 2 is capable of dispensing a liquid selected from among three distinct references. This dispensing can be carried out via separate filling nozzles, each associated with one of the liquids, or via a single filling nozzle allowing the filling of the selected liquid.

[0039] In the embodiment shown, the distribution box 2 includes at least one pump, preferably one pump associated with each of the distributed liquids, allowing the liquid to be conveyed from a reservoir to the filling nozzle.

[0040] The distribution box 2 has a lower face 22, most of which is formed by a bearing surface 221, capable of bearing on a flat surface such as a horizontal shelf. This bearing surface 221 may itself be a flat surface, suitable for resting on the flat surface of the shelf. It may also be formed by a set of feet defining a bearing plane.

[0041] It should be noted that in certain embodiments, this support surface can be designed to bear on an inclined surface, for example to adapt specifically to inclined shelving units.

[0042] The distribution housing 2 is designed such that most of its surface is located above this support plane. The center of gravity of the distribution housing is thus located above the support surface, so that the distribution housing 2, whose support surface rests on a flat surface, is perfectly stable.

[0043] A small portion of the distribution housing 2, hereafter referred to as the "protruding portion 222", protrudes below the support plane defined by the support surface 221. In the embodiment shown, this protruding portion 222 forms the bottom of the front face 21 of the distribution housing 2.

[0044] This protruding portion 222 acts as a keying device when installing the distribution box 2 on a shelf. It prevents the distribution box 2 from being placed on a flat surface with its entire lower surface resting on the flat surface. On the contrary, to place the distribution box 2 correctly on the flat surface of a shelf, the protruding portion 222 must be positioned cantilevered beyond one edge of the shelf.

[0045] The presence of this protruding portion thus encourages installers of the filling equipment to position the distribution box 2 so that the bearing surface 221 rests on the shelf and the protruding portion 222 is placed along a lateral edge of this shelf. Figure 4 shows, in side view, a portion of the distribution box 2 thus positioned on a shelf 14.

[0046] Preferably, the portion of the total surface of the lower face 22 formed by the bearing surface 221 is much larger than the portion of the total surface of the lower face 22 formed by the protruding portion 222. In addition, the center of gravity of the distribution box 2 is preferably located above the bearing surface 221. Thus, the slight overhang generated by the protruding portion 222 does not cause any risk of imbalance of the distribution box 2, when the protruding portion 222 is in contact with the lateral edge of the shelf 14 on which the distribution box 2 is placed.

[0047] Advantageously, the distribution box 2 is connected to one or more liquid product tanks via pipes. In the embodiment shown, it is thus connected to three tanks 31, 32 and 33, respectively, by pipes 41, 42 and 43, which are connected to pumps located inside the distribution box.

[0048] In the embodiment shown, these tanks 31, 32, and 33 are each placed on a separate shelf below the distribution box 2. Each of these tanks 31, 32, and 33 is advantageously placed on a support, respectively 61, 62, and 63, which is itself placed on the shelf of the rack, respectively 11, 12, and 13. These supports 61, 62, and 63 advantageously allow the tanks to be positioned so that their opening faces the front of the rack, and form the lowest point of the tank. This design allows for complete emptying of the tank through its opening.

[0049] According to the invention, the pipes connecting the distribution box 2 to the tanks 31, 32 and 33 exit the distribution box 2 at the lower face of the projecting portion 222. The projecting portion 222 being intended to be placed in cantilever, the shelf 14 on which the distribution box 2 is placed does not obstruct the passage of these pipes, and does not risk jamming or pinching them.

[0050] In the embodiment shown, these pipelines consist of pipes 41, 42 and 43 which are connected inside the distribution box 2 and which exit from this distribution box 2 at the lower surface of the projecting portion 222. It is also possible, in other embodiments, that these pipelines include pipes connected to connection ends of the distribution box, placed at the projecting portion 222.

[0051] The routing of these pipes along the lower surface of the projecting portion 222 offers numerous advantages. It allows the pipes 41, 42, and 43 to be located at the front face of the distribution box 2 and to run in front of the shelves 14, 13, and 12 of the shelving unit 1. This configuration is particularly advantageous because it avoids the need to drill through the shelves of the shelving unit 1 to allow the pipes to run between different shelves, or to pass the pipes through holes located at the rear of the shelving unit 1. The installation of the distribution equipment is thus greatly simplified.

[0052] It should be noted that, according to a variant of the invention, the pipes can also enter the distribution box at the level of a part of this distribution box which is held in cantilever, due to the presence of the protruding portion, even if this part of the distribution box is itself placed above the support plane.

[0053] This configuration makes it easy to place the liquid product tank(s) 31, 32, and 33 below the dispensing unit 2, on separate shelves. This positioning advantageously allows the dispensing unit 2 to be placed at a higher level, on a shelf easily accessible to users. Conversely, the liquid product tanks 31, 32, and 33 are placed on lower shelves, which are less accessible to users, but on which it is easier for operators changing the liquid product tanks to position heavy tanks.

[0054] The passage of pipes 41, 42 and 43 through the lower surface of the projecting portion 222 allows these pipes to extend in an almost straight line to the tanks placed below the distribution box 2, which preserves the aesthetics of the shelving.

[0055] Advantageously, masking panels 51, 52, and 53 can be attached to the projecting portion 222 and / or to the tanks 31, 32, and 33 and / or to the tank support elements, thus concealing the tanks and pipes from users. These masking panels 51, 52, and 53 can be made of simple cardboard, which may serve as advertising media.

[0056] Thus, in the embodiment shown, a masking panel 53 is suspended from hooks provided on the projecting portion 222 of the distribution box 2. It extends in front of the tank 33 and in front of the pipe 43 connecting this tank 33 to the distribution box 2. Two other masking panels, respectively 52 and 51, are suspended respectively from hooks provided on the supports 63 and 62, and extend respectively in front of the tanks 32 and 31 and in front of the pipes connecting these tanks to the distribution box 2.

Claims

Claims

1. Equipment for filling containers with a liquid product, comprising a dispensing box (2) and at least one liquid product reservoir (31, 32, 33) connected to said dispensing box (2) by a pipe, said dispensing box (2) having a lower face (22), a portion of said lower face (22) forming a bearing surface (221) capable of being placed on a flat surface defining a bearing plane, the center of gravity of said dispensing box (2) being located above said bearing surface (221), characterized in that said dispensing box (2) has a projecting portion (222) extending below said bearing plane, said projecting portion (222) being configured to force, when said bearing surface (221) is placed on a flat surface, to maintain a portion of said dispensing box (2) cantilevered next to said flat surface,and in that said pipes enter said distribution box (2) at said cantilevered portion.,

2. Filling equipment according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said pipes penetrate into said distribution box (2) at the level of said projecting portion (222).

3. Filling equipment according to any one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that said distribution housing (2) has a front lateral face (21), carrying a user interface and / or a liquid distribution nozzle, and in that said projecting portion (222) forms the bottom of said front lateral face (21).

4. Filling equipment according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said pipes comprise pipes (41, 42, 43) connected to connection ends of said distribution box (2), said connection ends being placed at the level of the cantilevered portion.

5. Filling equipment according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said pipes comprise pipes (41, 42, 43) connected inside said distribution box (2), penetrating into said distribution box (2) at said overhanging portion.

6. Filling equipment according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises at least two liquid product reservoirs (31, 32, 33), each of said reservoirs being connected to said distribution box (2) by a pipe.

7. Shelving unit (1) having a plurality of shelves (11, 12, 13, 14, 15) superimposed, equipped with filling equipment according to any one of the preceding claims, the distribution box (2) of said filling equipment being placed on a first of said shelves (14) in such a way that its bearing surface (221) is placed on said first shelf (14) and its projecting portion (222) is placed next to said first shelf (14), along an edge of said first shelf (14), said liquid product reservoir(s) (31, 32, 33) being placed on shelves (11, 12, 13) located below said first shelf (14).

8. Shelving unit according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said liquid product reservoir(s) (31, 32, 33) are located below said distribution box (2).

9. Shelving unit according to any one of claims 7 and 8, wherein said filling equipment comprises several liquid product reservoirs (31, 32, 33), characterized in that said liquid product reservoirs (31, 32, 33) are placed below said distribution box (2), distributed over several shelves (11, 12, 13).

10. Shelving unit according to any one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that it comprises at least one masking panel (53), suspended from said projecting portion (222) and extending in front of at least one of said liquid product reservoirs (33).

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