Container filling device

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for filling containers (1) with a target quantity of a product (3), the device (1) comprising:- a controller (15) configured to control a motor (8) so as to fill said containers (2) with said target quantity of product (3) by applying a rotation of a pump axis (9) according to a control angle calculated as a function of said target quantity. This device is particular in that said tank (4) comprises a level regulation device, and in that said controller (15) is configured to determine a time of use of said flexible pipe (12) and to calculate said control angle as a function of reference information, said reference information making it possible to relate a time of use of said flexible pipe (12) with a compensation to be applied to the control angle. Figure for the abstract: Fig 1

Description

Title of the invention: Container filling device Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of packaging a product in containers. More particularly, it relates to a container filling device for filling a container with a target quantity of a product.

[0002] The invention finds a particularly advantageous application for carrying out filling with a precise dosage of product, by a device which is easy to clean.

[0003] Thus, the invention finds a particularly advantageous application in the field of pharmacy, parapharmacy and cosmetics. Prior art

[0004] In certain fields such as pharmacy or parapharmacy, it is common to package products in the form of a single dose, also called a unit-dose. The container is, for example, a glass or plastic ampoule. The filling of unit-doses must be very precise, which results in a low filling tolerance, for example of the order of 0.1 ml.

[0005] In this type of application, a filling device comprising a piston pump is usually used. Document US20220145867 discloses a filling device of this type. The piston pump allows precise dosing and a rapid rate, but has the disadvantage of being difficult to clean when one wishes to change products. Indeed, in fields such as pharmacy or parapharmacy, it is common to change products on the same cleaning device, and cleaning must be particularly effective because the risk of contamination between products is significant and must be absolutely eliminated.

[0006] Document US20220300685 proposes using a peristaltic pump. This type of pump offers the advantage of facilitating product changes. Since the product is only in contact with a flexible hose located in the pump, and since this flexible hose is a consumable, it is sufficient to change the flexible hose when you want to change the product. However, the peristaltic pump, due to the complex movements that take place there, does not allow for sufficiently precise dosing for certain applications. Description of the invention

[0007] The present invention aims to address this technical problem by using a device for filling containers with a target quantity of a product, the device comprising: - at least one tank, configured to contain said product; - at least one means of filling containers; - at least one peristaltic pump comprising: • a motor configured to rotate a pump shaft, • at least three rollers fixed and regularly distributed around said pump axis, the radial ends of the rollers being arranged on a circle around said pump axis, • at least one flexible pipe, comprising an inlet fluidly connected to said tank, at least one active section in an arc of a circle placed on a part of said circle, and an outlet fluidly connected to said container filling means, and • at least one pressure cover, arranged so as to prevent said active section of said flexible pipe from moving away from said rollers, the rollers exerting pressure on said active section of said flexible pipe so as to circulate the product between said inlet and said outlet when they are rotated; and - a controller configured to control said motor so as to fill said containers with said target quantity of product by applying a rotation of said pump axis according to a control angle calculated according to said target quantity;This device is particular in that said tank comprises a level regulation device, so as to reduce the variation in filling of the containers with respect to the target quantity, due to the variation in the tank level generating a variation in pressure of said product at said inlet of said at least one flexible pipe, and in that said controller is configured to determine a time of use of said flexible pipe and to calculate said control angle as a function of reference information, said reference information making it possible to relate a time of use of said flexible pipe with a compensation to be applied to the control angle, so as to reduce the variation in filling of the containers with respect to the target quantity due to the aging of said flexible pipe. ;

[0008] Thanks to these arrangements, the containers are filled with high precision, by means of a filling device compatible with an easy product change, this change only requiring a change of pipes, including the flexible pipe of the peristaltic pump, the rest of the filling device being easily cleanable.

[0009] Said device may comprise means for detecting the position of the rollers, said controller being able to be configured to determine said control angle as a function of a control law making it possible to relate an initial position of the rollers at a standstill before filling a container and a compensation to be applied to the control angle, so as to reduce the variation in filling of the containers with respect to the target quantity due to the position of the rollers during filling, this solution allowing a significant reduction in this variation.

[0010] Said controller can be configured so that the control angle is a multiple of 360° or 180° divided by the number of rollers of said peristaltic pump, so as to reduce the variation in filling of the containers compared to the target quantity due to the position of the rollers during filling, this solution offering the advantage of being particularly simple to implement.

[0011] Said at least one peristaltic pump may comprise six rollers, which makes it possible to circulate the product relatively quickly, while allowing the flexible pipe to regain its shape between two roller passes.

[0012] Said pressure cover may comprise at least one groove configured to prevent movement of said flexible pipe along the pump axis, which makes it possible to avoid movements which could have an influence on the flow rate of the product in the pipe, and therefore increases the dosing precision.

[0013] Said at least one peristaltic pump may comprise two flexible pipes, which allows, at a constant filling rate, to reduce the size compared to a pump with a single flexible pipe, while avoiding excessive disparities in the filling of containers filled by different flexible pipes arranged in the same peristaltic pump.

[0014] The ratio between the internal diameter and the external diameter of said at least one flexible pipe may be between 0.4 and 0.6, which gives the flexible pipe sufficient elasticity for it to deform easily when the rollers pass, and a certain rigidity to resume its shape between two roller passes.

[0015] Said tank can be arranged above said peristaltic pump, which allows the product to exit the tank by gravity.

[0016] The present invention also relates to a method of filling containers with a target quantity of a product by means of a container filling device, said device comprising: - at least one tank, - at least one means of filling containers, - at least one peristaltic pump comprising: • an engine, • at least three rollers fixed and regularly distributed around said pump axis, the radial ends of the rollers being arranged in a circle around said pump axis, • at least one flexible pipe, comprising an inlet fluidly connected to said tank, at least one active section in an arc of a circle placed on a part of said circle, and an outlet fluidly connected to said container filling means, and • at least one pressure hood, and - a controller, said method comprising the following steps: - insertion of said product into said tank, - passage of said product from said tank to said inlet of the flexible pipe, - control of said controller to said motor in order to rotate said pump axis, generating a movement of said rollers around said pump axis according to a control angle, the rollers exerting pressure on said active section of said flexible pipe so as to circulate the product between said inlet and said outlet, - passage of said product from the outlet of said flexible pipe to a means for filling the containers, then to a container, said control angle corresponding to the filling of a container. This process is particular in that the level of product in the tank is regulated during at least part of the process, and in that it comprises: - an aging learning cycle, during which said control angle is constant, and at least some containers are weighed after being filled in order to measure the difference between the target filling quantity and the quantity actually delivered throughout a first operating period of said method, said difference varying over time due to the aging of said flexible pipe, reference information representative of this difference being recorded by said controller in a memory, and - an operating cycle, during which said controller uses said reference information in order to vary said control angle over time.

[0017] Thanks to these arrangements, the containers are filled with high precision, by means of a filling device compatible with an easy product change, this change only requiring a change of pipes, including the flexible pipe of the peristaltic pump, the rest of the filling device being easily cleanable.

[0018] Said filling method may further comprise a learning cycle of the position of the rollers, during which said control angle is constant, and at least certain containers are weighed after having been filled in order to measure the difference between the target filling quantity and the quantity actually delivered, said difference varying according to the position of said rollers when they are stopped before filling a container, a control law representative of this difference being recorded by said controller in said memory, and during the operating cycle, said controller uses said control law in order to vary said control angle according to the position of said rollers when they are stopped before filling a container, which makes it possible to further improve the precision of the dosage of the containers. Brief description of the drawings

[0019] The present invention and its advantages will appear better in the following description of several embodiments given as non-limiting examples, in reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0020] [Fig.l] is a schematic view of a container filling device according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;

[0021] [Fig.2] is a graph illustrating the variation in the filling of the containers according to the initial position of the pump rollers in the device according to [Fig.l];

[0022] [Fig. 3] is an exploded perspective view of a peristaltic pump that can be used for the device according to the invention, from a first viewing angle;

[0023] [Fig.4] is an exploded perspective view of the peristaltic pump of [Fig.3], from a second viewing angle; and

[0024] [Fig.5] is a perspective view of the peristaltic pump of [Fig.3], according to the first viewing angle. Description of the embodiments

[0025] In the illustrated embodiments, identical elements or parts bear the same reference numbers. Furthermore, terms which have a relative meaning, such as vertical, horizontal, right, left, front, rear, above, below, etc. must be interpreted under normal conditions of use of the invention, and as shown in the figures. The geometric positions indicated in the description and the claims, such as “perpendicular”, “parallel”, “symmetrical” are not limited to the strict sense defined in geometry, but extend to geometric positions which are close, that is to say which accept a certain tolerance in the technical field considered, without influence on the result obtained. This tolerance is notably introduced by the adverb “substantially”, without this term necessarily being repeated before each adjective.

[0026] With reference to [Fig.l], the filling device 1 according to the invention makes it possible to fill containers 2 with a target quantity of a product 3.

[0027] The containers 2 are for example glass or plastic ampoules, bottles, or even flasks.

[0028] The target quantity may be for example between 5 and 40 ml, with a tolerance between 0.1 and 0.5 ml. Of course, the target quantity and the tolerance depend on the applications, and may be outside these intervals without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0029] Product 3 is in the liquid state under atmospheric pressure and at a temperature of 20°C. It may be a parapharmaceutical product, a pharmacy product, or even a cosmetic product, without these examples being limiting.

[0030] The filling device 1 comprises at least one tank 4, at least one peristaltic pump 5, and at least one container filling means 6.

[0031] Before its arrival in the filling device 1, the product 3 is stored in a storage means, for example a drum or a transport tank. It is then conveyed into the tank 4. The tank 4 is connected to the peristaltic pump 5 by a first fluid transfer means 7, for example a rigid or flexible pipe.

[0032] The tank 4 is preferably arranged above the peristaltic pump 5, which allows the product 3 to naturally travel through the first fluid transfer means 7 by gravity, including when the pump is not active, and thus avoids creating air bubbles in the product 3.

[0033] According to the invention, the tank 4 comprises a level regulating means, used so that the level of the tank 4 is permanently substantially constant. Indeed, the pressure of the product 3, when it enters the peristaltic pump 5, is all the higher as the level of the tank 4 is high. A substantially constant level of the tank 4 therefore makes it possible to obtain a pressure of the product 3 at the inlet of the peristaltic pump 5 which is substantially constant. The dosing of the containers 2 is then not affected by a variation in pressure at the inlet of the peristaltic pump 5, and the precision of the filling of the containers 2 is improved.

[0034] The tank 4 may be supplied from a product storage means 3 by a pump driven by a feed motor, preferably an asynchronous motor with speed regulation. The speed regulation makes it possible to regulate the filling level of the tank 4. The speed is, for example, controlled by a regulator associated with a means for measuring the level of the tank 4. This measuring means may be based on a measurement of the distance between the surface of the product 3 in the tank 4 and a sensor, for example a laser sensor, or by a pressure sensor. The regulator may be of the PID (proportional, integral, derivative) type. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the regulator is a proportional regulator, which gives satisfactory results.

[0035] The peristaltic pump 5 comprises a motor 8, configured to drive in rotation a substantially horizontal pump axis 9. The motor 8 is preferably a brushless motor.

[0036] The peristaltic pump 5 comprises at least three rollers 10 arranged around the pump axis so that seen from the side of the peristaltic pump 5, as shown in [Fig.l], the radial ends of the rollers 10 all pass through a circle 11 whose center is the pump axis 9. The rollers 10 are regularly distributed on this circle 11, that is to say that the angle between two consecutive rollers 10 is constant. For example, if the peristaltic pump comprises three rollers, the interval between the rollers 10 is 120°. As illustrated in [Fig.l] and 3, the rollers preferably have a cylindrical shape, with a circular section and an axis parallel to the pump axis 9.

[0037] The peristaltic pump 5 further comprises at least one flexible pipe 12, through which the product 3 passes. The flexible pipe 12 comprises an inlet 12a, connected fin- ically to the tank 4, if necessary via a first fluid transfer means 7. The flexible pipe 12 also comprises an outlet 12b, fluidically connected to the container filling means 6, if necessary via a second fluid transfer means 13. Between the inlet 12a and the outlet 12b, the flexible pipe 12 comprises an active section 12c having the shape of an arc of a circle. The active section 12c is arranged on a part of the circle 11.

[0038] In the remainder of the description, reference will be made to the “flexible pipe 12” of the peristaltic pump 5, without always specifying that the latter may comprise a plurality of flexible pipes, preferably arranged parallel to one another, and each connected to a container filling means 6. Unless otherwise stated, what is described concerning a flexible pipe 12 of the pump may apply to several flexible pipes 12 where appropriate.

[0039] In a preferred embodiment, an example of which is illustrated in [Fig. 3] to 5, the peristaltic pump 5 comprises two flexible pipes 12, which makes it possible to fill twice as many containers as with a single flexible pipe, with minimal additional bulk, without however creating excessively complex fluid movements in the peristaltic pump 5. Indeed, it is possible within the framework of the present invention to use a peristaltic pump comprising more than two flexible pipes 12, but this increases the variation in filling of the containers 2 depending on the flexible pipe 12 through which the product 3 has passed, and this variation is complex to compensate for when it is desired to carry out precise dosing of product 3 in the containers 2. The number of flexible pipes 12 equal to two is therefore an effective compromise between the space constraint, the need for filling speed and the need for dosing precision.

[0040] The peristaltic pump 5 further comprises a pressure cover 14, arranged around the active section 12c of the flexible pipe 12. The pressure cover 14 is arranged so as to prevent the active section 12c from moving away from the rollers 10. During their rotation around the pump axis 9, the rollers 10 press on the active section 12c which is pinched between the pressure cover 14 and the roller 10. This pinching generates a pressure which circulates the product 3 between the inlet 12a and the outlet 12b. A fluid circuit being established between the tank 4 and the container filling means 6 via the peristaltic pump 5, the circulation of the product 3 in the peristaltic pump 5 circulates the product 3 between the tank 4 and the container filling means 6.

[0041] In a particular embodiment of the invention, the position of the pressure hood 14 is movable relative to the motor axis 9, in order to allow adjustment of the pressure exerted by the pressure hood 14 on the flexible pipe 12, or so that the pressure hood 14 can be used with different sections of flexible pipes 12. To this end, the pressure cover 14 may include a means 16 for adjusting its position, making it possible to adjust its distance from the motor axis 9.

[0042] Alternatively, the pressure cover 14 may be fixed relative to the motor shaft.

[0043] In other embodiments, the cover 14 comprises a plurality of sub-covers 14a, 14b, each sub-cover 14a, 14b acting on at least one flexible pipe 12. The position of each of the sub-covers 14a, 14b may then be adjustable or not with respect to the pump axis 9. In the example illustrated in FIGS. 3 to 5, the peristaltic pump 5 comprises two flexible pipes 12. The pressure cover 14 comprises two sub-covers 14a and 14b, each sub-cover corresponding to a flexible pipe 12. In this example, the position of the first sub-cover 14a is not adjustable, and the position of the second sub-cover 14b is adjustable.

[0044] The flexible hose may be made from a thermoplastic elastomer, for example of the Marprene® type, or from a platinum-catalyzed silicone, for example of the Pumpsil® type.

[0045] The ratio between the internal diameter and the external diameter of said at least one flexible pipe 12 is preferably between 0.4 and 0.6, for example 0.5, which gives it good elasticity to be pinched and then return to its shape when the rollers 12 pass.

[0046] The flexible pipe 12 has for example an internal section of between 3 and 8 mm, for example 3.2, 4.8 or 6.4 mm, which makes it possible not to fill the containers 2 too quickly, which could cause splashing, and to precisely dose containers 2 with a volume of product 3 of the order of ml, and a precision of the order of 0.1 ml.

[0047] As illustrated in [Fig.3], the peristaltic pump may comprise six rollers 10, which allows a good balance between the precision and speed of filling the containers 2.

[0048] The filling device 1 comprises a controller 15, configured to control the motor 8 of the peristaltic pump 5 so as to fill the containers 2 with the target quantity of product 3. To do this, the controller controls the motor so that it causes the pump shaft 9 to rotate through an angle equal to a control angle. The control angle is determined in particular as a function of the target quantity, the viscosity of the product 3, and possibly other parameters.

[0049] When the rotation of the pump axis 9 is carried out according to the control angle, the pump axis 9, the container 2 being filled, it is conveyed towards the outlet of the filling device, while a new container 2, empty, is placed at the container filling means 6. When the new container 2 is ready to be filled, the controller again commands a rotation of the pump axis according to the control angle in order to fill it with product 3. These steps are linked in order to fill a certain quantity of containers 2.

[0050] The controller 15 is configured to vary the control angle in order to take into account the aging of the flexible pipe 12. To do this, the controller 15 has access to reference information, which makes it possible to determine a compensation to be applied to the control angle, as a function of the time of use of the flexible pipe 12. Indeed, in the absence of such compensation, at a constant control angle, the quantity of product actually delivered into the container 2 tends to decrease with the aging of the flexible pipe 12. Thanks to this compensation, the control angle can be adjusted throughout the time of use of the flexible pipe 12, the aging of the flexible pipe being taken into account by compensation of the control angle.

[0051] The reference information may vary in particular depending on the material of the flexible pipe 12, and its cross-section. The compensation may be modeled by a mathematical function, for example a second-degree polynomial of the type ax2+bx+c, in which x is the variable proportional to the time of use of the flexible pipe 12, and b and c are constants which may be determined empirically during a learning cycle as described later. Of course, other mathematical models may be used.

[0052] As an alternative to mathematical modeling, the reference information can simply be stored in a table relating a duration of use and a compensation to be applied to the control angle, this table being able to be obtained by a learning cycle as described below.

[0053] The time of use of the flexible pipe 12 can be represented by a volume of product 3 passed through the flexible pipe 12 by a number of filled containers, or even by a total angle of rotation of the pump axis 9 since the last change of flexible pipe 12.

[0054] After a certain time of use, the behavior of the flexible pipe 12 reaches a relatively stable aging state, and the compensation applied to it according to the reference information can be constant.

[0055] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the controller 15 is configured to vary the control angle in order to take into account the initial position of the rollers 10, when they are stopped, before starting to fill a container 2. To do this, the filling device 1 comprises a means for detecting the position of the rollers 10. The controller 15 has access to a control law, which makes it possible to determine a compensation to be applied to the control angle, as a function of the initial position of the rollers 10. Indeed, in the absence of such compensation, at a constant control angle, the quantity of product actually delivered into the container 2 tends to vary according to the initial position of the rollers 10. Thanks to this com thinking, the control angle can be continuously adjusted to the position of the rollers.

[0056] Alternatively, in order to reduce the variation in filling of the containers with respect to the target quantity due to the position of the rollers during filling, the controller 15 can be configured so that the control angle is a multiple of 360° divided by the number of rollers 10. Thus, even if the position of each roller 10 taken individually can vary, the position of all the rollers 10 is always substantially the same when the peristaltic pump 5 stops, and the variation in filling due to this position is minimal.

[0057] As a variant of this latter embodiment, in order to be able to choose the control angle more precisely, the controller 15 can be configured so that the control angle is a multiple of 180° divided by the number of rollers 10. Indeed, the variation in filling according to the initial position of the rollers 10 follows a sinusoidal curve, as illustrated in [Fig.2], of which a period T is equal to 360° divided by the number of rollers 10. If the control angle is a multiple of 360° divided by the number of rollers 10, one only moves over time on this curve by whole periods T, and therefore the filling level is substantially constant. If the control angle is a multiple of 180° divided by the number of rollers 10, one moves over time on this curve by half-periods T / 2.By moving in half-periods T / 2, a constant filling level can also be obtained if one places oneself strategically on the sinusoid halfway between the maximum and minimum amplitude of the sinusoid, at the average amplitude level of the sinusoid, as illustrated in [Fig.2]. To use this advantage, it is therefore necessary that at the start of the filling device 1, before filling the first container 2, the peristaltic pump 5 is in an initial configuration with a certain position of the rollers 10, corresponding to this particular placement in the sinusoid. To do this, a learning cycle can be carried out during which the control angle is constant and the containers are weighed, in order to obtain the sinusoid showing the evolution of the filling level according to the initial position of the rollers, then once the desired initial position has been identified, the controller 15 can be programmed to start the peristaltic pump 5 in this position.

[0058] In order to best maintain the flexible hose 12 in position in the peristaltic pump 5, the pressure cover 14 may comprise a groove 17 configured to prevent movement of said flexible hose along the pump axis. In the case where the peristaltic pump 5 comprises several flexible hoses 12, the pressure cover comprises a groove 17 for each flexible hose 14, for example two grooves 17 in [Fig.4].

[0059] The filling device 1 may comprise a single peristaltic pump 5, or several peristaltic pumps 5 arranged in parallel, each of them operating as described above.

[0060] After being filled, the containers 2 can be automatically conveyed by a transfer means to a downstream processing station, for example a container conditioning station.

[0061] The device according to the invention may comprise a means for weighing the containers 2 after filling. The weighing means may be configured to weigh a single container 2, or a plurality of containers 2, for example between 20 and 25 containers. The weighing means may be configured to extract the containers 2 from their processing chain, then reinsert them further on, in order to carry out the weighing in masked time. Regular weighing of the containers over time makes it possible to ensure that the control angle allows the containers to be filled to the target quantity at all times, taking into account the planned tolerance. In the event of a drift, the controller can then correct the control angle.

[0062] The filling device 1 can be used in a method of filling containers 2 with a target quantity of a product 3, said method comprising the following steps: - insertion of product 3 into tank 4, - passage of the product 3 from said tank 4 to the inlet 2a of the flexible pipe 2, where appropriate by means of a first fluid transfer means 7, - control of the controller 15 to the motor 8, in order to rotate the pump axis 9, generating a movement of the rollers 10 around the pump axis 9 according to the control angle. The rollers 10 then exert pressure on the active section 2c of the flexible pipe 2 so as to circulate the product 3 between the inlet 2a and the outlet 2b, and - passage of the product 3 from the outlet 2c of the flexible pipe 2 towards the container filling means 6, then towards a container 2, the control angle corresponding to the filling of a container 2.

[0063] The level of the tank 4 is regulated during at least part of the process.

[0064] This method also comprises an aging learning cycle, during which the control angle is constant, and at least some containers 2 are weighed after being filled in order to measure the difference between the target filling quantity and the quantity actually delivered throughout a first operating period of said method, this difference varying over time due to the aging of the flexible pipe 2. Thanks to the weighings, reference information representative of this difference is recorded by the controller 15 in a memory, and during the subsequent operation of the filling device 1, the controller 15 uses this reference information in order to vary the control angle over time.

[0065] In a preferred embodiment, this method further comprises a learning cycle of the position of the rollers 10, during which the control angle is constant, and at least some containers 2 are weighed after filling in order to measure the difference between the target filling quantity and the quantity actually delivered, this difference varying according to the position of the rollers 10 when they are stopped before filling a container!. Thanks to the weighings, a control law representative of this difference is recorded by the controller 15 in the memory, and during the subsequent operation of the filling device 1, the controller 15 uses the control law in order to vary the control angle according to the position of the rollers 10 when they are stopped before filling a container 2.

[0066] The present invention is of course not limited to the embodiments described but extends to any modification and variant obvious to a person skilled in the art within the limits of the appended claims. Furthermore, the technical characteristics of the different embodiments and variants mentioned above may be, in whole or in some cases, combined with each other.

Claims

Claims

1. Device for filling containers (1) with a target quantity of a product (3), the device (1) comprising: - at least one tank (4), configured to contain said product (3); - at least one means for filling containers (6); - at least one peristaltic pump (5) comprising: • a motor (8) configured to rotate a pump shaft (9), • at least three rollers (10) fixed and regularly distributed around said pump axis (9), the radial ends of the rollers (10) being arranged on a circle (11) around said pump axis (9), • at least one flexible pipe (12), comprising an inlet (12a) fluidly connected to said tank (4), at least one active section (12c) in an arc of a circle placed on a part of said circle (11), and an outlet (12b) fluidly connected to said container filling means (6), and • at least one pressure cover, arranged so as to prevent said active section (12c) of said flexible pipe (12) from moving away from said rollers (10), the rollers (10) exerting pressure on said active section (12c) of said flexible pipe (12) so as to circulate the product (3) between said inlet (12a) and said outlet (12b) when they are rotated; and - a controller (15) configured to control said motor (8) so as to fill said containers (2) with said target quantity of product (3) by applying a rotation of said pump axis (9) according to a control angle calculated as a function of said target quantity; characterized in that said tank (4) comprises a level regulation device, and in that said controller (15) is configured to determine a usage time of said flexible pipe (12) and to calculate said control angle as a function of reference information, said reference information making it possible to relate a usage time of said flexible pipe (12) with a compensation to be applied to the control angle.

2. Container filling device according to claim 1, wherein the device comprises means for detecting the position of the rollers (10), said controller being configured to determine said angle control according to a control law making it possible to relate an initial position of the rollers (10) at a standstill before filling a container (2) and a compensation to be applied to the control angle.

3. Container filling device according to claim 1, wherein said controller (15) is configured so that the control angle is a multiple of 360° or 180° divided by the number of rollers (10) of said peristaltic pump (5).

4. Container filling device according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said at least one peristaltic pump (5) comprises six rollers (10).

5. Container filling device according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said pressure cover comprises at least one groove (17) configured to prevent movement of said flexible pipe (12) along the pump axis (9).

6. Container filling device according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein said at least one peristaltic pump (5) comprises two flexible pipes (12).

7. Container filling device (2) according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the ratio between the inner diameter and the outer diameter of said at least one flexible pipe (12) is between 0.4 and 0.

6.

8. Container filling device according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein said tank (4) is arranged above said peristaltic pump (5).

9. Method for filling containers (2) with a target quantity of a product (3) by means of a container filling device (1), said device (1) comprising: - at least one tank (4), - at least one container filling means (6), - at least one peristaltic pump (5) comprising: • a motor (8), • at least three rollers (10) fixed and regularly distributed around said pump axis (9), the radial ends of the rollers (10) being arranged on a circle (11) around said pump axis (9), • at least one flexible pipe (12), comprising an inlet (12a) fluidically connected to said tank (4), at least one active section (12c) in an arc of a circle placed on a part of said circle (11), and a outlet (12b) fluidly connected to said container filling means (6), and • at least one pressure hood, and - a controller, said method comprising the following steps: - insertion of said product (3) into said tank (4), - passage of said product (3) from said tank (4) to said inlet (12a) of the flexible pipe (12), - controlling said controller (15) to said motor (8) in order to rotate said pump shaft (9), generating a movement of said rollers (10) around said pump shaft (9) according to a control angle, the rollers (10) exerting pressure on said active section (12c) of said flexible pipe (12) so as to circulate the product (3) between said inlet (12a) and said outlet (12b), - passage of said product (3) from the outlet (12b) of said flexible pipe (12) towards a container filling means (6), then towards a container (2), said control angle corresponding to the filling of a container (2), characterized in that the level of product (3) in the tank (4) is regulated during at least part of the process, and in that said process comprises: - an aging learning cycle, during which said control angle is constant, and at least some containers (2) are weighed after being filled in order to measure the difference between the target filling quantity and the quantity actually delivered throughout a first operating period of said method, said difference varying over time due to the aging of said flexible pipe (12), reference information representative of this difference being recorded by said controller in a memory, and - an operating cycle, during which said controller (15) uses said reference information in order to vary said control angle over time.

10. Filling method according to claim 9, further comprising a learning cycle of the position of the rollers (10), during which said control angle is constant, and at least some containers (2) are weighed after having been filled in order to measure the difference between the target filling quantity and the quantity actually delivered, said difference varying according to the position of said rollers (10) when they are stopped. before filling a container, a control law representative of this difference being recorded by said controller (15) in said memory, and during the operating cycle, said controller (15) uses said control law in order to vary said control angle as a function of the position of said rollers (10) when they are stopped before filling a container (2).

Images