Dosing device with elliptical dosing section

Abstract

It is described a dosing device (2) for dosing an additive sequentially into containers (B) configured for being filled with a pourable product, the additive being for example an aroma additive or a flavor agent, comprising: a dosing section (21), the dosing device (2) being configured so that the additive being dosed is delivered into each container by flowing through said dosing section (21); wherein the dosing section is elliptical.

Description

DOSING DEVICE WITH ELLIPTICAL DOSING SECTION

[0001] The present invention pertains to a dosing device designed for dispensing a pourable product, such as an aroma, into a container, such as a bottle. This device is specifically configured to enhance productivity while maintaining a simplified mechanical design. The present invention also relates to a dosing machine comprising such a dosing device.

[0002] Dosing devices are commonly used to dispense pourable products, such as aromas or flavours, into containers. These containers may already contain a primary pourable product, such as water, or may be intended for being filled with the primary product at a later stage. The containers are commonly subjected to a transport movement during the dosing operation. The dosing device may be stationary, so that the containers move with respect to the dosing device, or integral with the transport movement of the containers.

[0003] In the first scenario, the time available for the dosing operation is very limited. It is crucial to achieve a high level of accuracy in dispensing the correct amount of product, as the ratio of aroma or flavour to the total volume of the primary product must be precisely controlled. If too much aroma or flavour is added, it may necessitate the use of additional dosing devices, which would increase mechanical complexity. Consequently, with a constant level of mechanical complexity, productivity is restricted, as the amount of aroma or flavour must remain below a certain threshold.

[0004] Additionally, the transport speed of the containers is constrained; increasing the transport speed reduces the time available for dosing, further limiting productivity. This restricted productivity also translates to limited flexibility, as the range of aroma or flavour quantities that can be introduced into the container is constrained.

[0005] These issues are further exacerbated by the fact that the force used to deliver the aroma or flavour into the container must not be too high. Excessive force can lead to undesirable bouncing or splashing effects, which can negatively impact the dosing accuracy and overall product quality.

[0006] A dosing device according to present description or according to any of the appended device claims, is configured for increasing the productivity or flexibility of the dosing device, while maintaining a simplified mechanical design.

[0007] A dosing machine according to present description or according to any of the appended machine claims comprises a dosing device according to present description or according to any of the appended device claims.

[0008] The following brief description of the drawings and detailed description of the invention will be referred to a possible example embodiment of a dosing device according to present description and a possible example embodiment of a dosing machine according to present description.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] The following detailed description will be referred to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0010] is a schematic lateral view of the operation of the machine;

[0011] Figure 2 is a detailed top partial view of the dosing device in a first instant during operation;

[0012] is a detailed top partial view of the dosing device in a second instant during operation;

[0013] Figure 4 is a detailed top partial view of the dosing device in a third instant during operation;

[0014] is a detailed top partial view of the dosing device in a fourth instant during operation;

[0015] Figure 6 is a detailed top partial view of the dosing device in a fifth instant during operation;

[0016] is a detailed top partial view of the dosing device in a sixth instant during operation;

[0017] is another schematic lateral view of the operation of the machine.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] The dosing device 2 is configured for dosing an additive sequentially into containers B configured for being filled with a main pourable product. The additive is for example a liquid aroma additive or a liquid flavour agent.

[0019] The containers are for example bottles, which can be plastic bottles or glass battles. The containers may be alternatively jars or cans or kegs or another type of container.

[0020] The main pourable product can be for example a food product, like for example water.

[0021] The containers B may be already filled with the pourable main product before the dosing operation, or they may be intended to be filled with the pourable main product after the operation of dosing.

[0022] If the containers B are bottle B and are already filled, the additive may be for example a substance for stiffening the bottle B, for example liquid nitrogen.

[0023] The dosing device 2 is indicated in Figures 1 and 8.

[0024] The dosing machine 1 comprises the dosing device 2.

[0025] The dosing device 2 comprises a dosing section 21. The dosing device 2 is configured so that the additive being dosed is delivered into each container by flowing through said dosing section 21. The dosing device 2 comprises a dosing valve to regulate the flow of additive through the dosing section 21.

[0026] The dosing section 21 is elliptical.

[0027] The dosing device 2 is configured for dosing said additive sequentially into the containers B, and, for each container B, while the respective position of the container B with respect to the dosing device 2 is varying by means of a movement of the container B along a direction of movement F. The major axis of the elliptical section is transversal and preferably orthogonal to said direction of movement F.

[0028] The elliptical shape of the dosing section 21 extends the time interval available for dosing, thereby enhancing the efficiency of the dosing section 21. This allows for an increased quantity of aroma or flavour to be added while maintaining a constant speed for the containers. Specifically, by keeping both the movement speed of the containers and the average flow rate of the additive consistent during the dosing process, the dosing operation can commence earlier and conclude later. As a result, the total volume of additive dispensed can be significantly increased.

[0029] Furthermore, the elliptical design of the dosing section 21 further optimizes this effect, as its shape is better suited to conform to the cross-sectional profile of the container's mouth M. Typically, the mouth M of the container B can have a circular profile, making the elliptical dosing section 21 particularly advantageous.

[0030] The elliptical dosing section 21 is visible in Figures from 2 to 7.

[0031] The dosing section 21 is partializable to vary the active sub section 211 through which the additive flows and, therefore, also the inactive sub section 212 through which the additive does not flow.

[0032] Therefore, the dosing section 21 is partializable because it is configured to be partialized, because the active sub section 211 is variable and the inactive sub section 212 is correspondingly variable.

[0033] The partializable section 21 extends the time interval available for dosing, thereby enhancing the efficiency of the dosing section. This allows for an increased quantity of aroma or flavour to be added while maintaining a constant speed for the containers. Specifically, by keeping both the movement speed of the containers and the average flow rate of the additive consistent during the dosing process, the dosing operation can commence earlier and conclude later. As a result, the total volume of additive dispensed can be significantly increased.

[0034] The dosing section 21 is partializable so that said active sub section 211 varies for each container B as a function of the respective position of the container B with respect to the dosing device 2.

[0035] The variation of the active sub section 211 as a function of the position of the container is visible in Figures from 2 to 7.

[0036] This partializable dosing section 21 enables precise control over the flow rate and allows for partial flow rate as needed. The adjustment of the active subsection 211 based on the position of container B reduces significantly or eliminate the risk that the additive spills outside of container B, while simultaneously optimizing the functionality of the dosing section 21.

[0037] The dosing section 21 comprises a plurality of holes 21a and 21b, so that the active sub section 211 corresponds to holes 21a being opened and the inactive sub section 212 corresponds to holes 21b being closed.

[0038] In Figures from 2 to 7, the holes being opened are white, while the holes being closed are black.

[0039] In the First instant of Figure 2, the holes are all closed, so that the dosing section 21 is completely inactive and the inactive sub section 212 corresponds to the whole dosing section 21.

[0040] In the second instant of, the holes 21a being opened define the active sub section 211 and the holes 21b being closed define the inactive sub section 212.

[0041] In the third instant of Figure 4, the holes are all opened, so that the dosing section 21 is completely active and the active sub section 211 corresponds to the whole dosing section 21.

[0042] In the fourth instant of, the holes are all opened, so that the dosing section 21 is completely active and the active sub section 211 corresponds to the whole dosing section 21.

[0043] In the fifth instant of Figure 6, the holes 21a being opened define the active sub section 211 and the holes 21b being closed define the inactive sub section 212.

[0044] In the sixth instant of, the holes are all closed, so that the dosing section 21 is completely inactive and the inactive sub section 212 corresponds to the whole dosing section 21.

[0045] The dosing device 2 may be configured for oscillating around an axis of oscillation 4 to at least partially follow the movement of each container into which the additive is being dosed.

[0046] The axis of oscillation 4 is indicated in.

[0047] In this way the time interval available for the dosing increases without having to provide a dosing device integral with the movement of the container. Therefore, the efficiency is optimized while keeping low the mechanical complexity of the dosing machine.

[0048] The oscillation axis 4 is shown arranged along a horizontal direction, but may be alternatively arranged in a vertical direction, or in any other direction.

[0049] By means of the elliptical dosing section 21, and / or the partialization of the dosing section 21 and / or the oscillation, a dosing device is therefore provided with an optimized productivity and flexibility while keeping low the mechanical complexity.

[0050] The dosing machine 1 comprises a conveyor 3 for generating said movement of the containers B. The conveyor 3 may be a conveyor belt or a starwheel, for example.

[0051] The dosing machine 1 comprises an automatic control system 6.

[0052] The automatic control system 6 is configured for automatically varying said active sub section 211 as a function of the respective position of each container B into which the additive is being dosed.

[0053] The automatic control system 6 is configured for automatically oscillating said dosing device 2 around said axis of oscillation 4 as a function of the respective position of each container, so that the dosing device 2 follows said movement.

[0054] The main pourable product may for example a pourable food product such as water, milk, beer, wine, soft drinks, juice, another type of beverage, or similar.

[0055] The main pourable product may be for example a carbonated beverage or a not carbonated beverage. The main pourable product may be for example a high acid food product or a low acid food product.

[0056] The product may be, alternatively, a product for home or personal care.

Claims

Dosing device (2) for dosing an additive sequentially into containers (B) configured for being filled with a pourable product, the additive being for example an aroma additive or a flavour agent, comprising:a dosing section (21), the dosing device (2) being configured so that the additive being dosed is delivered into each container by flowing through said dosing section (21);wherein the dosing section is elliptical.Dosing device (2) according to Claim 1, configured for dosing said additive sequentially into the containers, and, for each container (B), while the respective position of the container (B) with respect to the dosing device (2) is varying by means of a movement of the container (B) along a direction of movement (F).Dosing device (2) according to Claim 2, wherein the major axis of the elliptical section is transversal and preferably orthogonal to said direction of movement (F).Dosing device (2) according to Claim 2 or 3, wherein the dosing section (21) is partializable to vary the active sub section (211) through which the additive flows and, therefore, also the inactive sub section (212) through which the additive does not flow.Dosing device (2) according to Claim 2 o3 3 and according to Claim 4, wherein the dosing section (21) is partializable so that said active sub section (211) varies for each container (B) as a function of the respective position of the container (B) with respect to the dosing device (2).Dosing device (2) according to Claim 4 or 5, wherein said dosing section (21) comprises a plurality of holes (21a, 21b), so that the active sub section (211) corresponds to holes (21a) being opened and the inactive sub section (212) corresponds to holes (21b) being closed.Dosing device (2) according to any of Claims from 2 to 6, wherein the dosing device (2) is configured for oscillating around an axis of oscillation (4) to at least partially follows the movement of each container into which the additive is being dosed.Dosing machine (1) for dosing an additive (A) sequentially into containers (B), comprising a dosing device (21) according to any of the previous Claims.Dosing machine (1) according to Claim 8, wherein the dosing device (2) is at least according to any of Claims from 2 to 7 and the machine (1) comprises a conveyor (3) for sequentially generating the respective movements of the containers (B).Dosing machine (1) according to Claim 9, comprising an automatic control system (6).Dosing machine (1) according to Claim 10, wherein the dosing device (2) is at least according to any of Claims from 4 to 6 or at least according to any of Claims from 4 to 6 and Claim 7, wherein said automatic control system (6) is configured for automatically varying said active sub section (211) and therefore also said inactive sub section (212) as a function of the respective position of each container (B) into which the additive is being dosed.Dosing machine (1) according to Claim 10 or 11, wherein the dosing device (2) is at least according to Claim 7, wherein said automatic control system (6) is configured for automatically oscillating said dosing device (2) around said axis of oscillation (4) as a function of the respective position of each container (B) into which the additive is being dosed, so that the dosing device (2) at least partially follows the movement of each container into which the additive is being dosed.

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