Filling device with a level sensor group working by impendance ratio

Abstract

It is described a filling device (1) for filling a container (B) with a pourable product (P), comprising: a filling head (2) for delivering the product into the container (B); a lever sensor group (3) for monitoring the level of the product delivered into the container, comprising: a rod (31) supported by the filling head (2) and to be inserted in the container (B) being filled, comprising, along the longitudinal extension of the rod (31): a first electrically conductive longitudinal sector (311); a second electrically conductive portion (312) which is longitudinally located on the opposite side of the first longitudinal sector (311) with respect to the filling head (2); wherein, along said longitudinal extension, the first sector (311) and the second portion (312) are electrically insulated with respect to each other and with respect to the filling head (2), so that, operatively, a first impedance (Z1) is defined between the first sector (311) and the filling head (2), and a second impedance (Z2) is defined between the second portion (312) and the filling head (2); wherein the level sensor group (3) is configured for monitoring said level by obtaining the ratio between the said first impedance (Z1) and said second impedance (Z2).

Description

FILLING DEVICE WITH A LEVEL SENSOR GROUP WORKING BY IMPENDANCE RATIO

[0001] The present invention relates to a filling device for filling a container with a pourable product, and to a filling machine comprising the filling device, wherein the flexibility of the filling device is improved with respect to variation of the amount of product which is to be delivered to the containers.

[0002] Filling devices are known for filling containers with a pourable product. It is known to use a level sensor in the form a rod probe which is partially inserted in the container being filled, for the volume control of the product being delivered to the container. The rod probe is supported by a supporting head of the filling device, or filling head, which supports the filling valve. The volume control must be such that the actual volume of product delivered into the container is as close as possible to the desired volume.

[0003] One current solution works by means of the product closing an electrical circuit which extends along the probe. This solution requires the replacement of the probe upon a change of the desired volume.

[0004] A filling device according to present description or according to any of the appended device claims presents an improved flexibility with respect to the desired volume of pourable product to be delivered into the container.

[0005] A filling machine according to present description or according to any of the appended machine claims comprises a filling device according to any of the appended device claims or according to present description.

[0006] The following brief description of the drawings and detailed description of the invention will be referred to a possible example embodiment of a filling device according to present description and a possible example embodiment of a filling machine according to present description.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] The following detailed description will be referred to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0008] is a longitudinal section of the filling device in a first operative instant;

[0009] is a longitudinal section of the filling device in a second operative instant;

[0010] is a schematic view of a second electrical circuit which is part of the filling device, in the first instant;

[0011] Figure 4 is a schematic view of a first electrical circuit which is part of the filling device, in the second instant;

[0012] Figure 5 is a schematic layout of the filling machine.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] The filling device 1 is configured for filling a container with a pourable product.

[0014] The pourable product may for example a pourable food product such as water, milk, beer, wine, soft drinks, juice, another type of beverage, or similar.

[0015] The product may be for example a carbonated beverage or a not carbonated beverage. The product may be for example a high acid food product or a low acid food product.

[0016] The product may be, alternatively, a product for home or personal care.

[0017] The container may be for example a plastic bottle or a glass bottle. The container may be for example, alternatively, a can or a jar.

[0018] The container is for example a bottle, which is indicated with B. The pourable product is for example a beverage, which is indicated with P.

[0019] The filling device 1 comprises a filling head 2 for delivering the product into the container B. The filling head 2 may comprise a filling valve.

[0020] The filling device 1 comprises a lever sensor group 3 for monitoring the level of the product delivered into the container.

[0021] The sensor group 3 comprises a rod 31 supported by the filling head 2 to be inserted in the container B being filled. The rod 31 comprises, along the longitudinal extension of the rod 31, a first electrically conductive longitudinal sector 311. The rod 31 comprises, along the longitudinal extension of the rod 31, a second electrically conductive portion 312 which is longitudinally located on the opposite side of the first longitudinal sector 311 with respect to the filling head 2.

[0022] The rod 31 is a rod probe for detecting the level of the product in the container B.

[0023] Along the longitudinal extension of the rod 31, the first sector 311 and the second portion 312 are electrically insulated with respect to each other and with respect to the filling head 2. The filling device 1 is configured so that, operatively, a first impedance Z1 is defined between the first sector 311 and the filling head 2, and a second impedance Z2 is defined between the second portion 312 and the filling head 2.

[0024] The level sensor group 3 is configured for monitoring said level by obtaining the ratio between the said first impedance Z1 and said second impedance Z2.

[0025] In this way, the ratio can be used in an analogical way to evaluate the level, to allow the device 1 to adapt to changes in the desired volume without having to replace the rod 31.

[0026] Moreover, also change in the nature of the product does not require any structural intervention or any recalibration, because the ratio between the first impedance Z1 and the second impedance Z2 is independent from the nature of the product.

[0027] The rod 31 comprises a first insulation portion 313 which is longitudinally interposed between the first sector 311 and the head 2 for electrically insulating the first sector 311 with respect to the filling head 2. The rod 31 comprises a second insulation portion 314 which is longitudinally interposed between the second portion 312 and the first sector 311 for electrically insulating the second portion 312 with respect to the first sector 311.

[0028] shows a first instant at which the level of the product is at the height of the second insulation portion 314.shows a second instant at which the level of the product is at a height positioned along the first sector 311.

[0029] The sensor group 3 comprises a first electrical circuit 4. The first circuit 4 comprises a first voltage generator 41 for generating a voltage between the filling head 2 and the first sector 311. The first electrical circuit 4 comprises a first electric resistance 411 which is electrically in series with respect to the first generator 41, between the filling head 2 and the first sector 311. The first circuit 41 comprises a first impedance detector 42 for detecting the first impedance Z1. The first detector 42 and the first generator 41 are electrically in parallel with each other between the filling head 2 and the first sector 311.

[0030] The first electrical resistance 411 connects the first generator 41 with a terminal end 311a of the first sector 311. The terminal end 311a of the first sector 311 is adjacent to the second insulation portion 314.

[0031] The first circuit 4 is shown schematically in. Inthe resistance corresponding to the first sector 311 is variable because it depends on the level of the product.can be considered corresponding to the second instant of.

[0032] The sensor group 3 comprises a second electrical circuit 5. The second electrical circuit 5 comprises a second voltage generator 51 for generating a voltage between the filling head 2 and the second portion 312. The second electrical circuit 5 comprises a second electric resistance 511 which is electrically in series with respect to the second generator 51, between the filling head 2 and the second portion 312. The second circuit 5 comprises a second impedance detector 52 for detecting the second impedance Z2. The second detector 52 and the second generator 51 are electrically in parallel with each other between the filling head 2 and the second portion 312.

[0033] The second electrical resistance 511 connects the second generator 51 with a terminal end 312a of the second portion 312.

[0034] Figure 4 shows schematically the second circuit 5. Figure 4 can be considered corresponding to the first instant of.

[0035] The filling device comprises an automatic control unit 6 for obtaining said ratio based on the detection activities of the first detector 42 and of the second detector 52, to determine the level of delivered product.

[0036] The control unit 6 may be in communication with a control system for automatically controlling the filling device 1 based on the level or the quantity or the volume of product delivered in the container B. For example, the control system may be configured for automatically closing the filling valve based on said level or quantity or volume.

[0037] The rod 31 is hollow to define an internal space. The first generator 41 is electrically connected to the first sector 311 through said internal space. The second generator 51 is electrically connected to the second portion 312 through said internal space.

[0038] Each impedance detector 42 or 52 comprises a voltage detector.

[0039] Each generator 41 or 51 is configured for generating a voltage with a predetermined frequency.

[0040] The filling machine 10 is configured for filling containers with the pourable product. The filling machine 10 comprises a carousel 101 and a plurality of filling devices 1 supported by the rotating carousel.

[0041] The configuration of the filling device allows to speed up the changeover operations corresponding to a change in the format of the container or in the type of product.

[0042] The applicant has in fact surprisingly observed that the ratio between the first impedance and the second impedance depends at least prevalently or only on the level of product, because the resistance corresponding to the first sector 311 is variable as a function of the current height or level of the product in the bottle B, and the product itself electrically connects both the first sector 311 and the second portion 312 with the filling head 2.

[0043] The second portion 312 defines a terminal free end of the rod 31.

Claims

Filling device (1) for filling a container (B) with a pourable product (P), comprising:a filling head (2) for delivering the product into the container (B);a lever sensor group (3) for monitoring the level of the product delivered into the container, comprising:a rod (31) to be inserted in the container (B) being filled, the rod (31) being supported by the filling head (2) and comprising, along the longitudinal extension of the rod (31):a first electrically conductive longitudinal sector (311);a second electrically conductive portion (312) which is longitudinally located on the opposite side of the first longitudinal sector (311) with respect to the filling head (2);wherein, along said longitudinal extension, the first sector (311) and the second portion (312) are electrically insulated with respect to each other and with respect to the filling head (2), so that, operatively, a first impedance (Z1) is defined between the first sector (311) and the filling head (2), and a second impedance (Z2) is defined between the second portion (312) and the filling head (2);wherein the level sensor group (3) is configured for monitoring said level by obtaining the ratio between the said first impedance (Z1) and said second impedance (Z2).Filling device (1) according to Claim 1, wherein the sensor group (3) comprises a first circuit (4) which comprises:a first voltage generator (41) for generating a voltage between the filling head (2) and the first sector (311);a first electric resistance (411) which is electrically in series with respect to the first generator (41), between the filling head (2) and the first sector (311);a first impedance detector (42) for detecting the first impedance (Z1), the first detector (42) and the first generator (41) being electrically in parallel with each other between the filling head (2) and the first sector (311).Filling device (1) according to Claim 2, wherein the sensor group (3) comprises a second circuit (5) which comprises:a second voltage generator (51) for generating a voltage between the filling head (2) and the second portion (312);a second electric resistance (511) which is electrically in series with respect to the second generator (51), between the filling head (2) and the second portion (312);a second impedance detector (52) for detecting the second impedance (Z2), the second detector (52) and the second generator (51) being electrically in parallel with each other between the filling head (2) and the second portion (312).Filling device (1) according to Claim 3, comprising an automatic control unit (6) for obtaining said ratio based on the detection activities of the first detector (42) and of the second detector (52), to determine the level of delivered product.Filling device (1) according to any of Claims from 2 to 4, wherein:- the rod (31) is hollow to define an internal space;- the first generator (41) is electrically connected to the first sector (311) through said internal space;- the second generator (51) is electrically connected to the second portion (312) through said internal space.Filling device (1) according to any of Claims from 2 to 5, wherein each impedance detector (42; 52) comprises a respective voltage detector.Filling device (1) according to any of Claims from 2 to 6, wherein each generator (41; 51) is configured for generating a voltage having a predetermined frequency.Filling device (1) according to any of the previous claims, wherein said rod (31) comprises a first insulation portion (313) which is longitudinally interposed between the first sector (311) and the head (2) for electrically insulating the first sector (311) with respect to the filling head (2), and a second insulation portion (314) which is longitudinally interposed between the second portion (312) and the first sector (311) for electrically insulating the second portion (312) with respect to the first sector (311).Filling machine (10) for filling containers with a pourable product, comprising a carousel (101) and a plurality of filling devices (1) supported by the rotating carousel, each filling device (1) being according to any of the previous Claims.

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