Bottle Filling Assembly With Synchronized Throttling to Reduce Foam
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing filling assemblies for bottles, particularly with sparkling liquids, suffer from foam formation due to increased liquid speed and gas instability, leading to reduced dosing accuracy and increased downtime, and are complex and costly to maintain.
Innovation Solution
A filling assembly with an adjustable throttling block and synchronized shutter system that reduces liquid speed through a localized pressure drop, minimizing foam formation and maintaining productivity without additional valves or baffles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the passage section of the annular duct is reduced by the shutter to limit flow rate for slow filling, then filling accuracy is improved and liquid spillage is prevented, but foam forms on the bottle walls and neck
Solution Approach 1:
A gas evacuation channel is introduced as an intermediary element to remove gas from the bottle during filling. This mediator allows the liquid flow to be restricted (improving filling accuracy) while simultaneously evacuating the gas that would otherwise form foam, thus resolving the contradiction between accurate filling and foam prevention
Solution Approach 2:
The filling system is segmented into two independent functional channels: a liquid supply channel for delivering liquid to the bottle, and a separate gas evacuation channel for removing gas from the bottle. This segmentation allows each channel to be optimized independently - the liquid channel can be throttled for precision while the gas channel prevents foam formation
2Ease of operation
If additional controlled valves are added to intercept liquid flow for transitioning between quick and slow filling, then filling control is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The gas evacuation channel serves multiple functions: it evacuates gas during filling, prevents foam formation, and enables the transition between quick and slow filling modes. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate control valves, maintaining ease of operation while reducing device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The gas evacuation function is merged with the filling control mechanism. The same channel that evacuates gas also serves as the control mechanism for transitioning between filling speeds, combining multiple functions into a single system element rather than requiring separate valves and actuators
3Productivity
If the liquid flow speed is increased to improve filling efficiency, then productivity is improved, but foam formation increases due to liquid impact
Solution Approach 1:
The gas evacuation channel acts as a mediator that removes the harmful effect (gas) generated by high-speed liquid filling. This allows the liquid flow speed to be increased for productivity while the gas evacuation channel simultaneously prevents foam formation by continuously removing gas from the bottle
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively reduces foam formation and maintains machine productivity by synchronizing liquid flow rates, ensuring efficient and cost-effective operation with simplified construction.
Implementation Method 1
reduces liquid entry speed by creating a localized pressure drop
Data Source
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AI summary
In a machine (1) for filling bottles (2), a filling assembly (4) has a fixed body (5) delimiting a delivery chamber (6) having a liquid inlet (7) and a liquid outlet (10) connected to a duct (22) for feeding the liquid into the bottle; the amount of liquid to be delivered and the delivery conditions are varied by using a flow control device having a shutter (20) for choking the duct (22) and an adjustable block (33) for throttling said duct (22) upstream of said shutter (20); the shutter (20) and the adjustable throttling block (33) being both controlled by a single common linear actuator (25) and being mutually synchronized by means of a single control rod (29) operated by the common actuator (25).