Filling Machine Air Return Cannula Suction Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing filling machines are unsuitable for filling plastic containers due to issues such as residual liquid causing contamination, air suction leading to container deformation or crushing, and inability to control suction independently between valve groups, resulting in low production capacity and contamination risks.
Innovation Solution
A filling machine with independently controllable suction through air return cannulas, allowing for two suction levels and precise regulation of liquid flow, equipped with a collection cup and control valves to manage air and liquid effectively, preventing residual liquid dripping and contamination, and enabling the use of plastic containers by adjusting suction levels to avoid deformation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If gravity filling machines are used with air return cannulas, then liquid can be delivered into containers, but residual liquid blocks air passage in the next filling cycle
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful residual liquid is extracted from the air return cannula by introducing a cleaning jet that directs liquid flow to flush out and remove the blocking residual liquid, allowing air passage to be restored for the next filling cycle
Solution Approach 2:
A pre-evacuation phase is introduced before the main filling operation, where a preliminary liquid flow is directed through the air return cannula to clear any residual liquid that might block air passage, ensuring the cannula is ready for efficient air evacuation during the subsequent filling cycle
2Object-affected harmful factors
If light vacuum is created inside the tank to suction residual liquid, then liquid contamination is prevented, but plastic containers are crushed due to excessive suction
Solution Approach 1:
Different suction intensities are applied to different locations: strong suction is applied locally to the air return cannula to remove residual liquid, while the overall tank vacuum level is maintained at a lower intensity that does not crush plastic containers
Solution Approach 2:
The vacuum level is made dynamic and variable, allowing the system to adjust suction intensity based on the specific needs of each filling cycle and container type, enabling strong localized suction for cleaning while maintaining gentle overall vacuum for container protection
3Productivity
If air is channelled into the tank during filling, then air evacuation from containers is achieved, but the inert gas atmosphere inside the tank is contaminated
Solution Approach 1:
An intermediary collection chamber is introduced that temporarily receives air from containers during filling, then separately evacuates and discharges it outside the tank, preventing direct contamination of the inert gas atmosphere while maintaining efficient air removal from containers
4Object-affected harmful factors
If residual liquid drips out of the air return cannula, then the filling machine parts are dirtyed, but production capacity is reduced due to waiting time
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning jet system operates continuously or in rapid succession during the filling cycle to continuously remove residual liquid from the air return cannula, preventing dripping contamination and eliminating the need for waiting periods between filling operations
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 machine achieves high production capacity, prevents contamination, and safely fills plastic containers by independently controlling suction and liquid flow, ensuring precise filling and minimizing waste and damage.
Implementation Method 1
suction means (33) suitable for creating a vacuum and sucking inside the collection cup (29) the residual liquid present in the air return cannula (16)
Implementation Method 2
The liquid delivered into the container reaches the lower end of the air return cannula, blocking it, a residual amount of said liquid rises back up the inside of the air return cannula until it reaches the same level as the liquid in the tank according to the known principle of communicating vessels
Data Source
AI summary
Machine (1) for filling containers with liquids, which comprises a rotatable carousel (10) equipped with a tank (12) for containing a liquid to be bottled, and a plurality of valve groups (13) peripherally mounted on the rotatable carousel (10) and equipped with a supply duct (14) for the flow of said liquid into containers (2) to be filled, and with an air return cannula (16).Furthermore, each valve group (13) comprises: a collection cup (29), which is connected to the upper end (16″) of the air return cannula (16); a first control valve (34), actuatable to place the collection cup (29) in communication with an atmospherically pressurised evacuation circuit (31); a second control valve (35) actuatable to place the collection cup (29) in communication with a suction circuit (33′, 33″).Furthermore, a logic control unit (100) operatively connected to the first and second control valves (34, 35) of each valve group (13) is provided in order to control the switch of said control valves (34,35).