DOSING VALVE AND FILLING MACHINE FOR DOSING FOOD PRODUCTS

Abstract

The disclosure relates to dosing valve for dosing liquid or paste-like masses, in particular food products, with a movable valve element which opens and closes a valve opening through which a portion is discharged, where the valve element comprises elastic material at its end region which when viewed in the closing direction is the leading one.

Claims

1. Dosing valve for dosing liquid or paste-like masses with a movable valve element which opens and closes a valve opening through which a portion is discharged, wherein said valve element comprises elastic material at its end region which when viewed in a closing direction is a leading end of the valve element.

2. The dosing valve according to claim 1, wherein the elastic material is arranged on an inner side of a valve housing, where a finger is squeezable on said inner side by said valve element moving in the closing direction.

3. The dosing valve according to claim 2, wherein said finger is squeezable on an edge region around said valve opening, or on a side surface of said valve opening, or in a region of a transition from a feed line to a cylindrical pipe section in which said valve element moves to close said valve opening.

4. The dosing valve according to claim 1, wherein a diameter of said valve element in said end region of said valve element decreases in the closing direction, where the end region of said valve element has a circumferential side contact surface that is inclined toward the closing direction or is formed to be convex.

5. The dosing valve according to claim 1, wherein a squeezing region is defined by a side contact surface of said valve element that is inclined in the closing direction of said valve element and a side contact surface of a valve housing that is inclined toward the closing direction of said valve element, where said surfaces are disposed opposite one another or are arranged laterally offset from one another on opposite sides of said squeezing region.

6. The dosing valve according to claim 1, wherein a valve housing has a side contact surface on its inner side which extends obliquely to the closing direction of said valve element and against which a squeezed finger bears when squeezed by said valve element.

7. The dosing valve according to claim 6, where said side contact surface is arranged in an edge region around said valve opening and, in the closed state of said dosing valve, is disposed opposite said end region of said valve element, or is a side surface of said valve opening, or is formed in a transition region between a feed line and a cylindrical pipe section in which said valve element moves opens into said pipe section at an angle of <90° or is in the form of a beveled cutting edge.

8. The dosing valve according to claim 7, wherein said cylindrical pipe section is a lower pipe surface of said feed line.

9. The dosing valve according to claim 7, wherein where said side contact surface is formed in the transition region between the feed line and the cylindrical pipe in which said valve element moves.

10. The dosing valve) according to claim 1, wherein said dosing valve can be actuated by a control device such that a closing force is limited to a predetermined value.

11. The dosing valve according to claim 10, wherein the predetermined value is a value less than 135N.

12. The dosing valve according to claim 1, wherein said dosing valve comprises an axially movable discharge piston as said valve element which opens and closes said valve opening.

13. The dosing valve according to claim 2, wherein said dosing valve is configured as a seated valve and comprises an axially movable plunger as said valve element which closes said valve opening arranged at the lower end of a conically tapering nozzle.

14. The dosing valve according to claim 1, wherein said dosing valve is configured as a rotary piston valve and comprises a rotary piston as a movable valve element which opens and closes said valve opening by rotation.

15. The dosing valve according to claim 1, wherein said elastic material is a material from the group of elastomers.

16. The dosing valve according to claim 1, wherein said elastic element has a hardness of 30-80 Shore A.

17. The dosing valve according to claim 1, wherein the pressure on a squeezed object is no greater than 60 N/cm.sup.2.

18. The dosing element according to claim 1, wherein said elastic material closes said valve opening.

19. The dosing element according to claim 1, wherein the liquid or paste-like masses are food products.

20. Filling machine with a dosing valve according to claim 1, where said dosing valve is arranged at the discharge end of said filling machine.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0035] The present disclosure shall be explained below in more detail with reference to the following figures.

[0036] FIG. 1 schematically shows a first embodiment according to the present disclosure.

[0037] FIG. 2a shows the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 in a first closure position.

[0038] FIG. 2b shows the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 in a second closure position.

[0039] FIG. 2c shows the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 in a third closure position.

[0040] FIG. 3 shows a further embodiment according to the present disclosure.

[0041] FIGS. 4a to c show the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 in different closure positions.

[0042] FIGS. 5a to c show a further embodiment according to the present disclosure in different closure positions.

[0043] FIGS. 6 and 7 show dosing valves according to prior art.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0044] FIGS. 1 and 2a, 2b, 2c show an embodiment of a dosing valve 1 according to the present disclosure.

[0045] This dosing valve 1 is configured as a seated valve and comprises an inlet pipe 7 which is connected, for example, to a piping of a filling machine that delivers a strand of food product. In particular dosing valve 1 is used for dosing liquid and paste-like masses which can also contain chunky bits. Such a dosing valve 1 is used in particular to fill containers such as bowls, deep-drawn trays, etc.

[0046] Inlet pipe 7 opens into a pipe 9 which at its lower end comprises a valve opening 3 through which the food product is discharged in individual portions. Dosing valve 1 there comprises a movable valve element 2 which can be moved up and down in pipe 9 and can close valve opening 3 in closing direction S. Valve element 2 moves in a direction opposite to the closing direction by way of a drive in order to open valve opening 3. After the product to be delivered has been discharged, valve element 2 then moves downwardly again.

[0047] The inlet or inlet pipe 7 opens into pipe 9 at an angle α of <90°, in particular of 15°-60°.

[0048] Valve opening 3 may have an area in a range of 50 mm.sup.2-2000 mm.sup.2, e.g., it is large enough that a finger 8 can reach into the opening.

[0049] As can be gathered in particular from FIG. 1, valve element 2 comprises elastic material 6 on its end region 2b which when viewed in closing direction S is the leading one. The elastic material is, for example, a material from the group of elastomers. The elastic material has in particular a hardness of 30-80 Shore A according to DIN ISO 7619-1.

[0050] Leading end region 2b may extend at least by a length 1 of 5 mm-20 mm from the lower end upwardly in the axial direction, e.g., in a direction opposite to the closing direction.

[0051] This dimension is sufficient to protect a finger 8 that reaches a squeezing region 4 between valve element 2 and housing 5.

[0052] This means that if, for example, a finger 8, presently test finger 8, reaches through valve opening 8 into the interior of valve housing 5, elastic material 6 can easily adapt to the geometry of finger 8 upon contact with finger 8 and thereby enable an even distribution of force. There is therefore a reduced risk of injury to finger 8 when the hazard region has been reached. Due to the fact that the elastic material is arranged in the leading end region, elastic material can additionally and advantageously serve as sealing material for sealing valve opening 3. Elastic material 6 can be adhesively bonded to valve element 2 or fastened to the upper part of valve element 2 in a removable manner by way of a fastening device 13, so that it can be replaced when worn.

[0053] The possible contact surface in squeezing region 4, e.g., between valve element 2 and valve housing 5, is advantageously enlarged in order to maximize the distribution of force on finger 8 and therefore to minimize the pressure on the finger.

[0054] As can be seen from FIGS. 1 and 2, this is achieved in that diameter d of valve element 2, e.g., elastic material 6, decreases in closing direction S, e.g., the outer contour tapers downwardly. In particular, an enlarged circumferential side contact surface that is inclined toward closing direction S of valve element 2 can then arise which, in the event of squeezing, rests flat on finger 8 and can thereby minimize the pressure on the finger.

[0055] Diameter d then decreases, for example, from 20-50 mm to 0-30 mm. Height k of the inclined circumferential side contact surface is, for example, in a range of 10-30 mm.

[0056] Angle β between a plane which is perpendicular to the closing direction or longitudinal axis L and side contact surface 2a may be in a range of 15°-60°. Elastic material 6 can alternatively also extends convexly downwardly in the direction of valve opening 3.

[0057] An end of valve element 2 thus configured provides very good protection.

[0058] If, as is presently case here, the lower region of dosing valve 1 is configured in such a way that housing 5 runs in a nozzle-shaped manner towards valve opening 3, an inclined side contact surface 9a arises in an edge region around valve opening 3 on which a finger rests when squeezed. This surface can be formed to be concave. This means that squeezing region 4 is defined by a side contact surface 2a of valve element 2 inclined toward closing direction S of valve element 2 and a side contact surface 9a of valve housing 5 inclined toward closing direction S of valve element 2, where the two side contact surfaces are presently disposed opposite each other.

[0059] Dosing valve 1 is controlled by a control device (not shown) which limits the closing force of valve element 2 to a predetermined value, in particular to a value<135 N. The above configuration results in a pressure on a squeezed object, for example a finger, which is no greater than 60 N/cm.sup.2.

[0060] Although not shown in the figures, the valve housing as well can additionally or alternatively be equipped with elastic material in the squeezing region, in the embodiment in FIGS. 1 and 2, for example, in the nozzle-shaped tapering edge region around the valve opening. Such material can be adhesively bonded or vulcanized, for example, onto the inside of valve housing 5.

[0061] FIGS. 2a, 2b, 2c show the dosing valve in different closed positions. In FIG. 2a, dosing valve 1 is open. A finger 8 can there reach into the interior of the valve through valve opening 3. If the valve then closes, as shown in FIG. 2b, finger 8 can be squeezed. However, the risk of injury can be reduced due to the aforementioned configuration. In FIG. 2c, dosing valve 1 is closed, where elastic material 6 comes to rest in valve opening 3 in the lower end region. The valve element is configured to be somewhat wider in a region above the elastic material and protrudes laterally beyond the elastic material and thereby forms a sealing point to valve housing 5 for sealing valve opening 3.

[0062] FIGS. 3 and 4a, 4b, 4c show a further embodiment according to the present disclosure which corresponds substantially to the first embodiment, so that corresponding details shall not be explained again. The only difference between the embodiments is that the dosing valve is configured in such a way that an axially movable discharge piston is provided as valve element 2 and opens and closes valve opening 3.

[0063] Like in the first embodiment, valve element 2 comprises elastic material 6 on its end region 2b which when viewed in closing direction S is the leading one, presently in the form of an elastic piston tip.

[0064] It can be seen in FIG. 3 that diameter d of valve element 2, e.g., elastic material 6, decreases in closing direction S, e.g., the outer contour tapers downwardly. An enlarged circumferential side contact surface 2a that is inclined toward closing direction S of valve element 2 can then arise which in the event of squeezing rests flat on finger 8 and can thereby minimize the pressure on the finger.

[0065] Diameter d there decreases, for example, from 20-50 mm to 0-30 mm. Height k of the inclined circumferential side contact surface is, for example, in a range of 10-30 mm.

[0066] Angle beta between a plane which is perpendicular to the closing direction or longitudinal axis L, respectively, and side contact surface 2a is in a range of 15°-60°. Elastic material 6 can alternatively also extend convexly downwardly in the direction of valve opening 3.

[0067] The discharge piston there closes valve opening 3 by moving into a region in pipe section 9 below feed line 7. During the downward motion, the discharge piston can sever or cut off the mass to be filled.

[0068] Like in the embodiment previously described, a finger is squeezed in the squeezing region, for example, by two side contact surfaces 9a, 2a, where the surfaces are presently arranged on oppositely disposed sides of the finger, but laterally offset from one another.

[0069] In the embodiment in FIG. 3, the transition region between feed line 7 and cylindrical pipe section 9, in which valve element 2 moves, is configured to be circumferentially planar e.g., presently in the form of a beveled cutting edge 9a which may have at least a dimension p of 10-30 mm and runs at an angle of 15°-60° to longitudinal axis L of the valve.

[0070] As shown in FIGS. 4a, 4b, 4c, however, inlet pipe 7 can also not open perpendicular to longitudinal axis L of the valve, but rather open into pipe section 9 at an angle of 15°-60°. This results in side contact surface 9a, on which a finger 8 comes to rest in squeezing region 4 in the lower region of the surface of inlet pipe 7.

[0071] FIG. 4a shows the dosing valve in the open position. FIG. 4b shows how valve element 2 moves in closing direction S and squeezes a finger 8.

[0072] FIG. 4c shows the valve in the closed position. As can be seen from FIG. 4c, valve element 2 is moved downwardly until a region of valve element 2, which is arranged above elastic material 6 and is made, for example, of metal, can seal pipe 9 below feed line 7.

[0073] In this embodiment as well, side contact surface 9a can be provided with an elastic material, even if this is not shown, which can additionally protect the finger.

[0074] FIGS. 5a, 5b and 5c show a further embodiment according to the present disclosure which corresponds substantially to the previous embodiments, where the dosing valve is presently configured as a rotary piston valve and comprises a rotary piston as movable valve element 2 which opens and closes valve opening 3 by rotating it to and fro. Exactly like in the embodiments described above, elastic material 6 is then arranged in leading end region 2b of valve element 2.

[0075] The elastic material is presently, for example, wedge-shaped, e.g., the width 1 decreases towards the center. Width 1 is approximately in a range between 0-20 mm and can have a maximum dimension at the outer edge between 5 and 20 mm which decreases towards the center, in particular down to 0.

[0076] Like in the previous embodiments, a side contact surface 12 in opening 3, which faces on one side in a direction opposite closing direction S, can additionally be equipped with elastic material in order to minimize the pressure on the finger.

[0077] FIG. 5a shows the dosing valve in an open position, where a finger 8 has been inserted into valve opening 3. FIG. 5b shows how the valve closes and finger 8 is squeezed. FIG. 5c shows the valve in the closed position.

[0078] The present disclosure also relates to a filling machine (not shown) with a dosing valve according to the disclosure, where the dosing valve is arranged at the discharge end of the filling machine, e.g., is arranged at the beginning or at the end of a piping. Such a filling machine can be a vacuum filling machine with a hopper and a delivery pump for the mass to be filled, e.g. the food product.

[0079] The risk of injury can now be reduced according to the present disclosure by using elastic material 6. Since a squeezed finger may also further not rest on sharp edges, but on circumferential surfaces, the pressure and the risk of injury can be further reduced. Limiting the closing force further reduces the risk of injury.