Device for filling a container with a carbonated filling product

Abstract

A device for filling a container with a carbonated filling product in a beverage filling system is described. The device includes a gas valve for supplying a gas into the container, the gas valve being biased by a gas valve spring in a specified switch state, and a filling valve for supplying the filling product into the container, the filling valve being biased by a filling valve spring in a specified switch state. The gas valve and the filling valve are operatively connected to a common actuator for switching between an open and a closed switch state, and the gas valve spring applies a spring force which differs from that of the filling valve spring.

Claims

1. A device for filling a container with a carbonated filling product in a beverage filling system, comprising: a gas valve configured to supply a gas into the container, wherein the gas valve is biased by a gas valve spring in a specified switch state and the gas valve spring biases the gas valve in an open switch state; and a filling valve configured to supply the carbonated filling product into the container, wherein the filling valve is biased by a filling valve spring in a specified switch state and the filling valve spring biases the filling valve in the open switch state, wherein the gas valve and the filling valve are operatively connected to a single actuator configured to switch the gas valve and the filling valve between the open switch state and a closed switch state, and wherein the gas valve spring applies a spring force which is greater than a spring force applied by the filling valve spring.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the gas valve and the filling valve are mechanically connected in series.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the single actuator comprises a double-stroke actuator.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the double-stroke actuator comprises a pneumatic double-stroke actuator.

5. The device of claim 3, wherein a first return stroke of the double-stroke actuator opens the gas valve fully.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the single actuator comprise a single-stroke actuator.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the single-stroke actuator comprises a pneumatic single-stroke actuator.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the spring force applied by the filling valve spring is greater than a force of a weight of a filling valve cone of the filling valve.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the single actuator comprises a proportional actuator.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the proportional actuator comprises a spindle actuator.

11. A device for filling a container with a carbonated filling product in a beverage filling system, comprising: a gas valve configured to supply a gas into the container, wherein the gas valve is biased by a gas valve spring in a specified switch state and the gas valve spring biases the gas valve in an open switch state; a filling valve configured to supply the carbonated filling product into the container, wherein the filling valve is biased by a filling valve spring in a specified switch state and the filling valve spring biases the filling valve in the open switch state; and a filling product outlet aperture disposed at an outlet of the filling valve, wherein the gas valve and the filling valve are operatively connected to a single actuator configured to switch the gas valve and the filling valve between the open switch state and a closed switch state, and the gas valve spring applies a spring force which is greater than a spring force applied by the filling valve spring.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the filling product outlet aperture is in fluid communication with a rinsing valve via a rinsing channel configured to rinse the container with a rinsing gas.

13. The device of claim 11, wherein the gas valve is displaceably disposed relative to a filling valve seat configured to close the filling valve.

14. The device of claim 11, wherein the gas valve spring and the filling valve spring have differing spring constants and/or differing preloads.

15. The device of claim 11, wherein the gas valve spring and/or the filling valve spring has at least two spring components.

16. The device of claim 11, wherein the gas valve and the filling valve are mechanically connected in series.

17. The device of claim 11, wherein the single actuator comprises a pneumatic double-stroke actuator, a pneumatic single-stroke actuator, or a spindle actuator.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

(1) Further embodiments and aspects of the invention are more fully explained by the description below of the figures.

(2) FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of a filling element with a double-stroke actuator, wherein a gas valve and a filling valve are in an open switch state,

(3) FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view of the filling element from FIG. 1, wherein the gas valve and the filling valve are in a closed switch state,

(4) FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view of a filling element with a single-stroke actuator, wherein a gas valve and a filling valve are in an open switch state,

(5) FIG. 4 is a schematic sectional view of the filling element from FIG. 3, wherein the gas valve and the filling valve are in a closed switch state,

(6) FIG. 5 is a schematic sectional view of a filling element with a proportional actuator, wherein a gas valve and a filling valve are in an open switch state, and

(7) FIG. 6 is a schematic sectional view of the filling element from FIG. 5, wherein the gas valve and the filling valve are in a closed switch state.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(8) Examples of embodiments are described below with the aid of the figures. In the figures, elements which are identical or similar, or have identical effects, are designated with identical reference signs. In order to avoid redundancy, repeated description of these elements is in part dispensed with in the description below.

(9) FIG. 1 shows a device 10 for filling a container with a carbonated filling product in a beverage filling system, wherein a gas valve 20 and a filling valve 30 are accommodated in a valve housing 12. The gas valve 20 and the filling valve 30 are operatively connected with each other via a gas valve spring 22 and a filling valve spring 31 such that, by means of an actuator 40 which is disposed above the valve housing 12, the gas valve 20 and/or the filling valve 30 can adopt an open or closed switch state, depending on the switch state of the actuator 40.

(10) The actuator 40 shown in FIG. 1 is disposed above the valve housing 12, and is in the form of a pneumatic double-stroke actuator which has a first linear actuator 44 and a second linear actuator 45. The first linear actuator 44 and the second linear actuator 45 can be pressurized with compressed air via compressed air connections 42. The first linear actuator 44 can thus execute a first forward stroke in the stroke direction H. The second linear actuator 45 can provide a second forward stroke in the stroke direction H. The stroke direction H, which can be actively applied by the actuator 40, is here in the direction of closing of both the gas valve 20 and the filling valve 30.

(11) The gas valve 20 is disposed in the upper region of the valve housing 12. The gas valve 20 is mounted in a gas valve guide 29, which is disposed in the valve housing 12 such that it is displaceable along a middle axis M of the device 10. The gas valve 20 comprises a gas valve closing part 23, which is guided in the gas valve guide 29, and which is biased in an open switch state of the gas valve 20 by means of a gas valve spring 22. The gas valve spring 22 is supported for this purpose on the gas valve guide 29. The gas valve closing part 23 and the gas valve spring 22 are disposed concentric with each other along the middle axis M of the device 10.

(12) In the switch state of the gas valve that is shown in FIG. 1, the gas valve closing part 23 is lifted out of its gas valve seat 24, so that the gas valve 20 is in an open switch state. The gas valve 20 has a gas valve chamber 21, into which the gas valve closing part 23 protrudes, and which is bounded in a lower region by the gas valve seat 24. The gas valve chamber 21 is bounded in an upper region, and circumferentially at its sides, by the gas valve guide 29. In order that the gas valve closing part 23 can move in the gas valve chamber 21 relative to the gas valve seat 24, the gas valve closing part 23 is sealed via a gas valve bellows 28 against the gas valve guide 29.

(13) A gas supply line 27 discharges from the side into the gas valve chamber 21, supplying for example a gas that is drawn from a filling product reservoir above a fill product.

(14) A filling valve stem 32 extends downwards from the gas valve seat 24 concentrically to the middle axis M of the device 10. The lower portion of the filling valve stem 32 thereby forms a filling valve cone 33 of the filling valve 30. The filling valve stem 32 is penetrated throughout by a concentrically disposed bore, which forms a gas line 25 and, in the open switch state shown in FIG. 1, connects the gas valve chamber 21 with the filling product outlet aperture 14 of the device 10. Accordingly it is possible, in the open switch state of the gas valve 20, to feed a gas via the gas line 25 to a container 100 to be filled which is disposed below the device 10, and which is for example pressed in a gas-tight manner into a centering bell.

(15) In an upper region of the filling valve stem 32, a filling valve spring 31 is provided, which is concentrically disposed around the filling valve stem 32 and which is braced against a protrusion of the filling valve stem 32 and a protrusion of the valve housing, in order to bias the filling valve stem 32 together with the filling valve cone 33 in the opposite direction to the stroke direction H in an open switch state of the filling valve. In the switch state of the filling valve 30 that shown in FIG. 1, the filling valve cone 33 is thus lifted out of its filling valve seat 34.

(16) The filling valve cone 33 is disposed in a valve interior space 37 which is in fluid communication with a filling product reservoir. At its top, the filling valve cone 33 is sealed against the valve housing 12 by means of a filling valve bellows 36. In the switch state of the filling valve that is shown in FIG. 1, a filling product in the valve interior space 37 can flow through the annular gap formed between the filling valve cone 33 and the filling valve seat 34, and exit the device 10 in the region of the filling product outlet aperture 14 for filling a container 100 that is to be filled.

(17) As an alternative or in addition to the use of the filling valve bellows 36 that is described above, a metal or Teflon membrane can be advantageously used to seal the stroke.

(18) The gas valve spring 22 that is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 has a greater spring constant than the filling valve spring 31. Thus the spring force exerted by the gas valve spring 22 is greater than the spring force exerted by the filling valve spring 31. If the actuator 40 executes a first forward stroke, the gas valve closing part 23 is thereby displaced downwards in the stroke direction H by the stroke length of the first forward stroke. Due to its greater spring constant, the gas valve spring 22 undergoes no deformation as a result of the first forward stroke. Instead, the gas valve spring 22 displaces the gas valve guide 29 downwards by the stroke length of the first forward stroke. By this means the filling valve stem 32, which is disposed underneath the guide 29 and attached to it, is also displaced downwards, which leads to a deformation of the filling valve spring 31 and simultaneously to a lowering of the filling valve cone 33 into the filling valve seat 34.

(19) In this switch state of the actuator 40, the gas valve 20 is open and the filling valve 30 is closed. Accordingly, it is possible for example to carry out a rinsing operation or the pre-pressurization with a gas of a container 100 to be filled which is disposed on the device 10.

(20) If the actuator 40 executes a second forward stroke, the gas valve closing part 23 is displaced downwards by the stroke length of the second forward stroke. Because in this state the filling valve cone 33 is already accommodated in a sealing manner in the filling valve seat 34, the filling valve stem 32, and hence the gas valve guide 29, cannot be displaced further downwards, with the result that the second forward stroke of the actuator 40 leads to a deformation of the gas valve spring 22, which is accompanied by a lowering of the gas valve closing part 23 into the gas valve seat 24.

(21) If a second forward stroke of the actuator 40 is executed, the switch states of the gas valve 20 and the filling valve 30 that result are those shown in FIG. 2, wherein both the gas valve 20 and the filling valve 30 are closed.

(22) If the actuator 40, starting from the switch states of the gas valve 20 and the filling valve 30 that are shown in FIG. 2, executes a first return stroke in a direction opposite to the stroke direction H, this leads initially to a deformation of the gas valve spring 33, which causes the gas valve closing part 23 to be lifted out the gas valve seat 24. Thus, by means of the second forward stroke and the first return stroke, the gas valve 20 can be closed and opened, while the filling valve 30 remains in a closed switch state.

(23) If the actuator 40 executes a second return stroke after the first return stroke is completed, a deformation of the filling valve spring 31 causes the gas valve guide 29 to displace upwards, which lifts the filling valve cone 33 out of the filling valve seat 34, so that the switch state of the gas valve 20 and the filling valve 30 that is shown in FIG. 1 is reached.

(24) FIG. 3 shows a device 10 for filling a container with a carbonated filling product in a beverage filling system, which, in contrast to the device shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, has an actuator 40 in the form of a pneumatic single-stroke actuator. By means of the pneumatic single-stroke actuator, it is possible to produce a single forward stroke and a single return stroke.

(25) If the actuator 40 executes a forward stroke in the stroke direction H, the gas valve closing part 23 is lowered in a sealing manner into the gas valve seat 24, by means of which the gas valve 20 adopts a closed switch state. In addition, the forward stroke of the actuator 40 causes the valve cone 33 to be lowered into the valve seat 34, thus also switching the filling valve 30 to a closed switch state.

(26) Accordingly, following the forward stroke of the actuator 40, both the gas valve 20 and the filling valve 30 are in a closed switch state, as shown in FIG. 4. If the actuator 40 executes a return stroke in the direction opposite to the stroke direction H, the gas valve spring 22 lifts the gas valve closing part 23 out of the gas valve seat 24, by which means the gas valve adopts an open switch state.

(27) The filling valve spring 31, whose spring force slightly exceeds the total force of the weights of the filling valve cone 33 and the gas valve 20, is thereby able to lift the filling valve cone 33 out of the filling valve seat 34 after the return stroke of the actuator 40, if the same conditions, and in particular the same pressures, obtain in the valve interior space 37 and at the filling product outlet aperture 14. Accordingly, after a return stroke the device 10 can again adopt the switch states of the gas valve 20 and the filling valve 30 that are shown in FIG. 3.

(28) If, however, following a forward stroke of the actuator 10, after which the filling element has adopted the switch states of the gas valve 20 and the filling valve 30 that are shown in FIG. 4, an overpressure exists in the valve interior space 37 relative to the pressure obtaining below the filling product outlet aperture 14, for example because the valve interior space 37 is pressurized by the filling product, which is under pressure, the filling valve spring 31 is not able to lift the filling valve cone 33 out of the filling valve seat 34 after completion of the return stroke of the actuator 40, due to the pressure gradient that then exists in the direction of closing. The overpressure in the valve interior space 37 thus presses the filling valve cone 33 against the filling valve seat 34. The filling valve 30 is thus prevented from opening by the overpressure prevailing in the valve interior space 37, even if the return stroke has already brought about the opening of the gas valve 20.

(29) If a container that is to be filled is now attached under the filling product outlet aperture 14 of the device 10 in a gas-tight manner, for example by means of a centering bell, a rinsing gas can initially flow through the gas line 25 into the container in an open switch state of the gas valve 20. The rinsing gas is, in various embodiments, supplied from the gas space above the filling product in a filling product reservoir.

(30) Radially outside the filling product outlet aperture 14, and concentric with it, an annular rinsing channel 50 is disposed, which is connected via a drilled rinsing hole 52 with a rinsing valve, which is not shown. During a rinsing process, the gas which flows from the gas line 25 into the container can flush the container that is to be rinsed, and be guided out through the rinsing hole 52 via the rinsing channel 50.

(31) If the rinsing valve is closed and the flow of gas into the container through the gas line 25 is maintained, the pressure in the container rises to the level of the pressure in the valve interior space 37, which is also in fluid communication with the filling product reservoir. If the same pressure obtains below the filling valve cone 33, in the interior of the container, and in the valve interior space 37, the filling valve cone 33 is no longer held in the filling valve seat 34, the pressure gradient is removed, and the filling valve spring 31 can lift the filling valve cone 33 out of the filling valve seat 34, provided that the actuator 40 has completed the return stroke. When the filling valve spring 31 has lifted the filling valve cone 33 out of the filling valve seat 34, the switch states of the gas valve 20 and the filling valve 30 are again those shown in FIG. 3.

(32) FIGS. 5 and 6 show a device 10 for filling a container with a carbonated filling product in a beverage filling system, which has an actuator 40 in the form of a proportional actuator, which is itself in the form of a spindle actuator. The actuator 40 has a motor 46, which is disposed on an upper side of the valve housing 12. The motor 46 is, in some embodiments, a stepper motor, by means of which a specified rotational position can be reproducibly reached.

(33) A spindle 47 extends coaxially with the middle axis M of the device 10, from the motor 46 downwards into the gas valve 20. The spindle 47 is rotatably accommodated in a threaded hole 48 which is disposed in, and concentric with, the gas valve closing part 23. The gas valve closing part 23 is secured against rotation in the gas valve guide 29. The gas valve closing part 23 can thereby be displaced upwards and downwards according to the direction of rotation of the spindle 47.

(34) By this means it is possible to switch the gas valve 20 and the filling valve 30 steplessly or stepwise from a fully open switch state to a fully closed switch state. Switch states are thereby also possible in which the gas valve 20 and the filling valve 30 are only partially open. In the case of the gas valve 20, this means that the flow of gas supplied to the container can be adjusted.

(35) In the case of the filling valve 30, it is possible to adapt the flow rate of the filling product to the different phases of filling. Thus at the beginning of the filling process the filling valve cone 33 can be lifted only slightly out of the filling valve seat 34, in order to enable the initial filling of the container to take place slowly. Subsequently the filling valve cone 33 can be lifted further out of the filling valve seat 34, in order to increase the flow rate at which the filling product flows into the container. In the last phase of the filling process, the filling valve cone 33 can be brought back closer to the filling valve seat 34, in order to provide slow filling as a maximum fill height, or a cutoff condition, is approached.

(36) The proportional spindle actuator shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 can be combined with the filling elements shown in FIGS. 1 to 4.

(37) To the extent applicable, all individual features described in the individual example embodiments can be combined with each other and/or exchanged, without departing from the field of the invention.