METHOD AND FILLING DEVICE FOR FILLING FLEXIBLE CONTAINERS WITH POURABLE PRODUCTS

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a filling device (10) and method for filling a flexible container (20) with a pourable product (P), the filling device (10) comprising a product inlet (14), a filler valve device (12) connected to an aseptic chamber (16) comprising a product outlet (18), which is arranged connectable to a spout (19) of the flexible container (20). The filler valve device (12) comprises an axially movable internal shutter (30) having a centre axis (A), an upper end (34) and a lower end (36), the lower end (36) being kept within the aseptic chamber during the axial movement of the internal shutter, wherein the internal shutter encloses a product space (32) defined by an inner wall (38) of the internal shutter (30), the product space (32) having an inlet end (44) and an outlet end (46). The filler valve device further comprises an axially movable valve (40), which is coaxially arranged in the internal shutter (30) and being movable to a closed position in which the valve seals the outlet end (46) or to an open position in which the valve opens the outlet end (46) to release the pourable product from the product space (32). According to the invention, the valve (40) is arranged in a non-contact manner at an axial distance from the spout (19) both in the open and closed position.

Claims

1. A filling device for filling a flexible container with a pourable product, the filling device comprising a product inlet, a filler valve device connected to an aseptic chamber comprising a product outlet, which is arranged connectable to spout of the flexible container, the filler valve device comprising: an axially movable internal shutter having a center axis, an upper end and a lower end, the lower end being kept within the aseptic chamber during the axial movement of the internal shutter, wherein the internal shutter encloses a product space defined by an inner wall of the internal shutter, the product space having an inlet end and an outlet end; and an axially movable valve, which is coaxially arranged in the internal shutter and being movable to a closed position in which the valve seals the outlet end or to an open position in which the valve opens the outlet end to release the pourable product from the product space, wherein the valve is arranged in a non-contact manner at an axial distance from the spout both in the open and closed position.

2. The filling device of claim 1, wherein the internal shutter and the valve are arrangeable to: an upper closed position, in which the lower end of the internal shutter is arranged within the aseptic chamber at a distance (D) from the product outlet, and the valve is arranged to seal the product space towards the outlet end, a lower closed position in which the internal shutter is arranged in a fluid-tight contact with a rim of the spout of the flexible container and the valve head is arranged to seal the product space towards the outlet end, and a lower open position, in which the internal shutter is arranged in a fluid-tight contact with rim of the spout of the flexible container and the valve head is arranged to open the product space and the outlet end towards the product outlet.

3. The filling device according to claim 2, wherein in the lower closed or open position the internal shutter is arranged to be in contact with the rim of the spout without substantially entering the spout interior inside the periphery of the spout.

4. The filling device according to claim 1, wherein the filler valve device comprises means to fix the spout in an aligned manner with the filler valve device.

5. The filling device according to claim 1, wherein the valve comprises a shaft and a valve head and the valve head has a larger transversal cross-sectional extension than the shaft, and wherein the product space has a tapering shape towards the outlet end.

6. The filling device according to claim 1, wherein the valve head comprises sealing means arranged in fluid tight contact with the internal wall of the product space to provide a fluid tight seal in the closed position.

7. The filling device according to claim 6, wherein the sealing means has a circular shape in cross-section or comprises at least one rounded portion in contact with the inner wall of the internal shutter portion.

8. The filling device according to claim 1, wherein the internal shutter portion comprises outlet sealing means at the lower end thereof, the sealing means being configured to provide the fluid-tight contact with the spout of the flexible container.

9. A method of filling a flexible container with a pourable product with a filling device comprising a product inlet, an axially movable filler valve device and comprising an axially movable valve fluidly connected to a product space and a product outlet, the method comprising: connecting a spout of the flexible container to the product outlet; connecting the filler valve device to the spout in a closed position in a fluid tight manner wherein the valve is arranged at an axial distance (D2) from the spout; filling the container by moving the valve away from the product outlet to an open position at an axial distance D3 in a non-contact manner with the spout and releasing the pourable product contained in the product space via the product outlet and the spout to the flexible container; and stopping the filling when the flexible container has reached a desired filling level by bringing the valve to the lower closed position in which it seals the product space towards the product outlet at an axial distance D2 from the spout.

10. The method according to claim 9, comprising moving the filler valve device to an upper closed position, in which the filler valve device is arranged at a distance D from the product outlet or the spout.

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein the filling device comprises an axially movable internal shutter which comprises the valve arranged coaxially with the internal shutter in the product space, and wherein the internal shutter is connected to an aseptic chamber comprising the product outlet.

12. The method according to claim 9, wherein the axial distance D2 is smaller than the axial distance D3, which is smaller than the axial distance D.

13. The filling device according to claim 2, wherein the filler valve device comprises means to fix the spout in an aligned manner with the filler valve device.

14. The filling device according to claim 3, wherein the filler valve device comprises means to fix the spout in an aligned manner with the filler valve device.

15. The filling device according to claim 2, wherein the valve comprises a shaft and a valve head and the valve head has a larger transversal cross-sectional extension than the shaft, and wherein the product space has a tapering shape towards the outlet end.

16. The filling device according to claim 3, wherein the valve comprises a shaft and a valve head and the valve head has a larger transversal cross-sectional extension than the shaft, and wherein the product space has a tapering shape towards the outlet end.

17. The filling device according to claim 4, wherein the valve comprises a shaft and a valve head and the valve head has a larger transversal cross-sectional extension than the shaft, and wherein the product space has a tapering shape towards the outlet end.

18. The filling device according to claim 2, wherein the valve head comprises sealing means arranged in fluid tight contact with the internal wall of the product space to provide a fluid tight seal in the closed position.

19. The filling device according to claim 3, wherein the valve head comprises sealing means arranged in fluid tight contact with the internal wall of the product space to provide a fluid tight seal in the closed position.

20. The filling device according to claim 4, wherein the valve head comprises sealing means arranged in fluid tight contact with the internal wall of the product space to provide a fluid tight seal in the closed position.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] The features and advantages of a filling device for filling containers according to the present invention will be clearer from the following exemplifying and non- limiting description, with reference to the enclosed schematic drawings, in which:

[0019] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the filling device for filling flexible containers according to the present invention, wherein the filler valve device of the filling device is shown in an upper closed position (I) with no contact with the flexible bag spout;

[0020] FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the filling device also shown in FIG. 1 and showing the filler valve device in a lower closed position (II) in contact with the spout of the flexible container; and

[0021] FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the filling device also shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and showing the filler valve device in a lower open position (III) in contact with the spout of the flexible container.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0022] With reference to the Figures, a filling device 10 is shown. The filling device 10 is designed to be a part of a filling machine (not shown) for filling containers containing liquid products. For example, each container may be of the flexible type, having at least one spout through which the liquid product is dispensed during the container filling operation. As also previously mentioned, the flexible containers of this type may be more complicated to fill than rigid containers, since such flexible, bag-in-box type containers do not have a rigid and/or fixed volume. Therefore, in the previous solutions, the flexible container has been arranged in a direct contact with the filling valve of the filling machine to enable secure filling of the flexible container. The mechanical contact during the filling may result in creation of vacuum when removing the nozzle from the spout, so called syringe effect, wherein small droplets of the product may contaminate the filling valve. The contamination of the filling valve in proximity of the mechanical contact point may be difficult to clean, which leads to problems with contamination. By the arrangement of the present invention, these problems may be eliminated or at least considerably reduced. Additionally, the steam puffing or steam injection after the filling valve device is removed from the mechanical contact with the spout of the bag can be omitted.

[0023] The filling device of the present disclosure is configured for filling a flexible container comprising a rigid spout. The shape of the flexible container is affected by the enclosed product both during filling of the container and after a product has been filled in the container. This is in contrast to rigid containers, which keep the same shape before, during and after filling. Therefore, bottles can be easily kept in place by for example gripper devices. The filling device of the present disclosure is configured to fill flexible containers such that the container is allowed to change the shape during the filling operation while it is kept safely fixed to the filling device or machine. The filling device may comprise a dedicated fixing system for this purpose. For example, the fixing system may comprise in the lower end of the filler valve device means, for example a diaphragm or any other suitable type of means, to keep the rim or neck of the spout aligned with the filler valve device.

[0024] The filling device comprises at least one filler valve device. A liquid product supply line is provided for supplying a pourable product to the filling valve device. By pourable product is meant a product which can be caused to flow in a continuous stream. Thus, the product has a viscosity which can form a continuous stream. In the present context, the liquid product P can be a liquid food product, a beverage, such as wine, milk, juices, or other non-carbonated beverages, but may even be a product having a higher viscosity like puree, jam or similar.

[0025] The filler valve device 12 of the filling device 10 is now described more in detail, and reference is equally made to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. The filler valve device 12 is presented in different operational positions I-III, i.e. in an upper closed position (I), lower closed position (II) and lower open position (III), in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, respectively.

[0026] The filling device 10 is configured to receive a flexible container of the type described above and is configured for filling the flexible container 20 with a pourable product P. The filling device 10 comprises a product inlet 14 and a product outlet 18. In the shown embodiment, the product outlet 18 is placed in an aseptic chamber 16. The product outlet 18 is connectable to a rigid spout 19 of the flexible container 20 through which spout the pourable product is filled. The product outlet 18 may contain or be connected to means (not shown in detail) to receive and fix a rigid spout 19 of the flexible container 20 to the aseptic chamber 16 in an aseptic manner. Since the product outlet 18 and the spout 19 of the container 20 are arranged in connection with the aseptic chamber 16, aseptic conditions during the filling can be ensured.

[0027] The filling device 10 further comprises a filler valve device 12, which is fluidly connectable to the product inlet 14 and the product outlet 18. The filler valve device 12 comprises an axially movable internal shutter 30 which has a longitudinally extending centre axis A. The Internal shutter 30 encloses a product space 32, which is configured to receive and temporarily contain the pourable product P received from the product inlet 14 before it is supplied through the product outlet 18 to the flexible container 20.

[0028] The product space 32 is defined by an inner wall 38 of the internal shutter 30. The product space 32 extends between an inlet end 44 and an outlet end 46 inside the internal shutter 30 and may have a varying axial cross-sectional shape therebetween. The inlet end 44 is arranged in fluid connection with the product inlet 14 and the outlet end 46 is arranged in fluid connection with the product outlet 18. The product space 32 is adapted to house a valve 40 in addition to the product to be supplied to the flexible container.

[0029] The internal shutter 30 extends axially between an upper end 34 and a lower end 36 of the internal shutter 30. The lower end 36 is kept within the aseptic chamber 16 during the axial movement of the internal shutter. The lower end 36 comprises or is connected to an outlet sealing means 37, which, when the lower end 36 is connected to the product outlet 18 and to the spout 19 of the flexible container, seals the connection in a fluid tight manner. As mentioned above, the product space 32 is arranged in fluid connection with the product outlet 18. This connection is via the lower end 36 of the internal shutter 30.

[0030] The internal shutter 30 is arranged movable in the axial direction A within the aseptic chamber 16 to an upper, closed position (I) and to a lower closed position (II) or open position (III). The internal shutter is provided with a lifting/lowering means configured to provide the axial movement. This device can be of any known type and is not described herein in detail. The lower end 36 of the internal shutter is kept within the aseptic chamber 16 during the axial movement of the internal shutter between the different operational positions. In this way, the parts of the filling device which are in contact with the flexible container during filling of the pourable product can be kept within the aseptic area, and risk for contamination is reduced.

[0031] The internal shutter houses an axially movable valve 40, which is arranged to open or close the product space 32 towards the product outlet 18. The valve 40 is arranged coaxially with and inside of the internal shutter 30 and is at least partly arranged within the product space 32. The valve 40 is connected to a means to lift and lower the valve together and independently of the internal shutter, and the means can be of any known type. The valve 40 comprises a shaft 41 and a valve head 43 comprising a sealing means 42 surrounding the lower end of the valve head 43. The valve head 43 has a broader cross-sectional extension in a transversal direction T than the upper portion comprising the shaft 41. The valve 40 is movable in the axial direction between the closed position, in which it closes the outlet end 46 of the product space 32 to retain the pourable product in the product space or to open the outlet end 46 to release the pourable product from the product space 32. By the sealing means 42, the outlet end 46 towards the product outlet 18 can be sealed in a fluid tight manner when the valve device is in its closed position.

[0032] The shape of the product space 32 may vary along the extension of the centre axis A. The product space may have a broader cross-sectional extension in an area where the valve head 43 is movably located. The cross-sectional shape of the product space 32 preferably tapers towards the outlet end 46 and the lower part 36 of the internal shutter. In this way it can be ensured in a simple way that the valve head can be arranged in a non-contact manner at an axial distance from the spout 19 both in the open and closed position. When the valve is in the closed position (I, II), the valve head 43 is located at a distance from the outlet end 46. The sealing means 42 is arranged in contact with the inner wall 38 and the valve head 43 to ensure that the pourable product is kept within the product space 32 in a fluid tight manner until the valve 40 is opened.

[0033] Reference is made to FIG. 1, which shows the filler valve device and the internal shutter 30 in the upper closed position (I) arranged such that the lower end 36 of the internal shutter 30 is arranged within the aseptic chamber 16 at a distance D from the product outlet 18. In this upper closed position, the valve 40 is arranged to seal the product space 32 towards the outlet end 46 of the product space and the lower end 36 of the internal shutter 30. The internal shutter is not in contact with the spout 19 of the flexible container 20.

[0034] FIG. 2 shows the valve device and the internal shutter 30 in the lower closed position (II), where the lower end 36 of the internal shutter 30 is arranged in connection with the product outlet 18, to which the spout 19 is fixed. The internal shutter 30 is suitably arranged in contact with a rim 51 of the spout without entering the interior of the spout 19. In this way vacuum effect can be further avoided when the internal shutter is removed from the contact with the spout. The sealing means 37 is in contact with the spout 19 in a fluid tight manner. The valve head 43 is arranged at a distance D2 from the spout 19.

[0035] FIG. 3 shows the valve device and the internal shutter 30 in the lower open position (III), where the pourable product P is released to the product outlet 18, to which the spout 19 is fixed. The valve head 40 is arranged at a distance D3 from the spout 19 to open the product space 32 towards the product outlet 18. The distance D3 is larger than the distance D2, and the valve 40 is not in contact with the spout during the filling. Therefore, the problem with creation of the vacuum effect is avoided.

[0036] The present invention also relates to a method of filling a flexible container with a pourable product P with a filling device comprising a product inlet 14 and a filler valve device 12 with a valve 40, which is axially movable. The filler valve device further comprises a product space and may comprise an axially movable internal shutter 30 comprising the valve 40 in a coaxial manner with the internal shutter in the product space 32 of the internal shutter. The filler valve device and the internal shutter thereof may be connected to an aseptic chamber 16 comprising a product outlet 18. The filling device 10 may be of the type described above and as shown in FIG. 1-3 but is not limited thereto. The method comprises a step of connecting a spout of the flexible container to the product outlet 18. The filler valve device may comprise a dedicated system to keep the spout and the rim thereof aligned with the filler valve device. The internal shutter 30 is then arranged to a lower closed position (II), in which the internal shutter 30 is connected to the spout 19 in a fluid tight manner and the valve 40 is arranged at an axial distance D2 from the spout. After securing the spout to the filler valve device, filling of the container can be initiated by moving the valve 40 with the valve head 43 away from the product outlet to an open position (III). Thus, the filling can be made in a non-contact manner with the interior of the spout and the pourable product contained in the product space can be released via the product outlet 18 and the spout 19 to the flexible container 20. When the flexible container has reached a desired filling level, the method comprises stopping the filling by bringing the valve, i.e. by lowering the valve, to a closed position in which it seals the product space towards the product outlet.

[0037] After completing the filling, the filler valve device and the internal shutter 30 can be arranged to an upper closed position (I). Cleaning of the filler valve device can be performed between the filling sequences, in which the container is filled and the then removed, or whenever necessary.

[0038] The filling device and the filler valve device 12 may be connected to a sterile fluid supply hydraulically connected with the filling valve device for supplying at least one sterile fluid to the filler valve device 12. The sterile fluid can be generated from a sterile fluid source, and the sterile fluid can be steam. The sterile fluid can be injected into the filler valve device to flush it in a known manner, and thereby remove any residual product from the filler valve device.

[0039] It is thus seen that the filling device for filling containers containing liquid products according to the present invention achieve the previously outlined objects.

[0040] The filling device for filling containers containing liquid products of the present invention thus conceived is susceptible in any case of numerous modifications and variants, all falling within the same inventive concept; in addition, all the details can be substituted by technically equivalent elements. In practice, the materials used, as well as the shapes and size, can be of any type according to the technical requirements.

[0041] The scope of protection of the invention is therefore defined by the enclosed claims.