Patent Application
20120241044
The invention relates to a method according to the preamble of patent claim 1 as well as to a filling system according to the preamble of patent claim 10.
Methods and filling systems are known for filling containers with a liquid filling material composed of at least two components which are introduced separately into the respective container in a volume-controlled and/or amount-controlled manner, in particular also for the bottling of fruit juices in which case one component for example liquid and homogenous [sic] and a further component exhibits for example a high proportion of solids, e.g. fruit pulp and/or fruit fibre.
Volume-measuring or amount-measuring devices or flowmeters, in particular contactlessly operating electronic flowmeters, for example magnetically inductive flowmeters, which may be very suitable for electrically conductive liquid and homogenous components and provide exact measurement signals depending on the particular volumetric flow rate but which are not or only partly suitable for non-homogenous components and in particular components containing a high concentration of solids, are often used for volume-controlled or amount-controlled filling.
For the volume-controlled or amount-controlled filling of a filling material composed of two components, it has already been proposed in our own but not yet published patent application DE 10 2009 049 583.5 that each of the components that are to be sequentially introduced into the respective container be provided with its own liquid path connected to a storage tank for the component concerned, and that a flowmeter be disposed in only one of the liquid paths, namely in the liquid path for a first liquid and homogenous component, said flowmeter directly measuring the amount of that component introduced into the respective container during filling and indirectly measuring the amount of a second component introduced into the respective container. This latter is achieved in that, before it is introduced into the container, the second component is passed into a part-length of the liquid channel of the first component and in the process the first component is displaced on this part-length and returns through the flowmeter into a tank holding the first component. This returning amount of the first component is measured with the flowmeter. The introduction of the second component into the tank does not take place directly while measuring, but in a further process step after measuring. There is a certain disadvantage in the fact that the components can mix together in the first liquid channel or in the part-length of said channel, and that, when being measured, the amounts of the first and second component flow through the flowmeter in opposite directions which can lead to measurement errors and/or necessitate a complex calibration of the flowmeter concerned.
The object of the invention is to propose a method which avoids the said disadvantages. A method according to patent claim 1 is configured to resolve this object. A filling system is the subject-matter of patent claim 10.
In the case of the invention, the amount or volume of the at least one second component is also measured indirectly by measuring or capturing the first component's volumetric flow rate which results from the volumetric flow rate of the at least one second component, the volumetric flow rate of the least one second component being the volumetric flow rate of this component directly flowing to the respective container. During direct and indirect measuring of the amount or volume of all components, the flow through the flowmeter used for the measurement is in one and the same direction, this also being the direction of flow in which the first component flows through the first liquid channel when introduced into the respective container. This is made possible by the fact that at least one first chamber is associated with the first liquid channel for the first component and at least one second chamber with variable volume is associated with the second liquid channel for the second component, and that when the second component is introduced into the respective container, the volume of the at least one second chamber associated with the second component is reduced, starting from an initial volume and accompanied by an increase in the volume of the at least one first chamber associated with the first component. As a result of this the first component flows through the flowmeter and on into the at least one first chamber. The amount (volume) of the first component measured by the flowmeter is equal to the amount (volume) of the second component introduced into the container. If the volume-controlled or amount-controlled introduction of several “second” components into each container is necessary, then the above described indirect measurement of the amounts (volumes) of the “second” components is carried out with a time delay.
Further embodiments, advantages and possible applications of the invention arise out of the following description of embodiments and out of the figures. All of the described and/or pictorially represented attributes whether alone or in any desired combination are fundamentally the subject matter of the invention independently of their synopsis in the claims or a retroactive application thereof. The content of the claims is also made an integral part of the description.
The invention is described below in greater detail by reference to
Component K1 is for example a liquid homogenous or essentially homogenous component, for example fruit juice. Component K2 is for example a non-homogenous component which with a reduced proportion of liquid contains a high proportion of solids, e.g. in the fruit pulp and/or fruit fibres etc.
Filling system 1 comprises a plurality of filling positions each with a filling element 3 which in the case of rotary filling machines is provided together with further filling elements on the periphery of a rotor driven to rotate about a vertical machine axis, in the manner known to the person skilled in the art. Filling element 3 is configured with a valve V1 (liquid valve) for the controlled starting and stopping of the filling process. During the filling process, the respective container 2 is disposed under filling element 3 or under a delivery opening there located, and in the depiction of
Filling element 3 is connected to both tanks 4 and 5 by a liquid connecting and proportioning structure which is generally indicated by 6 in
In liquid channel 7 there are provided sequentially in the direction of flow from tank 4 to liquid valve 3, a restrictor 10 for reducing the volumetric flow rate of component K1 when valves V1 and V2 are open, a flowmeter 11, for example in the form of a magnetically inductive flowmeter, and a valve V2. Liquid channel 7 is configured with an extension or first chamber 7.1 in the region between flowmeter 11 and valve V2.
A control valve V4 and a control valve V3 are provided sequentially in liquid channel 8 in the direction of flow from tank 5 to filling element 3 and/or to mouth 9. Between the two valves V4 and V3, liquid channel 8 is configured with an extension or second chamber 8.1 which in the depicted embodiment is formed by the interior space of a bellows 12 protruding into chamber 7.1. Bellows 12 or its movable and/or deformable walls separate the two chambers 7.1 and 8.1 in a fluid-tight or liquid-tight manner. Consequently chamber 8.1 possesses a variable volume to the extent that the volume of chamber 7.1 changes in inverse proportion to the volume of chamber 8.1.
It is self-evident that other embodiments of chambers whose volumes are inter-dependent in inverse proportion can also be used instead of bellows 12.
It is alternatively possible for example to provide a piston/cylinder arrangement which provides this function. For this, a cylinder with a preferentially overhung-mounted piston would have to be provided, with the piston being pressurised with the one component on the one side and with the other component on the other side. As a result of this arrangement the piston constitutes the separation or plane of separation between the two components, with the volumes of the two chambers 7.1 and 8.1 also being inter-dependent in inverse proportion. Because the piston is also easily displaceable through pressure differences between the two components, the chamber volumes can be easily adapted or altered in the desired manner.
Filling system 1 offers the advantage that with the aid of the only flowmeter 11, an amount-based and/or volume-based proportioning or introducing of components K1 and K2 into respective container 2 is possible, whereby during the measurement component K1 flows through flowmeter 11 in one direction of flow only, namely in the direction of flow from tank 4 to filling element 3. With the aid of flowmeter 11, the amount (volume) of component K1 fed to respective container 2 is measured directly and the amount (volume) of component K2 fed to respective container 2 is measured indirectly. The modus operandi of filling system 1 can be described as follows:
The two tanks 4 and 5 are filled with components K1 and K2 and pressurised with pressure P1 and P2. Bellows 12 lies with a base section 13 against a region of chamber 7.1 formed stop 14 [sic], so that chamber 8.1 exhibits its greatest volume (initial volume). Liquid channels 7 and 8 and their chambers 7.1 and 8.1 are completely filled with component K1 and K2 respectively.
Pressure P1 of component K1 in liquid channel 7 and in chamber 7.1 causes a compression of bellows 12 and hence an increasing reduction of the volume of chamber 8.1 as well as an introduction of component K2 via open valves V3 and V1 into container 2 standing ready under filling element 3. At the same time the volume in chamber 7.1 increases with the consequence of a volumetric flow rate of component K1 from tank 4 into chamber 7.1, with the amount (volume) measured by flowmeter 11 being equal to the amount of component K2 introduced from chamber 8.1 into container 2. Flowmeter 11 therefore supplies a measurement signal which corresponds to the amount (volume) of component K2 introduced into container 2 in this phase of the filling process.
The signal from flowmeter 11 stops this phase of the filling process in a controlled manner as soon as the required nominal volume of component K2 is introduced into container 2.
Component K1 flows through open valves V1 and V2 into container 2 until the nominal volume for component K1 is reached. Monitoring is again effected by flowmeter 11. The measurement signal from flowmeter 11 closes valves V1 and V2 in a controlled manner when the nominal volume for component K1 is reached. The filling process is now complete. The filled container 2 can then removed from filling element 3 or from the filling position which exhibits this filling element.
The fact that pressure P2 is greater than pressure P1 causes component K2 to flow from tank 5 into chamber 8.1/bellows 12, so that eventually chamber 8.1 exhibits its maximum initial volume again and base section 13 lies against stop 14. The amount (volume) of component K1 which is displaced from chamber 7.1 flows through liquid channel 7 back to tank 4 without this amount (volume) being measured by flowmeter 11. The initial status is restored when the maximum initial volume of chamber 8.1 is reached, and the filling of the next container 2 can commence.
Accordingly liquid connecting and proportioning structure 6a which is again provided separately for each filling position of filling systems 1a differs from liquid connecting and proportioning structure 6 in that the two liquid channels 7 and 8 are not connected to one another but that instead liquid channel 7 is connected via valve V1 to the delivery opening of filling element 3a.1 and liquid channel 8 is connected via valve V3 to the delivery opening of filling element 3a.2. Valve V2 is not required.
The modus operandi of filling system 1a corresponds very broadly to that of filling system 1 and can be described as follows:
The valves in this phase of the filling process exhibit the following status:
The two tanks 4 and 5 are filled with components K1 and K2 and pressurised with pressure P1 and P2. Bellows 12 lies with a base section 13 against a region of chamber 7.1 formed stop 14 [sic], so that chamber 8.1 exhibits its greatest volume (initial volume). Liquid channels 7 and 8 and their chambers 7.1 and 8.1 are completely filled with component K1 and K2 respectively.
The valves in this phase of the filling process exhibit the following status:
Here the respective container 2 is initially disposed beneath the delivery opening of filling element 3a.2.
Pressure P1 of component K1 in liquid channel 7 and in chamber 7.1 causes a compression of bellows 12 and hence an increasing reduction of the volume of chamber 8.1 as well as an introduction of component K2 via open valve V3 into container 2 standing ready under filling element 3a.2. At the same time the volume in chamber 7.1 increases with the consequence of a volumetric flow rate of component K1 from tank 4 into this chamber, with the amount (volume) measured by flowmeter 11 being equal to the amount of component K2 introduced from chamber 8.1 into container 2. Flowmeter 11 therefore supplies a measurement signal which corresponds to the amount (volume) of component K2 introduced into container 2 in this phase of the filling process.
The signal from flowmeter 11 stops this phase of the filling process in a controlled manner as soon as the required nominal volume of component K2 is introduced into container 2.
The valves in this phase of the filling process exhibit the following status:
To introduce component K1 into container 2, the latter is disposed beneath filling element 3a.1; this can be effected by appropriate movement of the respective container 2 and/or filling elements 3a.1 and 3a.2 of the filling position concerned.
Component K1 flows through open valve V1 into container 2 until the nominal volume for component K1 is reached. Monitoring is again effected by flowmeter 11. The measurement signal from flowmeter 11 closes valve V1 in a controlled manner when the nominal volume for component K1 is reached. The filling process is now complete. The filled container 2 can then be removed from filling element 3a.1 or from the filling position which exhibits this filling element.
On completion of the filling process the liquid connection and proportioning section 6a is prepared for the filling of a further container 2. The status of the valves in this preparation phase is:
The fact that pressure P2 is greater than pressure P1 causes component K2 to flow from tank 5 into chamber 8.1/bellows 12, so that eventually chamber 8.1 exhibits its maximum initial volume again and base section 13 lies against stop 14. The amount (volume) of component K1 which is displaced from chamber 7.1 flows through liquid channel 7 back to tank 4 without this amount (volume) being measured by flowmeter 11. The initial status is restored when the maximum initial volume of chamber 8.1 is reached, and the filling of the next container 2 can commence.
The invention has been described hereinbefore by reference to embodiments. It goes without saying that variations as well as modifications are possible without departing from the inventive concept underlying the invention.
It is for example in particular possible to also realise chambers 7.1 and 8.1 with the variable volume by other means, for example generally by way of an enclosed space which is subdivided into chambers 7.1 and 8.1 by a movable wall or by at least one piston/cylinder arrangement having at least one piston axially displaceable in a cylinder and having two cylinder spaces which are separated from one another by, for example, this piston and of which one then forms chamber 7.1 and the other chamber 8.1.
It is also basically possible for liquid channel 8 with chamber 8.1, whose change of volume produces a corresponding volumetric flow rate in liquid channel 7 incorporating flowmeter 11, to be provided more than once so as to fill more than two components of a mixed product, for example of a mixed drink, into container 2 in an amount-controlled and/or volume-controlled manner while using a single flowmeter.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 2010 008 166.3 | Feb 2010 | DE | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2010/007409 | 12/7/2010 | WO | 00 | 6/5/2012 |
