Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
  • B67C—CLEANING, FILLING WITH LIQUIDS OR SEMILIQUIDS, OR EMPTYING, OF BOTTLES, JARS, CANS, CASKS, BARRELS, OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; FUNNELS
  • B67C3/00—Bottling liquids or semiliquids; Filling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus; Filling casks or barrels with liquids or semiliquids
  • B67C3/02—Bottling liquids or semiliquids; Filling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus
  • B67C3/22—Details
  • B67C3/28—Flow-control devices, e.g. using valves
  • B67C3/287—Flow-control devices, e.g. using valves related to flow control using predetermined or real-time calculated parameters
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
  • B65B3/00—Packaging plastic material, semiliquids, liquids or mixed solids and liquids, in individual containers or receptacles, e.g. bags, sacks, boxes, cartons, cans, or jars
  • B65B3/26—Methods or devices for controlling the quantity of the material fed or filled
  • B65B3/30—Methods or devices for controlling the quantity of the material fed or filled by volumetric measurement
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
  • B67C—CLEANING, FILLING WITH LIQUIDS OR SEMILIQUIDS, OR EMPTYING, OF BOTTLES, JARS, CANS, CASKS, BARRELS, OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; FUNNELS
  • B67C3/00—Bottling liquids or semiliquids; Filling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus; Filling casks or barrels with liquids or semiliquids
  • B67C3/007—Applications of control, warning or safety devices in filling machinery
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
  • B67C—CLEANING, FILLING WITH LIQUIDS OR SEMILIQUIDS, OR EMPTYING, OF BOTTLES, JARS, CANS, CASKS, BARRELS, OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; FUNNELS
  • B67C3/00—Bottling liquids or semiliquids; Filling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus; Filling casks or barrels with liquids or semiliquids
  • B67C3/02—Bottling liquids or semiliquids; Filling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus
  • B67C3/023—Filling multiple liquids in a container
  • B67C3/026—Filling the liquids simultaneously
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
  • B67C—CLEANING, FILLING WITH LIQUIDS OR SEMILIQUIDS, OR EMPTYING, OF BOTTLES, JARS, CANS, CASKS, BARRELS, OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; FUNNELS
  • B67C3/00—Bottling liquids or semiliquids; Filling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus; Filling casks or barrels with liquids or semiliquids
  • B67C3/02—Bottling liquids or semiliquids; Filling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus
  • B67C3/20—Bottling liquids or semiliquids; Filling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus with provision for metering the liquids to be introduced, e.g. when adding syrups

Definitions

• the present invention relates to the field of filling containers with a product flowing in a filling installation comprising a product reservoir and a filling unit allowing the simultaneous filling of several containers.
• the problem which is at the basis of the technique of filling containers is to deliver, in each container, a predetermined quantity (by volume, by weight, ...) of flowable product, in the shortest time (in other words with the highest filling speed, or with the highest flow rate), regardless of the effective volume of the container and / or its geometric and dimensional characteristics and / or the rheological characteristics of the packaged product.
• a first difficulty is due to the need to quickly ensure fine adjustment of the flow rate supplied by each filling nozzle: manual intervention is certainly possible in a filling installation under normal conditions, but must be avoided in particular installations (installations filling in a sterile environment in which any manual intervention requires stopping the installation, then implementing a complete decontamination cycle before restarting it).
• an incident may occur in the supply of one or more containers (container absent or improperly positioned under the spout).
• the corresponding nozzle delivers the product which is then lost (wastage of product), or the nozzle is inhibited and the flow rate of the other nozzles is modified.
• the invention provides a method for controlling the filling of containers with a flowable product in a filling installation comprising a product reservoir and a filling unit allowing the simultaneous filling of several containers, which process, being arranged in accordance with the invention, is characterized in that:
• the invention provides an installation for filling containers with a flowable product comprising a product reservoir and a filling unit equipped with a multiplicity of filling spouts allowing the simultaneous filling of several containers, which installation being arranged in accordance with the invention, is characterized in that it comprises: - a proportional valve, inserted in the supply duct between the filling unit and the product tank, means for measuring the total actual flow rate of the product actually circulating in the filling unit,
• calculation means for determining the overall theoretical flow rate n.q of the product to be supplied to the filling unit
• comparator means receiving and comparing the information of total actual flow measured by the measurement means and theoretical flow calculated by the calculation means, said comparator means having a control output connected to a control of the flow control valve product supplied to the filling unit.
• any proportional valve will be called proportional valve.
• the means for measuring the total real flow rate of the product comprise a flow meter for measuring relatively high flow rates which is arranged in series with the main proportional valve and, for measuring relatively low flow rates, a circuit in bypass on the main proportional valve which includes ur. flow meter for measuring low flow rates and a secondary proportional valve, control means selectively activating the main valve and the secondary valve according to the flow to be measured.
• the means for measuring the actual flow rate of the product comprise a multiplicity of individual flowmeters associated respectively with the filling spouts and summing means determining the sum ⁇ qi of the individual flow rates qi detected.
• the means specific to the invention find a preferred application in an installation in which the filling unit is arranged in the form of a rotating carousel with the filling spouts distributed peripherally, the filling of the containers taking place over a predetermined angular sector of the circular path followed by the spouts, and more particularly still it finds application in such an installation arranged for filling the containers in a sterile environment.
• FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the arrangement of a first embodiment of an installation according to one invention
• Figure 2 is a diagram of an alternative embodiment of part of the installation of Figure 1
• - Figure 3 is a diagram of one arrangement of another embodiment of an installation according to one invention.
• the flowable product (generally a liquid) is supplied to a reservoir 1 in which a device known per se (not shown) ensures the maintenance of the product at a constant level.
• a sampling conduit 2 brings the flowing product to a filling unit 3 which in practice is an in-line filling unit of the rotating carousel type or of a "similar type.
• the filling unit 3 is equipped with a multiplicity of filling spouts 4 to which are associated support means (by the neck and / or by the bottom) of containers 5.
• the general arrangement of such an installation does not is not within the scope of the present invention: it can be of any type, suitable for the function and performance sought.
• a valve 6 with proportional closure under the action of a member 7 of proportional control there is in the pipe 2 a valve 6 with proportional closure under the action of a member 7 of proportional control.
• This command can be of any type (pneumatic, hydraulic, mechanical, etc.), but it is here preferably of the electrical type because of the means used in the context of the invention and which is discussed below.
• the principle used to control the operation of the filling unit 3 using the proportional valve 6 consists of measuring and comparing, on the one hand, the actual instantaneous flow rate of the product delivered to the filling unit 3 and, on the other hand, the instantaneous theoretical flow rate to be supplied to the filling unit 3 and to determine, from this comparison, a control signal from the valve which regulates the actual instantaneous total flow rate delivered to the filling unit 3 to make it coincide with the instantaneous theoretical flow rate.
• a flow meter 8 which supplies an electrical signal S r representative of the instantaneous total actual flow rate of the product flowing in the duct 2 and delivered to the filling unit 3.
• a device 10 makes it possible to display the value of the theoretical flow rate g to be delivered to each container.
• a multiplier device 11 receiving the electrical signals representative of the quantities n and g, develops the product nxq which constitutes the signal S th representative of the instantaneous theoretical flow rate to be supplied to the filling unit 3.
• the two signals S r and S th are then compared in a comparator device 12 which delivers on its output a control signal S_ - S thr intended for the control member 7 to actuate the valve under conditions suitable for the instantaneous total actual flow to coincide with the instantaneous theoretical flow.
• the electronic means which are currently currently commercially available have the capacity for processing information and the speed required to perform the abovementioned functions so as to obtain the desired regulation in real time. Since the flowmeters may have operating ranges that do not allow them to cover both large flow measurements and small flow measurements, it is possible to envisage, in order to extend the operating range of the installation of FIG. 1, use the following assembly illustrated in figure 2.
• the flow meter 8 suitable for measuring large flows. Bypass on the proportional valve 6 are connected in series a flow meter 14 suitable for measuring small flows and a secondary proportional valve 15.
• a processor 13, associated with the comparator 12, ensures the selective opening and closing of the valves 6 and 15 as a function of the importance of the detected flow rate and selects the suitable signal from the two signals S rl supplied by the flow meter 14 and S r2 supplied by the flow meter S r2 , so as to be able to ensure the desired regulation of the valve in service 6 or 15.
• each filling spout 4 is equipped with an individual flow meter 17.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Basic Packing Technique (AREA)
• Filling Of Jars Or Cans And Processes For Cleaning And Sealing Jars (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=9531665

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (15)

Families Citing this family (20)

Family Cites Families (7)

• 1998
  • 1998-10-16 FR FR9813008A patent/FR2784669B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 1999
  • 1999-10-13 PT PT99947563T patent/PT1123251E/pt unknown
  • 1999-10-13 DE DE69914094T patent/DE69914094T2/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1999-10-13 CA CA002346557A patent/CA2346557C/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1999-10-13 JP JP2000577111A patent/JP3663131B2/ja not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1999-10-13 DK DK99947563T patent/DK1123251T3/da active
  • 1999-10-13 ES ES99947563T patent/ES2213386T3/es not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1999-10-13 WO PCT/FR1999/002475 patent/WO2000023373A1/fr not_active Ceased
  • 1999-10-13 US US09/807,582 patent/US6378575B1/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1999-10-13 KR KR10-2001-7004569A patent/KR100411942B1/ko not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1999-10-13 CN CN99812203A patent/CN1094894C/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1999-10-13 EP EP99947563A patent/EP1123251B1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1999-10-13 AU AU60964/99A patent/AU757058B2/en not_active Ceased
  • 1999-10-13 AT AT99947563T patent/ATE257462T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1999-10-13 BR BR9914533-2A patent/BR9914533A/pt not_active IP Right Cessation

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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