MACHINE AND METHOD FOR FILLING CONTAINERS WITH POURABLE PRODUCT
First Claim
1. A filling machine for filling containers with a pourable product, the filling machine comprising:
- a product tank containing the pourable product and a first gas maintained at a first pressure value;
at least one dosing tank containing a second gas and configured to measure out a given volume of the pourable product to be delivered to a container through a first valve;
a fluidic line connecting the at least one dosing tank to the product tank through a second valve;
a first pressurizing device configured to selectively pressurize the second gas in the at least one dosing tank to a second pressure value, that is lower than the first pressure value, when the first and second valves are both in respective closed configurations and the at least one dosing tank does not contain a substantial amount of pourable product;
a sensor configured to detect pressure of the second gas in the at least one dosing tank; and
a controller configured to;
set the second valve in an open configuration after the at least one dosing tank has been pressurized to the second pressure value, in order to allow the pourable product to flow from the product tank to the at least one dosing tank under the action of the pressure difference therebetween; and
set the second valve in the closed configuration as the pressure detected by the sensor in the at least one dosing tank, during flow of the pourable product into the at least one dosing tank, reaches a third pressure value corresponding to a predetermined volume of the pourable product in the dosing tank.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A filling machine for filling containers with a pourable product, comprising: a product tank containing the pourable product and a first gas maintained at a first pressure value; at least one dosing tank containing a second gas; a first pressurizing device configured to selectively pressurize the second gas in the at least one dosing tank to a second pressure value, that is lower than the first pressure value; a controller configured to: set the second valve in an open configuration after the at least one dosing tank has been pressurized to the second pressure value; and set the second valve in the closed configuration as the pressure detected by the sensor in the at least one dosing tank reaches a third pressure value corresponding to a predetermined volume of the pourable product in the dosing tank.
4 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A filling machine for filling containers with a pourable product, the filling machine comprising:
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a product tank containing the pourable product and a first gas maintained at a first pressure value; at least one dosing tank containing a second gas and configured to measure out a given volume of the pourable product to be delivered to a container through a first valve; a fluidic line connecting the at least one dosing tank to the product tank through a second valve; a first pressurizing device configured to selectively pressurize the second gas in the at least one dosing tank to a second pressure value, that is lower than the first pressure value, when the first and second valves are both in respective closed configurations and the at least one dosing tank does not contain a substantial amount of pourable product; a sensor configured to detect pressure of the second gas in the at least one dosing tank; and a controller configured to; set the second valve in an open configuration after the at least one dosing tank has been pressurized to the second pressure value, in order to allow the pourable product to flow from the product tank to the at least one dosing tank under the action of the pressure difference therebetween; and set the second valve in the closed configuration as the pressure detected by the sensor in the at least one dosing tank, during flow of the pourable product into the at least one dosing tank, reaches a third pressure value corresponding to a predetermined volume of the pourable product in the dosing tank. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for filling a container with a pourable product, the method comprising:
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maintaining the pourable product in a product tank with a first gas at a first pressure value; delivering a predetermined volume of the pourable product to the container through a first valve; measuring out the predetermined volume of pourable product, via a dosing tank filled with a second gas and connected to the product tank through a second valve, prior to delivering the pourable product to the container; pressurizing the second gas in the dosing tank at a second pressure value, that is lower than the first pressure value, when the first and second valves are both in respective closed configurations and the dosing tank does not contain a substantial amount of pourable product; setting the second valve in an open configuration after the dosing tank has been pressurized to the second pressure value, to allow the pourable product to flow from the product tank to the dosing tank under the action of the pressure difference therebetween; detecting pressure of the second gas in the dosing tank (25); and during flow of the pourable product from the product tank to the dosing tank, setting the second valve in the closed configuration as the pressure detected in the dosing tank reaches a third pressure value corresponding to a predetermined volume of the pourable product in the dosing tank. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification