Container filling element for open-filling of containers

• US 7,650,916 B2
• Filed: 03/04/2005
• Issued: 01/26/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: KHS GmbH (Salzgitter AG)
• Original Assignee: KHS Maschinen- Und Anlagenbau AG
• Inventors: Clusserath, Ludwig
• Primary Examiner(s): GERRITY, STEPHEN FRANCIS
• Application Number:
  US11/072,634
• Publication Number:
  US 20050198921A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,789 Days
• Field of Search: 532/53, 533/315, 533/17, 533/19, 53/52, 535/03, 535/04, 222/17, 222/64, 222/65, 222/67, 141/95, 141/198, 733/04.R
• US Class Current: 141/95
• CPC Class Codes: B67C 2003/2685 Details of probes
• CPC Class Codes: B67C 3/002 using cups or dummies to be placed under the filling heads
• CPC Class Codes: B67C 3/04 without applying pressure
• CPC Class Codes: B67C 3/26 Filling-heads; Means for engaging filling-heads with bottle necks
• CPC Class Codes: B67C 3/285 using liquid contact sensing means B67C3/283 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B67C 3/286 related to flow rate control, i.e. controlling slow and fast filling phases

Abstract

A beverage bottling plant for filling bottles with a liquid beverage material having a filling element and a filling machine having such filling elements. The filling elements each have a movable probe which may be moved into a bottle or container to be filled in order to detect the level of liquid, such as a beverage, in the bottle or container.

Claims

1. A container filling element for open-filling of containers with a liquid in a container filling machine in a container filling plant, said container filling element being configured to be disposed sufficiently above containers being filled during filling to permit open-filling of containers being filled, said container filling element having a vertical axis and comprising:

a dispensing opening being centrally disposed about the vertical axis;

said dispensing opening being configured to guide a flow of liquid therethrough and out of said container filling element and into a container to be filled;

said dispensing opening being configured to be disposed above and a distance from and not in contact with the mouth of a container to be filled;

a liquid duct being configured and disposed to permit a flow of liquid from a liquid reservoir to said dispensing opening;

a liquid valve being disposed in said liquid duct to control a flow of liquid to said dispensing opening;

a valve actuating arrangement being configured and disposed to open and close said liquid valve;

a movable probe being configured to detect a level of liquid in a container being filled;

said movable probe comprising an elongated, first portion being configured to be disposed within a container to be filled;

said first portion being configured and disposed to be oriented with its longitudinal axis essentially parallel to and radially offset from the vertical axis of said filling element;

said first portion of said movable probe comprising at least one exposed electrical contact being configured to be contacted by a surface of a liquid in a container being filled upon the liquid reaching a predetermined level in the container;

said movable probe being configured to send an electrical signal to said valve actuating arrangement to close said liquid valve and thus terminate filling of the container upon said electrical contact of said first portion being contacted by a liquid;

a probe-moving arrangement being configured and disposed to move said movable probe between a starting position in which said first portion is disposed outside a container to be filled and adjacent said dispensing opening, and a measuring position in which said first portion is disposed inside a container to be filled, a distance from and below said dispensing opening, and between a flow of liquid and an inside surface of a container during filling;

said dispensing opening comprising a plurality of straight, vertically extending walls being configured to be disposed in a flow of liquid flowing through said dispensing opening;

said walls being disposed to form vertically-disposed linear channels there between configured to guide a flow of liquid flowing through said dispensing opening to generate a non-turbulent, laminar flow of liquid flowing through and out of said dispensing opening and into a container to be filled, to thereby essentially prevent liquid in the flow of liquid from splashing out of the flow of liquid and into contact with said electrical contact of said movable probe to thereby essentially prevent erroneous termination of filling of a container to be filled prior to the liquid reaching a predetermined level.

2. The filling element according to claim 1, wherein:

said movable probe comprises a second portion and a third portion;

said second portion is disposed between and to connect said first portion and said third portion;

said first portion is disposed below each of said second portion and said third portion;

said third portion is disposed substantially parallel to and radially offset from the vertical axis of said filling device;

said second portion is disposed at an obtuse angle relative to each of said first portion and said third portion; and

said exposed electrical contact is disposed at a lower end portion of said first portion.

3. The filling element according to claim 2, wherein:

said filling element comprises a spring means configured and disposed to apply a bias force to hold said movable probe in said starting position;

said valve actuating arrangement comprises at least one pneumatic cylinder;

said probe-moving arrangement comprises a pneumatic cylinder;

said valve actuating arrangement and said probe-moving arrangement are configured to be actuated substantially simultaneously, to thereby open said liquid valve and substantially simultaneously move said movable probe out of said starting position and into said measuring position;

said filling element comprises a closing spring configured to apply a bias force to hold said liquid valve in a closed position; and

said liquid valve is configured to be opened by said valve actuating arrangement against the action of said closing spring.

4. The filling element according to claim 3, wherein:

said valve actuating arrangement comprises first and second pneumatic cylinders that are arranged and/or act in series;

said first pneumatic cylinder is configured to effect an opening of said liquid valve with a first flow cross section;

said second pneumatic cylinder is configured to effect an opening of said liquid valve with a second flow cross section greater than said first flow cross section;

said filling element comprises a common control valve operatively connected to both said valve actuating arrangement and said probe-moving arrangement;

said filling element comprises an outer wall structure disposed to surround a space about said dispensing opening and at least said first portion of said probe in its starting position;

said space enclosed by said outer wall structure is configured to be closed on the bottom thereof by a cover to permit a CIP cleaning; and

said probe-moving arrangement is configured to move said probe into a plurality of defined measuring positions, whereby these measuring positions differ from one another at least in terms of altitude.

5. The filling element according to claim 1, in combination with a filling machine, wherein said filling machine comprises:

a rotor configured to rotate about a vertical machine axis;

a plurality of additional filling elements identical to said filling element disposed on the periphery of said rotor; and

a plurality of container support structures configured to support and hold containers by the mouths of the containers under and at a distance from a corresponding filling element to permit open-filling of the containers.

6. A container filling element for open-filling of containers with a liquid in a container filling machine in a container filling plant, said container filling element being configured to be disposed sufficiently above containers being filled during filling to permit open-filling of containers being filled, said container filling element having a vertical axis and comprising:

a dispensing opening being disposed about the vertical axis;

said dispensing opening being configured to guide a flow of liquid therethrough and out of said container filling element and into a container to be filled;

said dispensing opening being configured to be disposed above and a distance from and not in contact with the mouth of a container to be filled during filling of the container;

a liquid duct being configured and disposed to permit a flow of liquid from a liquid reservoir to said dispensing opening;

a liquid valve being disposed in said liquid duct to control a flow of liquid to said dispensing opening;

a valve actuating arrangement being configured and disposed to open and close said liquid valve;

a movable probe being configured to detect a level of liquid in a container being filled;

said movable probe comprising an elongated, first portion being configured to be disposed within a container to be filled;

said first portion being configured and disposed to be oriented with its longitudinal axis essentially parallel to and radially offset from the vertical axis of said filling element;

said first portion of said movable probe being configured to be contacted by a surface of a liquid in a container being filled upon the liquid reaching a predetermined level in the container;

said movable probe being configured to send a signal to said valve actuating arrangement to close said liquid valve and thus terminate filling of the container upon said first portion being contacted by a liquid;

a probe-moving arrangement being configured and disposed to move said movable probe between a starting position in which said first portion is disposed outside a container to be filled, and a measuring position in which said first portion is disposed inside a container to be filled and a distance from and below said dispensing opening; and

said dispensing opening being configured to generate a non-turbulent flow of liquid flowing through and out of said dispensing opening and into a container to be filled, to thereby minimize liquid in the flow of liquid from splashing out of the flow of liquid and into contact with said first portion of said movable probe to thereby minimize erroneous termination of filling of a container to be filled prior to the liquid reaching a predetermined level.

7. The filling element according to claim 6, wherein:

said filling element comprises a spring means configured and disposed to apply a bias force to hold said movable probe in said starting position;

said valve actuating arrangement comprises at least one pneumatic cylinder; and

said probe-moving arrangement comprises a pneumatic cylinder.

8. The filling element according to claim 7, wherein:

said valve actuating arrangement and said probe-moving arrangement are configured to be actuated substantially simultaneously, to thereby open said liquid valve and substantially simultaneously move said movable probe out of said starting position and into said measuring position;

said filling element comprises a closing spring configured to apply a bias force to hold said liquid valve in a closed position; and

said liquid valve is configured to be opened by said valve actuating arrangement against the action of said closing spring.

9. The filling element according to claim 8, wherein:

said valve actuating arrangement comprises first and second pneumatic cylinders that are arranged and/or act in series;

said first pneumatic cylinder is configured to effect an opening of said liquid valve with a first flow cross section; and

said second pneumatic cylinder is configured to effect an opening of said liquid valve with a second flow cross section greater than said first flow cross section.

10. The filling element according to claim 9, wherein:

said movable probe comprises a second portion and a third portion;

said second portion is disposed between and to connect said first portion and said third portion;

said first portion is disposed below each of said second portion and said third portion;

said third portion is disposed substantially parallel to and radially offset from the vertical axis of said filling device; and

said second portion is disposed at an obtuse angle relative to each of said first portion and said third portion.

11. The filling element according to claim 10, wherein:

said filling element comprises a common control valve operatively connected to both said valve actuating arrangement and said probe-moving arrangement;

said filling element comprises an outer wall structure disposed to surround a space about said dispensing opening and at least said first portion of said probe in its starting position;

said space enclosed by said outer wall structure is configured to be closed on the bottom thereof by a cover to permit a CIP cleaning; and

said probe-moving arrangement is configured to move said probe into a plurality of defined measuring positions, whereby these measuring positions differ from one another at least in terms of altitude.

12. The filling element according to claim 11, in combination with a filling machine, wherein said filling machine comprises:

a rotor configured to rotate about a vertical machine axis;

a plurality of additional filling elements identical to said filling element disposed on the periphery of said rotor; and

a plurality of container support structures configured to support and hold containers by the mouths of the containers under and at a distance from a corresponding filling element to permit open-filling of the containers.

13. The filling element according to claim 6, in combination with a filling machine, wherein said filling machine comprises:

a rotor configured to rotate about a vertical machine axis;

a plurality of additional filling elements identical to said filling element disposed on the periphery of said rotor; and

a plurality of container support structures configured to support and hold containers by the mouths of the containers under and at a distance from a corresponding filling element to permit open-filling of the containers.

14. A container filling element for open-filling of containers with a liquid in a container filling machine in a container filling plant, said container filling element being configured to be disposed sufficiently above containers being filled during filling to permit open-filling of containers being filled, said container filling element comprising:

a dispensing opening being configured to guide a flow of liquid therethrough and out of said container filling element and into a container to be filled;

said dispensing opening being configured to be disposed a distance from and not in contact with the mouth of a container to be filled during filling of the container;

a liquid duct being configured and disposed to permit a flow of liquid from a liquid reservoir to said dispensing opening;

a liquid valve being disposed in said liquid duct to control a flow of liquid to said dispensing opening;

a valve actuating arrangement being configured and disposed to open and close said liquid valve;

a movable probe being configured to detect a level of liquid in a container being filled;

said movable probe comprising a first portion being configured to be disposed within a container to be filled;

said first portion of said movable probe being configured to detect a level of a liquid in a container being filled;

said movable probe being configured to send a signal to said valve actuating arrangement to close said liquid valve and thus terminate filling of the container upon said first portion detecting a level of a liquid in a container being filled reaching a predetermined level;

a probe-moving arrangement being configured and disposed to move said movable probe between a starting position in which said first portion of said movable probe is disposed outside a container to be filled, and a measuring position in which said first portion is disposed inside a container to be filled and below said dispensing opening; and

said dispensing opening being configured to generate a non-turbulent flow of liquid flowing through and out of said dispensing opening and into a container to be filled, to thereby minimize liquid in the flow of liquid from splashing out of the flow of liquid.

15. The filling element according to claim 14, wherein:

said movable probe comprises a second portion and a third portion;

said second portion is disposed between and to connect said first portion and said third portion;

said first portion is disposed below each of said second portion and said third portion; and

said second portion is disposed at an obtuse angle relative to each of said first portion and said third portion.

16. The filling element according to claim 15, wherein:

said filling element comprises a spring means configured and disposed to apply a bias force to hold said movable probe in said starting position;

said valve actuating arrangement comprises at least one pneumatic cylinder; and

said probe-moving arrangement comprises a pneumatic cylinder.

17. The filling element according to claim 16, wherein:

said valve actuating arrangement and said probe-moving arrangement are configured to be actuated substantially simultaneously, to thereby open said liquid valve and substantially simultaneously move said movable probe out of said starting position and into said measuring position;

said filling element comprises a closing spring configured to apply a bias force to hold said liquid valve in a closed position; and

said liquid valve is configured to be opened by said valve actuating arrangement against the action of said closing spring.

18. The filling element according to claim 17, wherein:

said valve actuating arrangement comprises first and second pneumatic cylinders that are arranged and/or act in series;

said first pneumatic cylinder is configured to effect an opening of said liquid valve with a first flow cross section; and

said second pneumatic cylinder is configured to effect an opening of said liquid valve with a second flow cross section greater than said first flow cross section.

19. The filling element according to claim 18, wherein:

said filling element comprises a common control valve operatively connected to both said valve actuating arrangement and said probe-moving arrangement;

said filling element comprises an outer wall structure disposed to surround a space about said dispensing opening and at least said first portion of said probe in its starting position;

said space enclosed by said outer wall structure is configured to be closed on the bottom thereof by a cover to permit a CIP cleaning; and

said probe-moving arrangement is configured to move said probe into a plurality of defined measuring positions, whereby these measuring positions differ from one another at least in terms of altitude.

20. The filling element according to claim 14, in combination with a filling machine, wherein said filling machine comprises:

a rotor configured to rotate about a vertical machine axis;

a plurality of additional filling elements identical to said filling element disposed on the periphery of said rotor; and

a plurality of container support structures configured to support and hold containers by the mouths of the containers under and at a distance from a corresponding filling element to permit open-filling of the containers.