Filler element and filling system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016009533-A1
Application number	US-201314763559-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 23, 2013
Priority date	Feb 13, 2013
Publication date	Jan 14, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A filler element includes a valve arrangement that switches it between filling mode and CIP mode by controlling a connection between a chamber formed in a housing and a CIP channel formed from a valve body provided at a filling-height-controlling element. Axial movement of a filling-height-controlling element through an extension connected to the chamber controls mode-switching. In both modes, a continuous fluid connection exists between the extension's CIP connection and the CIP channel. Axial movement of the filling-height-controlling element also controls filling height in the container. In CIP mode, a CIP flow formed in the housing conducts liquid CIP medium out of the boiler, through the filling element, and out into a CIP channel.

First claim

Having described the invention, and a preferred embodiment thereof, what is claimed as new and secured by letters patent is:

1 - 16 . (canceled)

17 . An apparatus for filling containers with liquid filling contents, said apparatus comprising a filler element that switches between a filling mode and a CIP mode, wherein said filler element comprises a filler element housing, a liquid channel, a dispensing opening, a liquid valve, a chamber, an extension, a filling-height-controlling element, a valve body, a CIP channel, a CIP connection, a valve arrangement, and a flush closure element, wherein said liquid channel is formed in said filler element housing, wherein said liquid channel is configured to be connectable to a filling-contents boiler, wherein said liquid valve is disposed in said liquid channel, wherein said liquid channel forms said dispensing opening, wherein said filling-height-controlling element controls filling height in said container, wherein, during filling of a container, a first end of said filling-height-controlling element projects beyond said dispensing opening and extends into said container, wherein axial movement of said filling-height-controlling element within an adjustable range adjusts said filling height, wherein, in CIP mode, a CIP flow path is formed in said housing for liquid CIP medium that is conducted out of said boiler, flows through said filling element, and out of said filling element into said CIP channel, wherein, in CIP mode, said flush closure element closes said filler element at said dispensing opening, wherein said chamber is formed in said filler element housing, wherein said extension connects to said chamber on an upper side of said filler element housing facing away from said dispensing opening, wherein said filling-height-controlling element is guided through said extension, wherein said filling-height-controlling element is connected to said CIP channel by said CIP connection, wherein, in CIP mode, said CIP flow path comprises said liquid channel, said chamber, and said extension, wherein said valve arrangement switches said filler element between said filling mode and said CIP mode, wherein said valve arrangement selectively blocks a fluid connection between said chamber and said CIP channel, wherein said valve arrangement selectively clears said fluid connection between said CIP channel and said chamber, wherein said valve body is provided at said filling-height-controlling element, wherein, during said filling mode, said valve body blocks said fluid connection between said chamber and said CIP connection of said extension, wherein, during CIP mode, said valve body opens said fluid connection between said chamber and said CIP connection of said extension, wherein opening and closing of said valve body is controlled by axial movement of said filling-height-controlling element, wherein, in said filling mode and in said CIP mode, a continuous fluid connection exists between said CIP connection of said extension and said CIP channel, and wherein said valve arrangement for switching said filler element between said filling mode and said CIP mode is formed from said valve body.

18 . The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein said valve arrangement is formed exclusively from said valve body.

19 . The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein said extension comprises a cylinder, wherein said valve body defines a piston that moves within said cylinder in response to axial movement of said filling-height-controlling element, and wherein said piston selectively blocks said fluid connection between said chamber and said CIP connection.

20 . The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein said valve body is configured to open said fluid connection between said chamber and said CIP connection by moving out of said extension and into a volume that has a cross-section that is larger than said valve body.

21 . The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein said chamber has a cross-section that is larger than said valve body, and wherein said valve body is configured to open said fluid connection between said chamber and said CIP connection by moving out of said extension and into said chamber.

22 . The apparatus of claim 17 , further comprising a valve tappet for said liquid valve, wherein said valve tappet comprises a pipe that is coaxial with a filler element axis, wherein said filling-height-controlling element is guided through said pipe, wherein said CIP channel comprises a ring channel between said filling-level-controlling element and said valve tappet, wherein said ring channel is open on an underside of said filler element, and wherein said ring channel opens into said chamber.

23 . The apparatus of claim 22 , wherein said flush closure is configured to selectively cause said CIP flow path to run out of said filling-contents boiler, via said liquid channel, via said opened liquid valve, via an interior of said flush closure element, via said ring channel, via said chamber, via a valve formed from said valve body, and via said extension, which is connected to the said channel.

24 . The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein said CIP connection of said extension is formed from a connecting channel in said filler element housing, and wherein said connecting channel is connected to said CIP channel.

25 . The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein said filling-height-controlling element comprises a return gas tube.

26 . The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein said filling-height-controlling element comprises a Trinox tube.

27 . The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein said filler element is configured for filling containers at under-pressure.

28 . The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein said filler element is configured for filling containers at ambient pressure.

29 . The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein said filler element is a multiple-filler element comprising a plurality of individual filler elements.

30 . The apparatus of claim 29 , wherein said filling-height-controlling element comprises a plurality of return gas tubes, and wherein said apparatus further comprises a common adjustment device for adjusting filling heights of said individual filler elements of said multiple filler element.

31 . The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein said filling-height-controlling element comprises a plurality of return gas tubes, said apparatus further comprising a common control valve to connect said return gas tubes to a filling-contents boiler.

32 . The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein said filling-height-controlling element comprises a plurality of return gas tubes, and wherein said apparatus further comprises a non-return valve arrangement to connect said return gas tubes to a filling-contents boiler.

33 . The apparatus of claim 32 , wherein said non-return valve arrangement comprises at least one non-return valve for each return gas tube.

34 . The apparatus of claim 32 , wherein said non-return valve arrangement opens into the said chamber, wherein said non-return valve arrangement at least one of blocks or at least constricts a flow in out of said gas chamber.

35 . The apparatus of claim 32 , wherein at least one non-return valve of said non-return valve arrangement first opens at a pressure that exceeds a filling pressure.

36 . The apparatus of claim 17 , further comprising a rotor, wherein said filler element is one of a plurality of identical filler elements disposed on a periphery of said rotor.

Assignees

• Khs Gmbh

Inventors

• CLüSSERATH LUDWIG
• Krulitsch Dieter-Rudolf

Classifications

• B67C2003/2602

  Details of vent-tubes · CPC title

• B67C3/262

  and the filling operation stopping when the liquid rises to a level at which it closes a vent opening · CPC title

• B67C3/002 Primary

  using cups or dummies to be placed under the filling heads · CPC title