Filling device for filling containers

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9249005-B2
Application number	US-201113185571-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 19, 2011
Priority date	Jul 19, 2010
Publication date	Feb 2, 2016
Grant date	Feb 2, 2016

Abstract

A filling device for filling containers with a food product is provided for use in the food industry. The filling device comprises at least one weighing device including at least one piezoelement configured to determine a filling amount of the food product.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A filling device for filling containers with a food product comprising:
at least one weighing device including at least one piezoelement configured to determine a filling amount of the food product,
wherein the piezoelement is configured to mechanically connect with a container to be filled.

2. The filling device according to claim 1 , wherein the piezoelement is disposed on the filling device so as to be at least one of compressed and expanded during a filling operation.

3. The filling device according to claim 1 , further comprising a lever configured to connect the piezoelement with a container to be filled.

4. The filling device according to claim 1 , further comprising a cover element disposed between the at least one piezoelement and a container to be filled.

5. The filling device according to claim 1 , further comprising a mounting configured to retain a container to be filled, wherein the at least one piezoelement is disposed in a region of the mounting.

6. The filling device according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one weighing device includes at least one spring element.

7. The filling device according to claim 6 , wherein the at least one spring element is configured to be deformed by a container to be filled such that the container to be filled comes into mechanical contact with the at least one piezoelement.

8. A method of filling containers with a food product comprising:
providing the containers to a filling device having at least one weighing device including at least one piezoelement configured to determine a filling amount of the food product;
determining an electrical charge of the at least one piezoelement; and
determining a filling amount based on the determined electrical charge.

9. The method according to claim 8 , wherein the food product is a liquid food product.

10. The method according to claim 8 , further comprising providing a voltage source configured to provide a predetermined voltage to the at least one piezoelement.

11. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the predetermined voltage is provided to the at least one piezoelement based on a weight of a respective unfilled one of the containers.

12. The filling device according to claim 1 , further comprising a voltage source configured to provide a predetermined voltage to the at least one piezoelement.

13. A filling device for filling containers with a food product comprising:
at least one weighing device including at least one piezoelement configured to determine a filling amount of the food product,
wherein the piezoelement is disposed on the filling device so as to be at least one of compressed and expanded during a filling operation.

14. The filling device according to claim 12 , wherein the voltage source is configured to deform the at least one piezoelement back to a starting position after a respective unfilled one of the containers has been provided to the filling device.

15. The filling device according to claim 13 , wherein the predetermined voltage is present at the at least one piezoelement and corresponds to a weight of a respective unfilled one of the containers.

Assignees

• Haeuslmann Mathias
• Krones Ag

Inventors

• Haeuslmann Mathias

Classifications

• B67C3/202 Primary

  by weighing · CPC title

• G01G13/02

  Means for automatically loading weigh pans or other receptacles, e.g. disposable containers, under control of the weighing mechanism · CPC title

• G01G3/13

  having piezoelectric or piezoresistive properties · CPC title

• G01G17/04

  for weighing fluids, e.g. gases, pastes · CPC title

• G01L9/08

  by making use of piezoelectric devices {, i.e. electric circuits therefor} · CPC title