Method and machine for filling a container to a desired liquid level
AssigneePep Technologies
InventorPhilippe Perrier
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A filling machine includes a filling tube passing through a spout endpiece to delimit with the spout endpiece, part of an air return circuit. The filling tube is vertically movable and delimits an exit passage for the liquid. A control circuit is provided for moving the filling tube to a low position and driving an obturation device to open the exit passage, putting the air return circuit, when the exit passage of the filling tube is immersed in the liquid, to atmospheric pressure, moving the filling tube towards its leveling position, putting the air return circuit in communication with a pressurized chamber, and bringing the filling tube to a leveling position.
Claims15
A method for filling containers (2) using a filling liquid (1) stored in a tank (3) and delivered using at least one filling head (6) including a spout endpiece (8) provided with a bearing seat (9) for a neck of a container, the spout endpiece (8) being crossed by a filling tube (11) connected to the tank and delimiting with the spout endpiece, at least part of an air return circuit (12), the filling tube delimiting an exit passage (11b) for the liquid which is opened or closed by means of an obturation device (21), the method including the following steps for the filling of a container:
- making the neck of the container bear on the seat (9) by engaging the spout endpiece of the spout (8) inside the container (2);
- translating the filling tube (11) inside the container from a high position to a low position in the vicinity of the bottom (2a) of the container;
- putting in communication with the interior of the container, the air return circuit (12) put at atmospheric pressure so that it empties of its liquid;
- when the filling tube (11) occupies its low position, opening the exit passage (11b) of the filling tube in order to ensure the exit of the liquid and put the air return circuit (12) in communication with a pressurized chamber (14) to ensure a slow flow of the liquid;
- when the exit passage (11b) of the filling tube (11) is immersed in the liquid, putting the air return circuit (12) at atmospheric pressure to increase the flow of the liquid;
- moving the filling tube (11) while keeping the liquid exit passage (11b) immersed, towards a leveling position for which the filling tube is engaged inside the container at a depth corresponding to the level of the liquid inside the container;
- during the filling end phase, putting the air return circuit (12) in communication with the pressurized chamber (14) to slow down the flow of the liquid and move the filling tube (11) to its leveling position;
- waiting for the stabilization of the liquid level with a return of liquid in the air return circuit (12) before closing the air return circuit;
- and closing the exit passage (11b) of the filling tube to stop the exit of the liquid.
A machine for filling containers (2) using a filling liquid (1) stored in a tank (3), including at least one filling head (6), each filling head including:
- a spout endpiece (8) provided with a bearing seat (9) for a neck of a container;
- a filling tube (11) connected to the tank and passing through the spout endpiece (8) to delimit with the spout endpiece, part (12a) of an air return circuit (12) connected either to the atmospheric pressure via a tank obturator (16), or to a pressurized chamber (14) via a chamber obturator (15), the filling tube (11) being vertically movable by means of a displacement actuator (18) between, on the one hand, a high position and, on the other hand, a low position in the vicinity of the bottom of the container, the filling tube (11) delimiting an exit passage (11b) for the liquid which is opened or closed by means of an obturation device (21);
- a sealing system (17) ensuring the closing of the air return circuit (12) when the filling tube (11) occupies the high closing position;
- a control circuit (28) connected to the chamber obturator (15), to the tank obturator (16), to the displacement actuator (18), to the obturation device (21) and to the sealing system (17) for:
- moving the filling tube (11), during an initial filling phase, from its high closing position to its low position and driving the obturation device (21) to open the exit passage (11b) of the filling tube (11), and putting the air return circuit (12) in communication with the pressurized chamber (14);
- putting the air return circuit (12), when the exit passage (11b) of the filling tube is immersed in the liquid, to atmospheric pressure and moving the filling tube (11) towards its leveling position while keeping the liquid exit passage (11b) immersed;
- putting the air return circuit (12), during the filling end phase, in communication with the pressurized chamber (14) and bringing the filling tube (11) to a leveling position of the liquid inside the container, with a return of liquid in the air return circuit (12), driving the sealing system (17) to close the air return circuit and driving the obturation device (21) to close the liquid exit passage.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.