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US 12,692,142 B2Granted
Counter pressure filler apparatus, system, and related methods
AssigneePSR Automation Incorporated
InventorsDavid R. Ramnarain, Christopher D. Ramnarain, Brian D. Ramnarain
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems, methods, and apparatus are disclosed herein for counter pressure filling. In particular, embodiments of the present disclosure provide for independently operated filling nozzles for establishing counter pressure of containers when supplying carbonated liquid to provide consistent quality and improve product characteristics. The flow rate of the carbonated liquid can be manipulated based on the counter pressure maintained by the system during the filling cycle.
Claims20
A counter pressure filling system comprising:
- a counter pressure assembly fluidly coupled to a pressure relief assembly, the counter pressure assembly configured to receive and establish a seal with an opening of a first container, the pressure relief assembly having a first pump configured to control a first counter pressure of the first container in real-time, the counter pressure assembly having a nozzle assembly including a nozzle bar supporting a first nozzle comprising:
- a carbonated liquid infeed port fluidly coupled to a carbonated liquid tank via a carbonated liquid line, the carbonated liquid tank having a carbonated liquid,
- a gas infeed port fluidly coupled to a gas tank via a gas supply line, and
- a pressure relief port fluidly coupled to a reservoir via a pressure relief line via the pressure relief assembly, wherein the first pump being fluidly coupled to the pressure relief port and configured to adjust pump speed in real-time;
- and
- a controller communicatively coupled to the nozzle assembly and the first pump, the controller comprising a memory and at least one processor configured to:
- determine the first container is in a filling position associated with the first nozzle;
- set the nozzle bar to a blowout height, wherein the blowout height is a height at which the first nozzle is adjacent to an opening of the first container;
- purge, via the first nozzle fluidly coupled to the gas tank, the first container with a supply of gas;
- set the nozzle bar to a dive height, wherein the dive height is a height at which the first nozzle forms a seal with the opening of the first container;
- establish, via the first nozzle fluidly coupled to the first pump, the first counter pressure inside the first container by maintaining the supply of gas;
- and
- fill, via the first nozzle fluidly coupled to the carbonated liquid tank, the first container with a first supply of the carbonated liquid at a filling rate based on the counter pressure;
- wherein the first pump can adjust pump speed in real-time to establish the first counter pressure and filling rate of the carbonated liquid into the first container.
11 more elements
A counter pressure filling method comprising:
- positioning a filling nozzle adjacent to an opening of a container;
- purging, via the filling nozzle fluidly coupled to a gas tank, the container with a gas from the gas tank;
- positioning the filling nozzle against the opening of the container to form a seal;
- establishing, via the filling nozzle fluidly coupled to a pump, counter pressure inside the container by maintaining supply of the gas to the container;
- and
- filling, via the filling nozzle fluidly coupled to a carbonated liquid tank, the container with a carbonated liquid from the carbonated liquid tank at a filling rate based on the counter pressure;
- wherein pump speed can be adjusted in real-time to adjust the counter pressure and the filling rate of the carbonated liquid into the container.
4 more elements
A counter pressure filling system comprising:
- a nozzle assembly including a nozzle bar supporting a first nozzle fluidly coupled to:
- a carbonated liquid tank via a carbonated liquid line,
- a gas tank via a gas supply line, and
- a reservoir via a pressure relief line;
- and
- a controller communicatively coupled to the nozzle assembly, the controller comprising a memory and at least one processor configured to:
- determine a container is in a filling position associated with the first nozzle;
- set the nozzle bar to a blowout height, wherein the blowout height is a height at which the first nozzle is adjacent to an opening of a container;
- purge, via the first nozzle, the container with a supply of gas;
- set the nozzle bar to a dive height, wherein the dive height is a height at which the first nozzle forms a seal with the opening of the container;
- establish, via the first nozzle, counter pressure inside the container by maintaining the supply of gas;
- fill, via the first nozzle, the container with a supply of a carbonated liquid at a filling rate based on the counter pressure;
- determine the container is filled with the carbonated liquid based on a signal received from a liquid overflow sensor configured to send the signal based on a configurable sensitivity threshold;
- shutoff, via the filling nozzle and based on the determination the container is filled, the supply of the carbonated liquid and the supply of the gas;
- and
- set the nozzle bar to the blowout height to break the seal with the opening of the container.
13 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.