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 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;
- and
- fill, via the first nozzle, the container with a supply of a carbonated liquid at a filling rate based on the counter pressure.
A counter pressure filling method comprising:
- positioning a filling nozzle adjacent to an opening of a container;
- purging, via the filling nozzle, the container with a gas;
- positioning the filling nozzle against the opening of the container to form a seal;
- establishing, via the filling nozzle, counter pressure inside the container by maintaining supply of the gas to the container;
- and
- filling, via the filling nozzle, the container with a carbonated liquid at a filling rate based on the counter pressure.
A counter pressure nozzle comprising:
- a carbonated liquid infeed port configured to supply a carbonated liquid based on a pneumatically controlled valve;
- a gas infeed port configured to supply a gas;
- a pressure relief port configured to receive overflow of the gas and the carbonated liquid;
- a counter pressure assembly configured to receive and establish a seal with an opening of a container;
- and
- a pump fluidly coupled to the pressure relief port, wherein the pump is configured to maintain counter pressure inside the container.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.