Patent ID: 6142169
Filing Date: 2000-11-07
Classification: B08B,B65B,Y10T

Abstract:
In a filling machine having a supply tank for storing product, a gas supply system for supplying a pressurized gas to the supply tank comprising:a common inlet for connecting to a source of gas at a high pressure;a low pressure regulated path connected to accept the gas received at the common inlet, the low pressure regulated path having an outlet at which gas is available at a low pressure, the low pressure regulated path being configured for supplying a low pressure gas for pressurizing a space in the supply tank, above the product, for discharging the product;a high pressure regulated path connected to accept the gas received at the common inlet, the high pressure regulated path having an outlet at which gas is available at high pressure, the high pressure regulated path being configured for supplying a high pressure gas for cleaning;a gas switch connected to receive gas from the outlet of the low pressure regulated path and the outlet of the high pressure regulated path and for through-connecting either high pressure gas or low pressure gas to a common outlet for supply to the supply tank;a filter disposed to filter the gas supplied to the common inlet; anda steam supply system disposed between the common outlet of the gas switch and an inlet of the supply tank, the steam supply system including a steam inlet, a first steam valve connected to receive steam from the steam inlet, a pressure reducing valve connected to receive steam from the first steam valve, a steam trap connected to receive steam from the pressure reducing valve, and a second steam valve disposed to control flow of steam from the pressure reducing valve ,the steam being supplied for cleaning at least one of the filter and the supply tank,wherein the high pressure regulated path, the low pressure regulated path, gas switch and steam supply system are configured to cooperate with each other to store and supply product from the supply tank and to clean the supply tank.