Abstract:
A filling element includes a housing that forms a first dispensing opening. The first dispensing opening and a second dispensing opening provide corresponding filling jets. These jets combine to create a new jet for entry into a container to be filled. The first dispensing opening is offset outward radially opposite the second dispensing opening.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is the national stage entry under 35 USC 371 of PCT/EP2012/004509, filed on Oct. 27, 2012, which claims the benefit of the Dec. 21, 2011 priority date of German application DE 10 2011 121 968.8, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference. 
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The invention concerns container processing, and in particular, filling containers. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Filling elements for the filling of containers with liquid products or filling materials, in particular also with drinks, are known in various embodiments. 
     SUMMARY 
     The invention features a filling element that is suitable for the free-flow filling of containers and that allows an optimum filling, in particular also a clean filling with increased filling performance, measured as filling material quantity filled into the containers per unit of time. 
     The filling element according to the invention is made so that, at least during a part of the filling phase, during which the container is being filled with liquid filling material, the jet of filling material flowing into the container is formed by the combination of at least two partial flows of filling material or partial jets of filling material from a first dispensing opening and at least one further dispensing opening. The inner partial jet of filling material furthermore forms a kind of lead or guide flow to which the outer partial jet of filling material connects before entering the container. The first dispensing opening opposite further dispensing opening is offset radially outwards in relation to the filling element axis in the direction of which the filling material flows into the particular container. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the first dispensing opening is annular so that the partial jet of filling material emerging from the first dispensing opening is also annular shape and encloses the inner partial jet of filling material emerging from the other dispensing opening. 
     The first dispensing opening is preferably made so that the partial jet of filling material emerging from this dispensing opening is oriented towards the filling element axis, i.e. encloses an angle of less than 90° with it, which opens against the direction of flow of the filling material, i.e. upwards. 
     In one aspect, the invention features a filling element that includes a housing that forms a first dispensing opening. The first dispensing opening and a second dispensing opening provide corresponding filling jets. These jets combine to create a new jet for entry into a container to be filled. The first dispensing opening is offset outward radially opposite the second dispensing opening. 
     In another aspect, the invention features an apparatus for filling containers with liquid filling material. Such an apparatus includes a filling element. This filling element has a filling element housing, a first liquid channel through which liquid filling material flows during filling, a second liquid channel, a first liquid valve arranged in the first liquid channel, a valve body through which the second liquid channel extends, a first dispensing opening formed by the housing, and a second dispensing opening. The first liquid valve is controllable for opening and closing for controlled dispensing of filling material into a container through the first dispensing opening. This occurs by having the valve body move between a closed and opened position. The first and second dispensing openings dispense corresponding first and second partial jets of filling material. These can be the same or different filling materials. The partial jets join to form a joint jet of filling material flowing to the container in a direction of a filling element axis. Relative to the filling element axis, the first dispensing opening is offset outward radially opposite the second dispensing opening. 
     In one embodiment, the filling element is configured for free-flow filling of a container. 
     In another embodiment, the first dispensing opening is made so that the first partial jet of filling material emerging from the first dispensing opening is oriented towards the filling element axis. 
     In yet another embodiment, the first dispensing opening is made so that the first partial jet of filling material emerging from the first dispensing opening encloses an angle of almost 90° with the filling element axis, which opens against a direction of flow of the filling material. 
     In some embodiments, at least one of the first and second dispensing openings is annular, and encloses the filling element axis. 
     In others, at least one of the first and second dispensing openings is formed by a plurality of individual openings arranged in an annulus that encloses the filling element axis. 
     Among the embodiments are those that also a pipe-type valve plunger having an open end, and a valve body, with the second dispensing opening being formed by the open end. 
     Additional embodiments have an opening that connects a section of the first liquid channel to the second liquid channel, the section being disposed upstream of the first liquid valve. 
     Also among the embodiments are those that include a connection between the first liquid channel and a vat that supplies the filling material, and a second liquid valve is provided in the connection. 
     Other embodiments include a connection between the first and second liquid channels, and a second valve provided in the connection. 
     In alternative embodiments, there is a second liquid valve that controls flow of filling material from a vat to the second liquid channel. 
     In some embodiments, the first and second dispensing openings are axially offset along the filling element axis. Among these are those in which the second dispensing opening is located lower than the first dispensing opening. 
     Yet other embodiments include a rotary filling machine, wherein the filling element and a plurality of additional filling elements, each of which is identical to the filling element, are disposed on the rotary filling machine. 
     It has surprisingly been shown that the partial jets of filling material generated by the design according to the invention, and that join together to form a joint jet of filling material after emerging from the filling element and preferably still before entering the particular container, lead to a substantial increase in the filling performance, measured as the filling volume per unit of time, for example to an increase of up to 20%. Particularly advantageous is that this increase in performance can be achieved without any significant foaming of the filling material during the filling process. 
     As used herein, the expressions “substantially” or “approximately” mean deviations from exact values in each case by +/−10%, and preferably by +/−5% and/or deviations in the form of changes not significant for functioning. 
     As used herein, “free-flow filling” means a process in which the liquid filling material flows to the container to be filled in a free filling jet or jet of filling material, wherein the container does not lie against the filling element by its mouth or opening, but is at a distance from the filling element or from a filling material outlet there. 
     As used herein, “containers” means cans, also soft packs, for example those made of cardboard and/or plastic film and/or metal foil. 
     Further developments, benefits and application possibilities of the invention arise also from the following description of examples of embodiments and from the figures. In this regard, all characteristics described and/or illustrated individually or in any combination are categorically the subject of the invention, regardless of their inclusion in the claims or reference to them. The content of the claims is also an integral part of the description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention is explained in more detail below by means of the figures using examples of embodiments. The following are shown: 
         FIG. 1  in a simplified representation and in cross-section, a filling element of a filling system of a rotary filling machine for the free-flow filling of containers in the form of bottles with a liquid filling material; 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-section of a valve plunger and valve body, shown in cross-section, of a liquid valve of the filling element shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a magnified partial representation and in cross-section, the filling element of  FIGS. 1 and 2  in the area of the underside of the filling element or in the area of a central or middle dispensing opening and an annular dispensing opening enclosing the latter; and 
         FIGS. 4-6  illustrate a further embodiment of the filling element according to the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIGS. 1-3  show a filling element  1  for the free-flow filling of containers, in the form of bottles  2 , with a liquid filling material. The filling element  1  is provided, with a plurality of the same kind of filling elements  1 , on the circumference of a rotor  3  that can be driven to rotate around a vertical machine axis. The rotor  3  is part of a filling system or of a rotary filling machine. 
     A filling material vat, which is omitted from the figure, is on the rotor  3 . The vat, which can be an annular vat, supplies filling material to all the filling elements jointly. Also on the rotor is annular channel  4  that likewise jointly serves all the filling elements  1 . 
     The filling element  1  comprises a filling element housing  5 , in which is formed a first liquid channel  6 . A product line  7 , with a first liquid valve  8 , connects the common filling material vat to an upper area of the first liquid channel  6 . An inlet opening  7 . 1  provides fluid communication between the product line  7  and the first liquid channel  6 . The axis of the liquid channel is horizontal or substantially horizontal, i.e. perpendicular to a filling element axis FA. As a result, liquid filling material enters the first liquid channel  6  in a direction of flow that is radially outwards relative to a vertical machine axis. 
     A second liquid valve  9  is provided in the first liquid channel  6 . In the illustrated embodiment, the second liquid valve  9  includes a valve body  10  interacting with a valve seat in the first liquid channel  6 . The valve body  10  can be moved in the direction of the filling element axis FA to open and close the second liquid valve  9 . The valve body  10  is moreover provided on a pipe  11 , arranged on the same axis as the filling element axis FA, that acts as a valve plunger. An upper end of the pipe, not illustrated in detail in the figures, is sealed and routed out from the first liquid channel  6  and interacts with an actuation device  12 . 
     On the underside of the filling element  1 , or in an annular space  13  that opens to this underside, the first liquid channel  6  forms a first dispensing opening  14  that encloses the filling element axis FA in an annular manner. The first dispensing opening  14  is an annular gap between an outer surface of the pipe  11  and an inner surface of the first liquid channel  6 . A lower open pipe end  11 . 1  of the pipe  11  projects into the annular space  13 . In the illustrated embodiment, the second liquid valve  9  is located in the direction of flow of the liquid filling material through the first liquid channel  6  at a relatively large axial distance from the first dispensing opening  14 . As a result, the second liquid valve  9  divides the first liquid channel  6  into an upper section and a lower section. The upper and lower sections have approximately the same axial length. 
     As  FIGS. 2 and 3  in particular show, a second liquid channel  11 . 2  formed in the pipe  11  is opens both at its lower end  11 . 1  and into the upper section of the first liquid channel  6 , i.e. in that section of the liquid channel that lies downstream of the liquid valve  9  relative to the direction of flow of the liquid filling material. This opening is produced, for example, by a crosswise hole  15  that is oriented with its axis perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the filling element axis FA. The crosswise hole  15  in the illustrated embodiment is arranged such that, with the liquid valve  9  open, i.e. with the valve body  10  raised, the hole  15  is congruent or substantially congruent to the inlet opening  7 . 1  of the product line  7 . 
     In the housing  5  of the filling element  1 , moreover additionally various flow paths are formed that can be controlled by closed control valves  16 ,  17  in the non-activated state, thus a flow path by means of which the upper section of the first liquid channel  6  can be connected to the annular channel  4  by activating or opening the control valve  16 , and a further flow path by means of which the annular space  13  can be connected to the annular channel  4  by activating or opening the control valve  17 , or however the annular channel  4  can be connected both to the annular channel  13  and also the first liquid channel  6  by activating or opening both control valves  17 . By means of the controlled flow paths or the control valves  16  and  17 , an intensive CIP cleaning and/or sterilization of the filling elements  1  of the filling machine is possible with an annular space  13  closed with a closure or with a rinsing cap  18  and with the first and second liquid valves  8 ,  9  open. 
     In the normal filling operation, the control valves  16 ,  17  are closed. The bottle  2  to be filled is held with its bottle axis on the same axis as the filling element axis FA and with its bottle mouth  2 . 1  at a distance underneath the first dispensing opening  14 , this being with its mouth flange  2 . 2  suspended on a container carrier  19  assigned to each filling element  1 . 
     The filling of the bottle  2  takes place preferably in such a way that, at the start of the filling process, i.e. in a quick filling phase, both the first and second liquid valves  8  and  9  are opened so that the liquid filling material on the one hand is dispensed by means of the lower open pipe end  11 . 1  likewise forming a dispensing opening  11 . 1  as a central jet of filling material  20  and on the other by means of the annular first dispensing opening  14  as the annular jet of filling material  21  enclosing the jet of filling material  20  on the underside of the filling element, as indicated in  FIG. 3  by the arrows there. Both jets of filling material  20 ,  21  combine into to a joint jet of filling material that then flows into the bottle  2  in the direction of the filling element axis FA. 
     It has surprisingly been discovered that combining the central partial jet of filling material  20  emerging from the lower pipe end  11 . 1  and the annular partial jet of filling material  21  emerging from the first dispensing opening  14 , which joins with the partial jet of filling material  20  before entering the bottle  2  and is drawn along with it, results in a high filling performance and achieves a clean filling of the bottles  2  without any foaming and without the risk of spraying filling material despite the centrifugal forces resulting from the rotation of the rotor  3  and acting on the partial jets of filling material  20  and  21 , and on the joint jet of filling material. 
     At the end of the fast filling phase, a slow filling phase begins. The slow filling phase is characterized by a reduced flow of filling material. During the slow filling phase, one of the first and second liquid valves  8  and  9 , is closed. In a preferred embodiment, the second liquid valve  9  is closed. Once the target filling quantity has been reached, whichever liquid valve  8 ,  9  is still open during the slow filling, which in the preferred embodiment would be the first liquid valve  8 , is also closed. The closure of both liquid valves  8 ,  9  ends the filling operation. The bottle  2 , which has now been filled with the target filling quantity, is then removed from the filling element  1  or the container carrier  19 . 
       FIGS. 4-6  show a second embodiment of a filling element  1   a  that differs from the first embodiment of the filling element  1  substantially only in that, within the pipe  11 , there is a rod  22  arranged on the same axis as the filling element axis FA. In the illustrated embodiment, the rod  22  projects by its lower end slightly beyond the lower end  11 . 1  of the pipe  11 . A space between the inner surface of the pipe  11  and the outer surface of the rod  22  defines a second liquid channel  11 . 2 . The second liquid channel  11 . 2 , which is annular, opens via a crosswise hole  15  into the first liquid channel  6  and forms an annular second dispensing opening  11 . 3  at the lower pipe end  11 . 1 . The rest of the construction and also the method of functioning of the filling element  1   a  are identical to the structure and the method of functioning of the filling element  1 . The annular second liquid channel  11 . 2  formed by the rod  22  cooperates with the annular second dispensing opening  11 . 3  to further improve flow behavior of the liquid filling material at the emergence at the lower end of the pipe  11  and thus further improves the jet of filling material flowing to the particular bottle  2  during the fast filling phase. 
     A flow meter  23  is individually provided in the product pipe associated with each filling element  1 ,  1   a . This flow meter  23  enables control over the quantity of filling material introduced into a bottle  2  by the first and second dispensing openings  14 ,  11 . 3 . Preferably, the flow meter  23  is a magnetically inductive flow meter. Alternatively, a weighing device formed on the container carrier  19  records the current weight of the bottle  2 . 
     The invention described above is suitable for the filling of juices containing fruit fibers and/or fruit cells, wherein the length of these fruit fibers can be as long as 25 mm. This suitability for arises because the filling valve has installation parts that would prevent solids from flowing through it. 
     A further aspect of the present invention includes selecting the diameter of the liquid channel in the pipe  11  such that the capillary forces and/or the surface tension of the filling material prevent leaking of the liquid channel after the closure of the first and second liquid valves  8 ,  9 . The leaking of the liquid channel could be reliably prevented for example with a diameter of 6 mm for the filling of juice, and with a diameter of, for example 8 mm to 9 mm, for the filling of syrup. 
     The invention was described above using examples of embodiments. It is clear that modifications and variations are possible without thereby departing from the inventive idea underlying the invention. 
     In the foregoing embodiments, the same filling material flows through both dispensing openings. However, it is possible to mix two components together by connecting one dispensing opening to a supply of a first component, and the other dispensing opening to a supply of a second component. The two components would then mix when the two partial jets combine into a joint jet. In this embodiment, the second liquid channel  11 . 2  is separated from the first liquid channel  6  by eliminating the crosswise hole  15 . The second liquid channel  11 . 2  is connected, by a separate product line containing a control or liquid valve, to a vat for the supply of one component of the filling material. The first liquid channel  6  is connected to another vat for the supply of the other components of the filling material by the product line  7 , which then does not have the control valve  8 .