Dummy bottle for the flushing cycle in a filling machine

Abstract: The invention falls within the sector of bottling plants and relates to a dummy bottle (3) actuated during flushing cycles for the filling machine. The dummy bottle (3) is provided with a duct (5) through which a flushing fluid flows when the dummy bottle (3) is sealingly coupled with the respective tap (2).

Description: The present invention relates to a dummy bottle for the flushing cycle in a filling machine and to a rotating machine comprising such a dummy bottle. In machines for filling containers with liquids, when it is necessary to perform periodic flushing, i.e. hygienic cleaning of the filling valves and all the zones which come into contact with the filling liquid, use is made of dummy bottles, i.e. objects which simulate the presence of the container underneath the filling valve and allow the carrying out of a normal filling cycle in which a flushing liquid is used instead of the filling liquid. IT 1,234,001 discloses a rotating filling machine in which each filling valve incorporates means for supporting a dummy bottle. Said machine comprises a fixed frame and structure movable vertically so as to bring a bottle or a dummy bottle opposite the filling valve by means of an engaging element. The dummy bottle is rigidly fixed to a rotating arm which may be rotated between an operating position in which it positions the dummy bottle on the engaging element aligned with the filling valve and a rest position in which the dummy bottle is outside of the path followed by the bottles. The rotating arm is connected to a sleeve which is able to slide and rotate on a column of the movable structure and means are provided for retaining the dummy bottle, when in the rest condition, in a position substantially alongside the filling valve. A drawback of the aforementioned design consists in the fact that the dummy bottle, being positioned laterally with respect to the filling valve in the rest condition, requires necessarily a greater interval between two filling valves, for the same circumference of the rotating filling machine. A further drawback consists in the absence of a return circuit for the flushing liquid and in the fact that compressed air is introduced in order to empty the dummy bottle of the flushing liquid. DE 3,722,495 illustrates a filling machine in which each filling valve is provided with a dummy bottle which rotates about a horizontal axis in order to assume an operating position, and is associated with means for raising the bottles. This solution has the drawback of dripping of the dummy bottle since the latter, in the rest position, is arranged upside down. DE 2,804,423 illustrates a filling machine in which sealing elements are brought opposite the filling valve during the washing phases. In these latter documents also, there is the absence of a circuit for the flushing liquid, since they relate to isobaric filling machines which comprise a duct for the introduction or return of the air inside the filling valve, which is used for the outward or return conveying of the flushing agent during the flushing phases. EP-A-0597161 discloses a container filling machine comprising a dummy bottle which is automatically displaceable from a rest position to an active position, through a rotation of about 90° about a horizontal axis operated by an arm associated to a roller which is driven by guides. The dummy bottle is provided with a duct which contains flushing fluid when the dummy bottle is sealingly coupled with the filling valve. However the duct is split into two ducts and the dummy bottle in rest position is at a level lower than that of the filling valve or of the projecting neck of the container to be filled. Finally, EP-A-0568121 discloses a dummy bottle according to the preamble of claim 1. The object of the present invention is that of eliminating the aforementioned drawbacks and providing a dummy bottle in a filling machine and an associated flushing method which enable the maximum use to be made of the space available in the machine and make it possible to provide a circuit for circulation of the flushing fluid which is able to perform a flushing cycle even at a pressure greater than the ambient pressure and can be used also with filling valves provided with only the pipe for supplying the filling liquid. Said objects are fully achieved by the dummy bottle according to the present invention as defined by claim 1. In particular the dummy bottle is provided with a duct for circulation of flushing fluid and with sealing elements intended to be coupled with the bottom end of the filling valve so as to permit a flushing cycle at a pressure greater than the ambient pressure. Cams may be provided for effecting lowering of the dummy bottle, the translatory movement underneath the filling valve, raising towards the valve and subsequent lowering and return into the rest position. These and other characteristic features will emerge more clearly from the following description of a preferred embodiment illustrated, purely by way of a non-limiting example, in the accompanying illustrative plates, in which: Figures 1 and 2 illustrate the device for actuating the dummy bottle in two different operating conditions; Figure 3 shows a cross-section of the device along A-A of Figure 2. With reference to the Figures, 1 denotes a container which, in a rotating filling machine of the known type, is filled with liquid by means of a filling valve or tap 2 without any seal being provided between the mouth of the container and the tap, so that the air expelled from the container during filling escapes into the surrounding environment. 3 denotes a dummy bottle or washing container which, in the rest condition, is mounted on a support 4 formed as the bottom end of the tap 2, so as to act as stopper for the dummy bottle. The support 4 is rigidly fixed to a frame 6 of the filling machine. The dummy bottle 3 is provided with a duct 5 through which flushing fluid is circulated during the machine washing phases. The duct 5 is provided with a projection 7 acted on by a cam 8 which causes the translatory movement of the duct 5 along its own axis inside support guides 9 and 10. The duct 5 is provided with anti-rotational elements which, in the example illustrated, consist of lateral lugs 11 which slide in corresponding grooves of the guide 10 and which have the purpose of preventing rotational movements of the duct 5 about its longitudinal axis. The dummy bottle 3 is provided internally with a gasket 18 designed to form a seal against the tap 2 and, alternately, against the support 4. While the guide 9 is rigidly fixed to the rotating frame of the filling machine, the guide 10 is movable with respect thereto, being operated by a lever mechanism consisting of a block 12 on which the guide 10 is pivotably hinged. The block 12 is in turn able to rotate about a fixed pin 13. The block 12 is in fact provided with a stud 14 which, during rotation of the filling machine, is displaced by a cam which causes movement of the block 12 from the position illustrated in Figure 1, where the guide 10 is situated in the fully raised position, to the position illustrated in Figure 2, where the guide 10 is situated at a lower level such as to allow the translatory movement of the duct 5 and the dummy bottle without any interference with the support 4 and with the tap 2. In the position shown in Figure 1, the fulcrum 21 is located beyond the top dead centre of the block 12, which rests on the frame 6 of the filling machine. With this excellent mechanical solution, during the flushing cycle, the dummy bottle is prevented from being lowered even when there is strong pressure exerted by the flushing liquid on the dummy bottle itself. The guides 9 and 10, together with the cams 8 and 15 and the projection 7, the stud 14 and the block 12 together form a device for actuating a dummy bottle. Each tap of the filling machine has associated with it a dummy bottle and an associated actuating device. According to the method for actuating the dummy bottle, when it is required to perform a filling-machine flushing cycle, a normal filling cycle is substantially simulated with the filling machine rotating, having flowing through it, in place of the filling liquid, a flushing fluid which, instead of filling the containers, enters the dummy bottles and flows into the ducts 5 - one for each tap - which converge into a header 19. A sealing element 23 is provided for each duct 5. When it is necessary to perform a flushing cycle, the cams 8 and 15 are displaced into an active position by actuator means, not illustrated since they are of a type which is substantially known. The first cam 15 causes displacement of the stud 14 in the direction indicated by an arrow 16, causing rotation of the block 12 about the pin 13 and consequent lowering of the guide 10 and hence the dummy bottle which is lowered underneath the zone of interference with the support 4 and with the tap 2. At this point the second cam 8 intervenes and displaces the projection 7, causing forward movement of the duct 5 and bringing the dummy bottle coaxially underneath the tap (position 3a of Figure 2). The first cam 15 displaces the stud 14, moving it in the direction of the arrow 17 and causing raising of the dummy bottle until it forms a seal with the tap (position 3b in Figure 1). At this point, flushing may be activated and the flushing fluid may flow in the normal direction of the filling liquid, indicated by the arrow 20, from the tap towards the dummy bottle and hence towards the outlet duct 5, or it may flow in the opposite direction and enter the dummy bottle via the duct 5, flowing out then through the tap. The flushing liquid may therefore flow in two directions, as illustrated by the arrow 22, namely it may flow in the same direction or opposite direction. All this may occur at the ambient pressure or higher. At the end of the flushing cycle the first cam 15 moves the stud 14 in the direction of the arrow 16, causing lowering of the dummy bottle; the cam 8 then intervenes and causes retraction of the duct 5, followed finally by the cam 15 again which causes raising of the dummy bottle into the rest position associated with the support 4. With the present device it is possible to maintain a sufficiently small interval between the taps of the filling machine, even though they are provided with dummy bottles; in fact, the latter are not positioned laterally with respect to the tap, but in a position at the rear of the latter. A further advantage is represented by the presence of ducts through which the flushing fluid flows, the latter being able to be introduced at a pressure higher than the ambient pressure. The particular hinging arrangement between the guide 10 and block 12 ensures moreover a perfect seal between the dummy bottle and tap even in the presence of intense pressures during the flushing cycle.

Claims: Dummy bottle for receiving flushing fluid in a container-filling machine having a plurality of filling valves or taps (2), the dummy bottle (3) being associated with each filling valve or tap (2) and displaceable from a rest position to an active position during a the flushing cycle of the filling valves or taps (2), the dummy bottle (3) being mounted on an end of a duct (5) and in fluid communication therewith, inside the duct (5) which a flushing fluid flowing when the dummy bottle (3) is sealing coupled with the respective tap (2), said duct (5) being shaped in such a way as to constitute simultaneously supporting means and moving means for the dummy bottle (3), characterized in that the dummy bottle is automatically displaceable from said rest position to said active position, in that the duct (5) is provided with anti-rotational elements (11) for preventing the rotation of the duct (5) about its longitudinal axis, and in that the dummy bottle comprises an actuating device consisting of: a movable guide (10) for the duct (5), which can be raised and/or lowered by a lever mechanism having two distinct working positions; means for causing the translation of the duct (5) along its own axis and the guide (10) from a position where the dummy bottle (3) is located at the rear of the tap (2) into a position where it is coaxial with the tap, and vice versa one of the positions of the guide (10) allowing the translation of the duct (5), the other position of the guide (10) being associated either to the rest position of the dummy bottle (3) and to the active position of the dummy bottle sealing coupled with the tap (2), in this last position the lowering of the dummy bottle (3) being mechanically prevented. Dummy bottle according to Claim 1, wherein said lever mechanism consists of a block (12) rotating about a fixed pin (13) when actuated by the first cam (15) until it rests against a frame (6) of the filling machine, the fulcrum (21) connecting the guide (10) and block (12) being situated beyond the top dead centre of the said block when the block (12) rests against the frame (6). Dummy bottle according to Claim 1, wherein the lever mechanism is actuated by a first cam (15) and said means for causing the translation of the duct (5) comprise a second cam (8) which, displacing a projection (7) of the duct (5), causes the translation of the duct (5). Rotating machine for filling liquids into containers, characterized in that it comprises at least one dummy bottle in accordance with any of Claims 1 to 3.

Inventors: NESTE YVON VAN, VAN NESTE, YVON
Applicants: PROCOMAC SPA, PROCOMAC S.P.A.
Application year: 1996
Main classification: B67C3
IPC codes: B67C3