Abstract:
A filling element includes a housing, a channel formed in the housing&#39;s interior and having a dispending opening to introduce content into a package, a valve having a valve body that moves along an axis to open and close the valve, an actuator to move the valve body, an axial-sliding guide, and a rod-like guide element that at least partly forms the sliding guide. The axial-sliding guide guides a guided structure on or inside the guide element, and is disposed disposed solely outside the liquid channel. The axial-sliding guide is formed at least in part by the rod-like guide element. The guided structure is either the valve body, a valve tappet, or a combination thereof.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is the national stage entry under 35 USC 371 of PCT application PCT/EP2013/001036, filed on Apr. 6, 2013, which claims the benefit of the May 10,2012 priority date of German application DE 10 2012 009 207.5, the contents of both of which are herein incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF DISCLOSURE 
       [0002]    The invention relates to filling machines, and in particular, to a filling element. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Filling elements for use in filling systems or filling machines for filling packages, particularly bottles or similar containers, are known. These known filling elements fill bottles with liquid contents that contain solid particles. These solid particles typically include fruit fibers or fruit pieces. 
         [0004]    In order for the valve body to correctly open the liquid valve, to close it again, and to do so in a way that is gentle on the materials, it is necessary for the stroke movement of the valve body to take place with a certain degree of precision. A known way to achieve this is to mount a valve tappet at two or more bearing positions that are offset axially from one another in such a way as to be axially displaceable in sliding guides. The sliding guides must be at a sufficient distance from one another to reliably prevent any operational faults. Such faults might otherwise occur as a result of, for example, tipping or tilting the valve tappet. 
         [0005]    In known filling elements, the valve tappets are quite long. This results in greater axial dimensions for the filling element, The axial dimensions result both from having the bearing positions of the valve tappet be located outside of the product-carrying regions of the filling element, and from requiring the bearing positions to be at a sufficient distance from one another. 
         [0006]    Also known are filling elements in which at least one of the sliding guides of the valve tappet is located within the product-carrying regions, i.e. within the liquid channel of the filling element. One disadvantage of this configuration is that solid constituents contained within the contents, for example fruit pieces, can be caught on this sliding guide and/or at narrowed regions caused by the sliding guide. This means that the filling element can become clogged. A clogged a filling element is difficult and time-consuming to clean, particularly at those regions or liquid paths that are narrowed by the guide. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    An object of the invention is to provide a filling element of reduced size that nevertheless reliably avoids the abovementioned disadvantages and enables an optimal guiding of the valve body and/or valve tappet. 
         [0008]    An apparatus according to the invention renders external bearing points superfluous. As a result, the design eliminates the need for bearing points outside of the housing interior, in which the liquid channel is also formed, without any guides being required in product-carrying regions of the filling element. The filling element according to the invention is particularly suitable for products or contents that contain solid constituents. 
         [0009]    Further advantages of the invention include a more precise bearing and guidance of the valve body, particularly in the vicinity of the valve seat, while avoiding bearing points inside the liquid channel, and while also having a short or reduced axial extent. 
         [0010]    In the context of the invention, the expression “substantially” or “approximately” mean deviations of ±10%, preferably ±5%, from the exact value in each case and/or deviations in the form of changes that do not affect the function. 
         [0011]    In one aspect, the invention features an apparatus for filling a package with liquid content. The apparatus includes a filling element that has a filling-element housing, a liquid channel, a dispensing opening, a valve having a valve body, an actuator, an axial-sliding guide, and a rod-like guide element. The filling-element housing defines a filling-element-housing interior in which the liquid channel, which at least in part forms a dispensing opening that is disposed to introduce liquid content into the package, is formed. The actuator moves the valve body along an axis in an opening and closing stroke. This movement opens and closes the valve. The axial-sliding guide, which is configured to guide a guided structure, is disposed solely outside the liquid channel and is formed at least in part by the rod-like guide element, which extends along the axis. The guided structure is guided axially on or inside the rod-like guide element. The axis is either a stroke axis or a filling element axis. The guided structure is either the valve body, a valve tappet, or a combination of the valve body and the valve tappet. 
         [0012]    In some embodiments, the rod-like guide element includes an end that is remote from the dispensing opening and that holds the rod-like guide element on the filling-element housing. 
         [0013]    In other embodiments, the guided structure is guided on or in the rod-like guide element along an axial length that is at least twice as long as the opening and closing stroke. Among these are embodiments in which the guided structure is guided on or in the rod-like guide element along an axial length that is at least three times as long as the opening and closing stroke. 
         [0014]    In yet other embodiments, the guided structure includes the combination of the valve body and the valve tappet. Among these embodiments are those in which the guided structure is hollow along a partial length thereof. Also among them are those embodiments in which the guided structure includes a bore extending along a partial length thereof. In either case, the guided structure is axially displaceable on the rod-like guide element. 
         [0015]    In other embodiments, the valve body is hollow along a partial length thereof, and the valve body is axially guided on the rod-like guide element through the hollow partial length. 
         [0016]    In yet other embodiments, the valve body includes a bore extending therethrough, and the valve body is axially guided on the rod-like guide element through the bore. In some of these additional embodiments, the bore has a closed end. 
         [0017]    Also included among the embodiments are those in which the guided structure includes the valve tappet. In these embodiments, the rod-like guide element is a tubular rod-like guide element, and the valve tappet is axially guided in the tubular rod-like guide element. The guide element has an end that protrudes from the rod-like guide element and that is remote from the actuator. In these embodiments, the rod-like guide element is connected to the valve body by this end. 
         [0018]    In other embodiments, the axial-sliding guide includes a sliding bearing provided on the rod-like guide element, the valve body, or the valve tappet. 
         [0019]    Also included are embodiments that have a seal that separates the axial-sliding guide and the liquid channel. 
         [0020]    Additional embodiments have a valve seat. In these embodiments, the valve body has a region that cooperates with the valve seat. At or in a vicinity of this region, the valve body is guided on the rod-like guide element. When the liquid valve is closed, a distance between the valve seat and the guide is less than three times as long as the opening and closing stroke. 
         [0021]    In some embodiments, the rod-like guide element includes a guide rod. 
         [0022]    In other embodiments, the axial-sliding guide extends at least partially into the filling-element-housing interior. 
         [0023]    Further developments, advantages and possible uses of the invention will become apparent from the following description of examples of embodiments and from the figures. All the features described and/or shown in the figures, per se or in any combination, form in principle the subject matter of the invention, regardless of the way in which they are combined or refer back to one another in the claims. The content of the claims also forms part of the description. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0024]    The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to  FIGS. 1-3 , which each show simplified schematic sectional view of different embodiments of filling elements. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0025]      FIG. 1  shows a filling element  1  of a filling system or filling machine for filling containers  2 , for example in the form of bottles, with liquid contents. The filling element  1  is part of a filling machine (not shown in detail). In one embodiment, the filling machine is a rotary filling machine that has identical filling elements disposed along a periphery of a rotating transport element. A typical rotating transport element is a rotor that rotates about a vertical machine axis. 
         [0026]    The filling element  1  comprises a housing  3  having an interior through which is formed a liquid channel  4  for passage of the contents. Via a connection  5  at its upper region, the liquid channel  4  connects to a product line  6  that connects to a contents tank (not shown) of the filling machine and that supplies the liquid contents. On the underside of the housing  3 , the liquid channel  4  forms a dispensing opening  7  via which the liquid contents flow towards a container  2  during the filling process. 
         [0027]    Provided within the liquid channel  4 , between the connection  5  and the dispensing opening  7 , is a liquid valve  8  with a valve body  9  that is moved by a predefined stroke A along a filling element axis FA. As the valve body  9  moves up and down along the stroke A, it opens and closes the liquid valve  8 . When the liquid valve  8  is closed, the valve body  9  bears against a valve seat  8 . 1  formed on the inner face of the liquid channel  4 . 
         [0028]    The liquid valve  8  is radially symmetric about the filling element axis FA. Thus, to save space,  FIG. 1  shows the valve in both its open position and its closed position. 
         [0029]    In particular, on the left-hand side of  FIG. 1 , to the left of the filling element axis FA, the liquid valve  8  is shown in its closed state. The valve  8  is shown in its open state on the right-hand side of the figure, to the right of the filling element axis FA. 
         [0030]    The valve body  9  is formed on a valve tappet  10  that, together with the valve body  9  forms a valve body/valve tappet unit  9 / 10 . An actuating device  11  acts upon the valve body/valve tappet unit  9 / 10  to cause the axial movement of the valve body  9  along a stroke A. 
         [0031]    The actuating device  11 , which is accommodated in a separate chamber  12  of the housing  3  or of the housing interior, comprises a spring  13  that biases the valve body  9  into the open state. This spring  13  is accommodated in a first sub-volume  12 . 1  of the chamber  12 . The actuating device  11  also includes a pneumatically operated piston/cylinder arrangement  14  by which the valve body  9  is moved against the force exerted by the spring  13  and into its closed state. 
         [0032]    In the illustrated embodiment, the piston/cylinder arrangement  14  is formed using an upper end of the valve tappet  10  in  FIG. 1  and using a piston seal  15 . The resulting piston is arranged in an axially displaceable manner in a second sub-volume  12 . 2  of the chamber  12 , which serves as a cylinder chamber. The second sub-volume  12 . 2  can be acted upon by the pneumatic pressure medium via a connection  16 . A membrane seal  21  seals off the liquid channel  4  from the chamber  12 . 
         [0033]    A special feature of the filling element  1  lies in the fact that the valve body/valve tappet unit  9 / 10  formed by the valve body  9  and the valve tappet  10  is guided internally, namely along by far most of its axial length, on a guide rod  17  that is arranged to be coaxial with the filling element axis FA and that, during the opening and closing of the liquid valve  8 , is not moved with the valve body  9  and the valve tappet. Instead, as shown in  FIG. 1 , the guide rod  17  is held at its upper end against a cover  18  that seals the chamber  12 . 
         [0034]    The guide rod  17  is accommodated within an opening or bore  19  that is coaxial with the filling element axis FA in the valve body  9  and in the valve tappet  10  or in the valve body/valve tappet unit  9 / 10 . The opening or bore is closed at a lower end  19 . 1  of the valve body  9  adjacent to the dispensing opening  7  and is open at an upper end of the valve tappet  10  remote from the dispensing opening  7 . 
         [0035]    In the illustrated embodiment, the bore  19  extends over almost the entire length of the valve body/tappet arrangement  9 / 10  so that, when the liquid valve  8  is closed, the closed end  19 . 1  of the bore  19  is located approximately at the level N of the valve seat  8 . 1 . The guide rod  17  preferably extends over almost the entire length of the bore  19  so that, when the liquid valve  8  is closed, the axial distance between the lower end  17 . 1  of the guide rod  17  and the closed end  19 . 1  of the bore  19  is only somewhat greater than the maximum stroke A of the valve body  9  when opening and closing the liquid valve. 
         [0036]    Two sliding bearings  20  on the inner face of the bore  19  cooperate with the guide rod  17 . An upper one of the sliding bearings  20  is located at the upper, open end of the bore  19 . A lower one of the sliding bearings  20  is provided such that, when the liquid valve  8  is closed, it is located at the lower end  17 . 1  of the guide rod, namely at only a slight axial distance above the level N of the valve seat  8 . 1 . In the illustrated embodiment this slight axial distance corresponds at most to 2.5 times the length of the stroke A. 
         [0037]    As a result of the described design, a sliding guidance of the valve body/valve tappet unit  9 / 10  along a large axial length, namely the distance between the two sliding bearings  20 , is achieved with reduced dimensions of the filling element  1  in the direction of the filling element axis FA. Also as a result of the described design, a precise sliding guidance of the valve body/valve tappet unit  9 / 10  is achieved in the direct vicinity of that region of the valve body  9  that cooperates with the valve seat  8 . 1  without any elements of the sliding guide being located in a product-carrying or content-carrying region of the filling element  1 , even though the guide rod  17  extends within that part of the housing interior that also forms the liquid channel  4 . 
         [0038]    In order to limit the opening stroke of the valve body/valve tappet arrangement a stroke limiter  22  is provided in the cylinder chamber, namely the second sub-volume  12 . 2 , of the piston/cylinder arrangement  14 . The stroke limiter  22  is designed, for example, as a stroke limiter with a damping function, e.g. as a pneumatic stroke-limiter. 
         [0039]      FIG. 2  shows a second embodiment of a filling element la that differs from the first embodiment of the filling element  1  primarily because a valve body  9   a  that forms the liquid valve  8   a  and the valve tappet  10   a  that connects the valve body  9   a  to the actuating device  11  are each guided separately on or in a guide rod  17   a,  which is designed as a hollow tube. The valve body  9   a  is once again provided with the bore  19  into which the guide rod  17   a  extends. The bore  19  is open at the upper end of the valve body  9   a  remote from the dispensing opening  7  and is closed at the lower end  19 . 1  of the valve body adjacent to the dispensing opening  7 . 
         [0040]    Further embodiments include measures for avoiding an undesired rotation of the valve body  9   a  about the filling element axis FA. Examples of such measures include having a guide rod  17   a  that has, on its outer face, a non-circular cross-section. Other examples include having a guide rod  17   a  that includes a strip-like protrusion that extends in the direction of the filling element axis FA and that engages a groove  19 . 2  on the inner face of the bore  19 . 
         [0041]    In all the embodiments, the valve tappet  10   a,  which is coaxial with the filling element axis FA, is guided in the bore or opening of the guide rod  17   a.  The bore or opening is open at both ends, and is connected by its lower end, which protrudes from the guide rod  17   a,  to the valve body  9   a  in the region of the lower end  19 . 1  of the bore  19 . The guide rod  17   a  is held, by its upper end, on an intermediate wall  23  of the housing. 
         [0042]    The filling element  1   a  otherwise corresponds to the filling element  1 , so that the same references as in  FIG. 1  are used in  FIG. 2  for those elements that correspond, at least in terms of their function, to the elements of the filling element  1 . In order to separate the liquid channel  4  from the region or third sub-volume  24  of the interior of the housing  3  at which the guide rod  17   a  is exposed, and in order to avoid any penetration of contents into the gap between the valve body  9   a  and the guide rod  17   a,  a membrane seal  25  is provided between the upper end of the valve body and the housing&#39;s intermediate wall  23  and extends once again within the part of the housing interior that also forms the liquid channel  4 , but without the guide rod  17   a  being located in product-carrying or content-carrying regions of the filling element  1   a.    
         [0043]    A channel  26  is connected to the third sub-volume  24  and also to the first sub-volume  12 . 1 . Leakage monitoring of the filling element  1   a  is possible via the channel  26 . 
         [0044]      FIG. 3  shows a third embodiment of a filling element  1   b  comprising a guide rod  17   b  that is designed as a hollow tube and that is held at its upper end, remote from the dispensing opening  7 , in the housing  3  of the filling element  1   b  and that once again extends within the part of the housing interior that also forms the liquid channel  4 . The valve tappet  10   b,  which cooperates with the actuating device  11 , is guided along a considerable axial length in the guide rod  17   b,  which is arranged coaxial with the filling element axis FA. The valve body  9   b  of the liquid valve  8   b  is provided on the valve tappet  10   b  at the lower end protruding from the guide rod  17   b.  In order to avoid any penetration of contents into the guide between the valve tappet  10   b  and the guide rod  17   b,  a seal  27  is provided to connect the valve body  9   b  to the outer face of the guide rod  17   b.  In the illustrated embodiment, the seal  27  is designed as a concertina. 
         [0045]    An advantage of the second and third embodiments of the filling element  1   a,    1   b  is that the valve body  9   a,    9   b  is guided on the guide rod  17   a,    17   b  along a considerable axial length, including in the direct vicinity of that region that cooperates with the valve seat. Another advantage is that, in order to reduce the size of the filling element  1   a,    1   b,  the guide rod  17   a  or  17   b  is accommodated in the housing interior of the filling element lb that also forms the liquid channel  4 , namely with effective separation of the liquid channel  4  from the respective guide. 
         [0046]    The invention has been described above on the basis of examples of embodiments. It will be understood that further changes and modifications are possible without thereby departing from the inventive concept on which the invention is based.