[0001] The subject of the present invention is a device for ponderal filling and a ponderal
filler using this device.
[0002] As is well-known, ponderal fillers enable accurate bottling even of dense products
or products which tend to form foam during bottling (for example milk or its derivatives).
Such fillers, inline or rotary, have a series of filling stations at which the bottles
are filled "by weight". In particular, at a filling station, the bottle is arranged
under the relative filling valve which delivers the product. During the filling of
the bottle, the weight is measured by a load cell which, by means of a feedback control,
brings about the closure of the valve on reaching the desired weight (i.e. when filling
is completed).
[0003] In the most common solutions, the load cell is surmounted by a pan on which the bottom
of the bottle rests.
[0004] The principal disadvantage of these solutions is connected with the fact that the
pan and the load cell tend to get dirty easily. In fact, once the filling is finished,
the filling valve closes; however, several drops of residual product can fall by gravity,
causing dirtying both of the pan and of the load cell.
[0005] Another disadvantage of such solutions lies in the fact that bottles arriving subsequently
on the dirty pan also tend to become dirty on the bottom. This situation is particularly
disadvantageous in the case of filling with oily products.
[0006] A further disadvantage of such solutions is connected with the presence of a plurality
of tank for collecting the product of dripping. These tanks are movable and must be
positioned manually under the corresponding filling stations. Furthermore, for operations
of changing format, it is necessary to change the tanks.
[0007] In another configuration, described in patent
EP 1025424, the bottle is supported by the neck by means of a clamp pivoting on a load cell
located laterally to the body of the bottle.
[0008] The principal disadvantage of this configuration lies in the fact that the clamp,
embracing the neck of the bottle, is in proximity to the filling valve and, therefore,
to the spout of product delivered. The clamp therefore tends to easily get dirty.
[0009] Another disadvantage of this configuration lies in the fact that bottles subsequently
gripped by said clamp tend themselves also to become dirty. This situation is particularly
disadvantageous because the bottles become dirty on the neck, i.e. in proximity to
the mouth of the bottle.
[0010] In this context, the technical task at the base of the present invention is to propose
a ponderal filling device and a ponderal filler, which overcome the disadvantages
of the known art mentioned above.
[0011] In particular, it is an object of the present invention to propose a ponderal filling
device and a ponderal filler which allow filling the containers without dirtying them.
[0012] Another object of the present invention is to make available a ponderal filling device
and a ponderal filler in which the collection of product residue (due to dripping)
is practical and quick.
[0013] The declared technical task and the specified objects are substantially achieved
by a device for ponderal filling and a ponderal filler, comprising the technical characteristics
set forth in one or more of the attached claims.
[0014] Additional characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more
readily apparent from the indicative, and hence non-limiting, description of a preferred
but not exclusive embodiment of a ponderal filling device and a ponderal filler, as
illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:
- figure 1 illustrates a ponderal filling device, according to the present invention,
in a perspective view;
- figure 2 illustrates the device shown in figure 1, in a lateral sectioned view;
- figure 3 illustrates the device shown in figure 1, seen from above;
- figures 4a and 4b illustrate a detail (first clamp) of the device shown in figure
1, seen from above, in two different operative conditions;
- figures 5a and 5b illustrate another detail (second clamp) of the device shown in
figure 1, seen from above, in two different operative conditions;
- figure 6 illustrates a ponderal filler according to the present invention, in a perspective
view;
- figure 7 illustrates a portion of the filler shown in figure 6, with some parts removed
for clarity, in a lateral view.
[0015] With reference to the figures, the number 1 indicates a ponderal device for filling
a container 2 (or bottle) with a fluid product. In particular this device 1 has application
in the sector of the bottling of fluids used for personal hygiene (detergents or liquid
soaps) or food fluids (milk, drinks, oils etc.).
[0016] Preferably, this device 1 comprises a filling valve 3 for dispensing the product
into the container 2 located in a filling station 4. The product is dispensed according
to a delivery direction 5.
[0017] The device 1 comprises weighing means 6 located outside the delivery direction 5,
i.e. having an extension such as not to interfere with the delivery direction 5. The
weighing means 6 are operatively active on the container 2 placed in the filling station
4, in order to weigh it.
[0018] In the embodiment here described and illustrated, the weighing means 6 comprise an
electronic load cell 7 of known type. In particular, the load cell 7 comprises a bar
9 of deformable elastic material, inside which is formed a cavity 10 defining a weight
sensor of constant moment. One or more extensometers are applied to this sensor to
convert the elongation or compression of bar 9 to an electrical signal. Preferably,
this signal is amplified by means of an instrumentation amplifier and subsequently
processed. Preferably, the electronic load cell 7 is compensated, for example to correct
nonlinearity or temperature variations.
[0019] Alternatively, the weighing means 6 comprise a hydraulic load cell 7.
[0020] The weighing means 6 include a loadbearing support 11 for a base 12 of the container
2. Originally, said support 11 has a hole or aperture 13 passing through it in such
a way as not to intercept the delivery direction 5.
[0021] In the embodiment here described and illustrated, the loadbearing support 11 consists
of a hollow body 14 whose cavity is formed by the through hole 13. This hollow body
14 has a support surface 14a with a substantially rectangular outline, as illustrated
in figure 1. Alternatively, in a variant not illustrated, the hollow body 14 has a
support surface 14a with a substantially elliptical outline. Preferably, the support
surface 14a is in the form of a profile capable of supporting the container 2. In
this way, the support surface 14a has an extension in terms of area which is less
than the extension delimited by it, corresponding to the hole or aperture 13.
[0022] In a further embodiment (not shown), the support 11 consists of a ring having a diameter
less than the diameter of the base 12 of the container 2.
[0023] Preferably, the container 2 is a bottle which, when placed in filling station 4,
has a longitudinal axis 15 parallel or coinciding with the delivery direction 5 in
such a way that a mouth 16 of the bottle 2 receives the dispensed product.
[0024] Preferably, the device 1 has restraining means 17 operatively active on the bottle
2 to lock it in the filling station 4. These restraining means 17 comprise at least
one first clamp 18 having two jaws 18a and 18b to laterally grip the bottle 2. Preferably,
the restraining means 17 also comprise a second clamp 19 having two jaws 19a, 19b
to grip the bottle 2 in proximity to its neck 20.
[0025] Advantageously, the loadbearing support 11 is connected to the load cell 7 by means
of a fork 21 having an inclined upper surface 21a. In particular, the fork 21 is fitted
to a top 7a of the load cell 7 in such a way that its upper surface 21a is facing
towards the filling valve 3.
[0026] A rod 22, which is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis 15 of bottle 2,
is attached to fork 21. The first and the second clamps 18, 19 are rotatably pivoted
on said rod 22 at two different heights. In particular, the second clamp 19 is pivoted
at a height corresponding to the neck 20 of the bottle 2.
[0027] The number 23 indicates a ponderal filler 23 in a rotating carousel 24 comprising
a plurality of devices 1 operatively active on an equal number of containers 2 located
in corresponding filling stations 4.
[0028] Advantageously, the filler 23 is provided with a single tank 25 for collecting the
product of dripping, i.e. product dispensed but not bottled. This tank 25 extends
below the filling stations 4 and has the shape of an annular channel 26. In particular,
the annular channel 26 is fixed.
[0029] The operation of the ponderal filling device and of the ponderal filler, according
to the present invention, is described below.
[0030] Each empty bottle 2 is gripped by the restraining means 17 which take it to the respective
filling station 4. In particular, the first clamp 18 passes from an open condition
in which the jaws 18a and 18b separate from each other to accept the body of the bottle
2, to a closed condition in which the jaws 18a and 18b move together to laterally
grip bottle 2. Simultaneously, the second clamp 19 passes from an open condition in
which the jaws 19a and 19b separate from each other to accept the neck 20 of the bottle
2, to a closed condition in which the jaws 19a and 19b move together to grip said
neck 20.
[0031] The base 12 of the bottle 2 rests on the support surface 14a of the hollow body 14
and the clamps 18 and 19 maintain it firmly in that position. The longitudinal axis
15 of bottle 2 coincides with the delivery direction 5, as shown in figure 2. This
delivery direction 5 is substantially vertical with respect to the ground or the floor
on which the filler 23 is situated.
[0032] The filling valve 3, located above the mouth 16 of the bottle 2, dispenses the product
into the bottle 2.
[0033] The weight of the bottle 2 is measured by the load cell 7 both at the beginning (i.e.
with bottle 2 empty), and during the filling stage. The bottle 2, bearing on the hollow
body 14, causes an elongation of the elastic bar 9. The sensor located inside the
load cell 7 converts this elongation into an electrical signal which, suitably amplified
and processed, is used to control the delivery of the product. When filling is complete,
the filling valve 3 is closed.
[0034] The characteristics of the ponderal filling device and the ponderal filler, according
to the present invention, are clear from the description given above, as also are
the advantages.
[0035] In particular, thanks to the use of a pierced support which does not intercept the
delivery direction of the product, the residual product of dripping falls by gravity
without accumulating on the support itself. In fact, this product residue passes through
the through hole without dirtying the support. In this way, the loadbearing supports
remain always clean, i.e. clear of accumulations of product, and the bottles also
remain clean.
[0036] In addition, thanks to the fact that the upper surface of the fork is inclined, any
drops of product which inadvertently fall on this fork slide downwards, i.e. into
the tank, avoiding dirtying the load cell and the support surface.
[0037] Also, thanks to the use of a single, fixed annular collection tank, the collection
of product residue is quick and easy: in fact it is not necessary to move the tank
by displacing it along the filler, nor to replace it in the event of a change of format
of the bottles.
1. Device (1) for ponderal filling of a container (2) with a fluid product dispensed
in a delivery direction (5), comprising:
weighing means (6) located outside the delivery direction (5) and operatively active
on the container (2) located in a filling station (4) for weighing the container,
characterised in that said weighing means (6) comprise a loadbearing support (11) for a base (12) of the
container (2), said support (11) having a hole or aperture (13) passing through it
in such a way as not to intercept the delivery direction (5).
2. Device (1) according to claim 1, comprising furthermore a filling valve (3) for dispensing
the product to the container (2) located in said filling station (4).
3. Device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said loadbearing support (11) consists
of a hollow body (14) whose cavity is formed by the through hole (13).
4. Device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the container (2) is
a bottle which, when placed in the filling station (4) has a longitudinal axis (15)
parallel or coinciding with the delivery direction (5) in such a way that a mouth
(16) of the bottle (2) receives the dispensed product.
5. Device (1) according to claim 4, comprising furthermore restraining means (17) operatively
active on the bottle (2) to lock it in the filling station (4).
6. Device (1) according to claim 5, wherein said restraining means (17) comprise at least
one first clamp (18) having two jaws (18a, 18b) to laterally grip the bottle (2).
7. Device (1) according to claim 6, wherein the restraining means (27) comprise a second
clamp (19) having two jaws (19a, 19b) to grip the bottle (2) in proximity to a neck
(20) on the bottle.
8. Device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the weighing means (6)
comprise furthermore an electronic load cell (7).
9. Device (1) according to claim 8, wherein said loadbearing support (11) is connected
to the load cell (7) by means of a fork (21) having an inclined upper surface (21a).
10. Ponderal filler (23) with rotating carousel (24) comprising a plurality of devices
(1) operatively active on an equal number of containers (2) located in corresponding
filling stations (4) according to the tangential extension of the carousel (24), characterised in that said devices (1) are of the type described in the preceding claims.
11. Filler (23) according to claim 10, comprising furthermore a single tank (25) for collecting
drips of the product, said tank (25) extending beneath the filling stations (4).
12. Filler (23) according to claim 11, wherein said tank (25) has the shape of an annular
channel (26).