Filling machine and method for sanitising said filling machine

Abstract

 Filling machine (1) comprising: a plurality of valve assemblies (5) hydraulically connected to a tank (4) and mounted peripherally on a rotary carousel (3), each of which is equipped with a tap (44), on which a tubular pipe (6) is formed for supplying a liquid to be bottled from the tank (4) to a container (7), and with a centring cone (9) aligned with such a tubular pipe (6); moving means (11) mechanically connected to the rotary carousel (3) and suitable for adjusting the vertical position of the valve assemblies (5); a plurality of rinsing containers (13) of a sanitising fluid each able to be operatively and mechanically associated with one of said valve assemblies (5) during foreseen sanitising operations; first actuator means (76) suitable for moving each of the rinsing containers (13) between an inoperative position, in which the rinsing container (13) is outside of the working bulk of the valve assemblies (5), and an operative position, in which the rinsing container (13) is vertically aligned below one of the valve assemblies (5). Moreover, the centring cone (9) of each valve assembly (5) comprises: an outer body (14), which is supported by the same valve assembly (5), equipped with an upper portion (15) able to enter into sealed relationship with the tap (44), and with a lower portion (17) able to enter into sealed relationship with the rinsing container (13); an inner body (18), which is slidably mounted inside the outer body (14), equipped with a top wall (19) able to enter into sealed relationship with the lower wall (16) of the tap (44), and with a lower concavity (21) able to enter into sealed relationship with the mouth (20) of the container (7) to be filled.

Description

Field of application

[0001] The present invention refers to a filling machine and to a method for sanitising said filling machine, according to the preamble of the relative main claims.

[0002] The machine in question is advantageously intended to be used in industrial bottling plants to fill containers, and preferably bottles, with liquids in particular of the food and drink type such as wine, liquor, mineral water, oil, etc.

[0003] The machines in question can preferably be used within bottling lines comprising, typically, a rinsing machine, a capping/capsuling machine or also, in the part farthest downstream of the line, a labelling machine and a packaging machine.

State of the art

[0004] Filling machines of food and drink products are usually provided, in a per sé totally conventional way, with a rotary carousel (or tower) carrying a plurality of valve assemblies mounted peripherally suitable for conveying the liquid contained in a cylindrical tank inside the containers to be filled. These, lifted by suitable support plates, are associated with the single valve assemblies to be filled up to the desired level during the operating stroke around the rotary carousel.

[0005] As known, according to the way in which the filling operations are carried out, the filling machines are commonly classified as machines operating under slight depression, isobaric machines, machines operating under slight pressure, machines operating by gravity, etc. In particular, so-called isobaric filling machines are mainly studied to fill containers with fizzy liquids, i.e. containing carbon dioxide, sparkling wines, champagne, etc. and work at pressures much higher than atmospheric pressure. In such machines, each valve assembly, suitably fixed below the cylindrical tank, is equipped with a tubular pipe, which is intercepted by a shutter that adjusts the supply of alimentary liquid from the tank to the container below. Inside the tubular pipe a compensation cannula is coaxially mounted through which the gas or the air present in the container is evacuated.

[0006] Operatively, the supply of liquid into the container is controlled electronically through the actuation of actuators or else mechanically once the pressure in the container reaches the same pressure value as in the tank. As the alimentary liquid enters into the container, the air present therein goes out through the compensation cannula. The lower part of such a cannula, moreover, normally has the function of adjusting, for example hydraulically or through a probe, the maximum level of the alimentary liquid in the container.

[0007] As known, filling machines need frequent sanitising operations, to be carried out even many times each day, for many reasons.

[0008] A first reason derives from the need to periodically carry out the cleaning of all of the parts of the machine, in particular the valve assemblies, which come into contact with the alimentary liquid to be bottled in order to keep the degree of concentration of microbes and bacteria in the bottled product within the limits permitted by the applicable national and international standards regarding contamination of foodstuffs.

[0009] This need comes about, in particular, every time a production cycle ends, before starting up another one. The interruption, for example, can be foreseen to carry out maintenance operations on the machine or else to suspend working activity.

[0010] A second reason is the need to change the product to be bottled and therefore clean the machine to avoid contamination between different liquids.

[0011] The sanitising operations require that a sanitising fluid (mostly containing suitable liquid chemical products and/or steam) be run in all of the pipes where the liquid passes and where air or inert gas passes.

[0012] Currently, the most used method to carry out sanitising in filling machines, in particular isobaric ones, foresees the use of rinsing containers, known in the technical j argon as "false bottles", which allow the single valve assemblies (in particular all of the valve assemblies simultaneously) to be opened and allow a closed circuit to be made in which to circulate the sanitising fluid. For this purpose such rinsing containers are mounted below each valve assembly in order to open the shutters and allow the recirculation of the sanitising fluid from the tank simultaneously into all of the tubular pipes and into all of the compensation cannulas of the valve assemblies.

[0013] This known sanitising method involves long manual operations to mount the rinsing containers below each valve assembly and does not allow the carrying out of sanitising treatments to be programmed automatically.

[0014] In order to avoid such drawbacks, more recently, filling machines have been developed that are able to automatically carry out the insertion of the rinsing containers below the valve assemblies.

[0015] For example, patent US 5,533,552 describes an isobaric filling machine equipped with a cylindrical casing (made from stainless steel), which extends from the bottom of the tank coaxially with respect to the rotation shaft of the rotary carousel and is arranged inside the valve assemblies.

[0016] At each valve assembly, behind the casing, a trolley is arranged supported by two guide shafts and carrying a mounted rinsing container. Each trolley can be slidably moved through a pneumatic actuator, through an opening formed in the casing, between an operative position, that it takes up during the sanitising treatments and in which it is positioned with the rinsing container aligned below the centring cone of a corresponding valve assembly, and an inoperative position, that it takes up during the normal filling steps of the machine and in which it is positioned behind the casing closing the opening with a protective screen fixed to the front of the trolley.

[0017] Operatively, when the trolley is in operative position, the rinsing container is lifted from the trolley and brought to form a seal against the centring cone of the valve assembly, with an O-ring being foreseen arranged on the upper face of the rinsing container.

[0018] At this point, the sanitising liquid is injected into the tank and conveyed inside the valve assemblies until it reaches the rinsing containers below, from which it then goes back into the tank through the compensation cannula.

[0019] Once the sanitising treatment has ended, each rinsing container is lowered so that the trolley can then pull back behind the casing.

[0020] However, this solution in practice has proven not to be without drawbacks.

[0021] A first drawback is linked to the fact that such a filling machine allows only the inner surface of the centring cone to be sanitised, whereas its outer surface, which can also get dirty, is never washed by the sanitising liquid.

[0022] A further drawback derives from the fact that the gasket of the rinsing container against the centring cone is unable to withstand the high pressures at which the sanitising fluid is injected inside the valve assembly, which are necessary in order to obtain adequate sanitisation of the filling machine. The sanitising liquid, especially after many hours of operation when the gaskets are no longer new, tends to come out from the valve assemblies with losses that as well as fouling the machine also constitute a waste of sanitising liquid. Moreover, a further drawback derives from the fact that the radial movement of each rinsing container mounted on its own respective sliding trolley requires the use of a pneumatic cylinder for each valve assembly as well as needing a dedicated mechanical system to lift the rinsing containers. This results in a substantial increase in mechanical complexity of the filling machine with a consequent increase in production costs.

Presentation of the invention

[0023] In this situation, the main purpose of the present invention is therefore to overcome the drawbacks of the current prior art by providing a filling machine capable of carrying out sanitising operations in a totally automatic way.

[0024] Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a filling machine that is able to carry out sanitising operations that allow the outer surface of the centring cones of the valve assemblies to also be washed.

[0025] Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a filling machine that allows the sanitising operations to be carried out without losses of sanitising fluid from the valve assemblies.

[0026] Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a filling machine that is able to carry out sanitising operations without interfering with the protections for isobaric operation. Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a filling machine that is operatively totally reliable and cost-effective to produce.

[0027] Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a filling machine that is able to carry out the sanitisation of the valve assemblies through a fluid in countercurrent to improve the washing thereof.

[0028] Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a filling machine that allows the parts of the centring cone able to come into sealed relationship with the mouth of the container for filling to be easily replaced.

Brief description of the drawings

[0029] The technical characteristics of the finding, according to the aforementioned purposes, can be clearly seen from the content of the claims given below and the advantages thereof will become clearer in the following detailed description, made with reference to the attached drawings, which represent an embodiment thereof given purely as an example and not for limiting purposes, in which:

• figure 1A shows a general perspective view of the filling machine obj ect of the present invention;
• figure 1B shows a plan view of the filling machine obj ect of the present invention with some parts removed in order to better highlight others;
• figure 2 shows a partial side view of the filling machine object of the present invention in a filling step of a container to be bottled;
• figure 3 shows a partial side view of the filling machine object of the present invention in a first step of the foreseen sanitising treatment with protective casings in extended position and with rinsing containers in an inoperative position;
• figure 4 shows a partial side view of the filling machine object of the present invention in a second step of the sanitising treatment in which the casings are in withdrawn position and the rinsing containers are in an operative position aligned with the corresponding valve assemblies;
• figure 5 shows a side partial section view of the filling machine object of the present invention in a third step of the sanitising treatment in which each valve assembly is lowered until they hermetically adhere on the corresponding rinsing container;
• figure 6 shows a detail of the filling machine illustrated in figure 2 relative to the centring cone of a valve assembly;
• figure 7 shows a detail of the filling machine illustrated in figure 2 relative to a rinsing container;
• figure 8 shows a detail of the filling machine illustrated in figure 2 relative to the tap and to the corresponding centring cone of a valve assembly;
• figure 9 shows a detail of the filling machine illustrated in figure 5 relative to the centring cone and to the rinsing container.

Detailed description of a preferred embodiment

[0030] With reference to the attached drawings the filling machine object of the present invention has been wholly indicated with 1.

[0031] Hereafter a preferred embodiment of the present invention relative to an isobaric filling machine will be described, but it should nevertheless be understood that the technical solutions object of the present invention can also be advantageously applied to other types of filling machines, like for example machines operating under slight depression, machines operating under slight pressure, machines operating by gravity, etc.

[0032] Hereafter, a rotary isobaric filling machine will therefore be described that is intended for bottling containers through fizzy fluids, generally used in the food and drink industry, like for example beverages with added carbon dioxide, sparkling wines, beer, mineral water, etc. The filling machine 1 is conventionally inserted inside a bottling plant downstream of a rinsing machine and upstream of a capping machine. The containers to be filled are transferred from one machine to the other through transportation lines, like for example conveyor belts, starwheels with recesses, Archimedean screws, etc.

[0033] With reference to figures 1 and 2, the filling machine 1 comprises a support structure 2, resting on the ground, on which a rotary carousel 3 is rotatably mounted. The latter is equipped with a vertical central rotation shaft 45 that supports a horizontal support disc 38. The latter has columns 37 fixed to it that support a tank 4 containing the liquid to be bottled at a suitable pressure so as to prevent the gas dissolved in the liquid from being lost.

[0034] A plurality of valve assemblies 5 are mounted on the rotary carousel 3 peripherally under the tank 4 and are hydraulically connected to the latter to transfer the liquid to containers 7 to be filled below, generally consisting of glass or PET bottles. These are transported around the filling machine 1, in a per sé conventional way, by support means consisting, for example, of a plurality of plates 10 that rotate in synchrony with the valve assemblies 5 and are suitable for transferring the containers 7 from an entry recess 39 to an exit recess 40 (see figures 1 and 2).

[0035] In greater detail, with reference to figure 8, each valve assembly 5 comprises a metal body or tap 44 in which a tubular pipe 6 is formed, which places the tank 4 in hydraulic communication with the container 7 to be filled below.

[0036] The supply of liquid through the tubular pipe 6 is adjusted by interception means 8 consisting for example of a shutter 12, which is mounted coaxially in the same tubular pipe 6 and can be moved between an open position, in which it is away from the inner wall of the tubular pipe 6 allowing the liquid to pass towards the container 7, and a closed position, in which it is in contact with the inner wall of the tubular pipe 6 blocking the passage of the liquid. The shutter 12 is controlled to close through, for example, a pneumatic actuator, and is controlled to open through, for example, a return spring preloaded to push it into its open position when the container 7 reaches the same pressure as the tank 4.

[0037] The interception means 8, therefore, adjust the supply of liquid from the tank 4 to each container 7 that rotates in synchrony with the corresponding valve assembly 5.

[0038] The tubular pipe 6 ends with one or more dispensing openings 41 formed on a lower wall 16 of the tap 44, which is able to enter into sealed relationship with a centring cone 9 aligned with the same tubular pipe 6. Such a centring cone 9 is connected to the valve assembly 5 through a horizontal support bracket 42 fixed to a pair of vertical shafts 43 slidably mounted on the same valve assembly 5 to allow the centring cone 9 to move between a lower position, in which it is away from the tap 44 (see figure 4), and an upper position, in which it is sealed on the tap 44 (see figures 2 and 5).

[0039] Each valve assembly 5 is also equipped with a compensation cannula 68 for the return of air, mounted concentrically to the tubular pipe 6 and intercepted by a mechanical valve, preferably also associated with a pneumatic valve, to control the pressure equilibrium between the container 7 and the tank 4. Such a compensation cannula 68, during the operation of the filling machine 1, is able to pass through the centring cone 9 to insert inside the container 7 below.

[0040] Each valve assembly 5 is conventionally equipped with foreseen control valves to adjust specific steps of the filling process of the containers 7, like for example, in the example case described of an isobaric machine: the pre-evacuation, pressurisation, self-levelling and degassing step.

[0041] In greater detail, each valve assembly 5 comprises an intercept valve of a vacuum circuit intended to take in all of the air from the container 7 during the pre-evacuation step, an intercept valve of an isobaric circuit intended to bring the container to the pressure of the tank 4 making the air of the tank 4 itself, or rather an inert gas, flow in during the pressurisation step of the container 7, an intercept valve of a self-levelling circuit intended to blow an inert gas in the container 7 during the self-levelling step. Such intercept valves place the respective circuits in communication with the container 7 through a further poppet valve 71 mounted in common with the different circuits on the tap 44. In greater detail, the poppet valve 71 connects such circuits to an auxiliary pipe 72 that is formed on the tap 44 and extends inside it until it passes through its lower wall 16.

[0042] There are also one or more degassing valves 84 to evacuate the air or the gas in overpressure in the container once it has been filled with the liquid to be bottled.

[0043] The filling machine 1 object of the present invention also comprises a plurality of rinsing containers 13 of a sanitising fluid, each of which can be operatively and mechanically associated with one of the valve assemblies 5 during the foreseen sanitising treatment. Operatively, first actuator means 76 are foreseen to move each rinsing container 13 between an inoperative position, in which the rinsing container 13 is moved into a position withdrawn outside of the working bulk of the valve assemblies 5, and an operative position, in which the rinsing container 13 is vertically aligned below a corresponding valve assembly 5.

[0044] The first actuator means 76 advantageously comprise first pneumatic cylinders 96 that determine the rotation of a crown gear 97, engaged with a plurality of pinions 46 arranged peripherally on the rotary carousel 3. As illustrated in detail in figure 4, each pinion 46 is fixed around a vertical pin 47 rotatably mounted on the support disc 38 of the rotary carousel 3. A substantially horizontal deviation arm 48 is fixed at a first end 49 thereof to the pin 47 and at its second end 50 to one of the rinsing containers 13.

[0045] Otherwise, instead of the crown gear 97, it is possible to organise the pinions 46 in groups of pinions arranged in succession along contiguous arcs of circumference of the carousel. The pinions of each group are rotatably engaged with each other by gear wheels arranged between the pinions and are set in rotation by a corresponding pneumatic cylinder 96, which acts with the end of its stem on a toothed sector engaged with the pinion of a group to simultaneously set all of the pinions of the same group in rotation.

[0046] By simultaneously actuating all of the cylinders, all of the pinions are rotated and therefore the rinsing container 13 are moved between the inoperative and operative positions. Such a mechanical solution is preferable especially in the case of rotary filling machines with a carousel having a large diameter in which it is difficult to make a large crown gear and that correctly engages on all of the pinions.

[0047] Moreover, moving means 11 are foreseen, mechanically connected to the rotary carousel 3 to adjust the vertical position of the valve assemblies 5. In detail, such moving means 11 are preferably obtained with mechanical actuators (comprising, for example, trapezium-shaped threaded screws) connected to the support columns 37 of the tank 4 of the filling machine 1 to vertically move the tank 4 and simultaneously all of the valve assemblies 5 fixed peripherally onto it. Operatively, the moving means 11 are suitable for moving the valve assemblies 5 between at least one raised position, in which the valve assemblies 5 are separated from the rinsing containers 13 below, and at least one lowered position, in which the tap 44 of each valve assembly 5 is in sealed relationship with the corresponding rinsing container 13, brought into operative position by the first actuator means 76.

[0048] As illustrated in detail in figure 7, each rinsing container 13 comprises a first tubular body 51 fixed vertically to the second end of the arm 48 and closed at the bottom by a bottom 52 equipped with one or more draining holes 53. A second vertical tubular body 54 is mounted concentrically inside the first tubular body 51 and can slide vertically with respect to it. Such a second tubular body 54 is equipped with an open upper end 55, projecting on top from the first tubular body 51 with a cup 56 intended to go into abutment against the centring cone 9 of the valve assembly 5. The lower end 57 of the second tubular body 54, also open, remains inside the first tubular body 51 and is kept raised with respect to the bottom 52 of the first tubular body 51 by elastic means 58. Such elastic means 58 consist, for example, of a helical compression spring mounted concentrically around the second tubular body 54 between its cup 56 and a shoulder of the first tubular body 51. Developing from the bottom 52 of the first tubular body 51 there is a projecting portion 59 that extends towards the lower end 57 of the second tubular body 54, in which it is able to insert to fit. On the inner surface of the second tubular body 54, at its lower end 57, a first gasket 60 is annularly arranged. The projecting portion 59 of the bottom 52 is able to enter into sealed relationship with the first gasket 60 when, during the sanitising treatment, the second tubular body 54 is moved by the valve assembly 5 against the bottom 52 of the first tubular body 51 overcoming the force exerted by the elastic means 5 8 (as will be explained in detail hereafter with reference to the method of operation of the machine).

[0049] In accordance with the idea forming the basis of the present invention, the centring cone 9 of each valve assembly 5 comprises a substantially cylindrical outer body 14, fixed to the support bracket 42, which is equipped with an upper portion 15, able to enter into sealed relationship with the tap 44, and with a lower portion 17, able to enter into sealed relationship with the rinsing container 13 when the latter is in operative position. Moreover, the centring cone 9 comprises an inner body 18 slidably mounted through guide means inside the outer body 14. Such an inner body 18 is able to enter into sealed relationship with the lower wall 16 of the tap 44 and is equipped with a lower concavity 21, at which it is able to enter into sealed relationship with the mouth 20 of the container 7 to be filled.

[0050] In detail, with reference to figure 6, the inner body 18 of the centring cone 9 is provided with a top wall 19 on which a first through opening 61 is formed, which allows the compensation cannula 68 to pass and defines an edge suitable for making the seal with the lower wall 16 of the tap 44 at the dispensing opening 41 of the tubular pipe 6 through a second gasket 62. The same second gasket 62, or else another distinct gasket fixed to the wall of the inner body 18, is foreseen for sealing with the mouth 20 of the container 7. The outer body 14 of the centring cone 9 wraps around the side of the inner body 18 and is provided, on its upper portion 15, with a second opening 73 that is concentric with respect to the first opening 61 of the same inner body 18, and, in its lower portion 17, with a third opening 78 aligned with the second opening 73. Preferably, the second opening 73 formed on the upper portion 15 has slightly larger dimensions than those of the top wall 19 of the inner body 18 so as to allow the latter to fit through it, coming out on top. Advantageously, the outer body 14 is provided, at the third opening 78 of the lower portion 17, with a tubular profile 30 able to insert inside the rinsing container 13, when the latter is in operative position laterally entering into sealed relationship with the cup 56 of the same rinsing container 13 through sealing means 31. Preferably, such sealing means 31 comprise a third ring-shaped gasket 64 mounted in an annular recess 65 formed on the inner surface of the cup 56 of the second tubular body 54.

[0051] The tubular profile 30 has a slightly smaller outer diameter than the inner diameter of the cup 56 so that it can insert inside it adhering with its outer side surface 63 to the third gasket 64 thus creating a radially sealed relationship between the centring cone 9 and the rinsing container 13, as illustrated in detail in figure 9.

[0052] In accordance with an alternative embodiment that is not illustrated, the sealing means 31 are mounted on the outer side surface 63 of the tubular profile 30 of the outer body 14 and are suitable for sticking to the inner surface of the cup 56 in order to create an equivalent radially sealed relationship.

[0053] In a totally equivalent way, the sliding axial coupling between the cup 56 of the second tubular body 54 and the lower portion 17 of the outer body 14 of the centring cone 9 can be obtained by inserting the cup 56 in the lower portion 17 of the outer body 14 of the centring cone 9.

[0054] The tubular profile 30 of the outer body 14 is limited on top by a projection 32, in particular annular, able to go into abutment against the upper edge of the cup 56 when the valve assembly 5 descends onto the cup 56 itself compacting the centring cone 9 between tap 44 and cup 56. In greater detail, following the descent of the valve assembly 5, the vertical shafts 43 that support the centring cone 9 slide with respect to the tap 44 until the lower wall 16 of the tap 44 goes into abutment against the upper portion 15 of the outer body 14. A fourth gasket 70 is also foreseen on the upper portion 15 of the outer body 14 of the centring cone 9 intended to form a seal with the tap 44. Advantageously, the fourth gasket 70 makes a radially sealed relationship on the inner surface of a stepped seat 77 formed under the tap 44. In this configuration, illustrated in detail in figure 9, the outer body 14, the inner body 18 and the rinsing container 13 define a closed chamber 27 into which the sanitising liquid coming out from the valve assembly 5 flows during the sanitising treatment.

[0055] In accordance with the example embodiment illustrated in figure 6, the guide means for the sliding of the two bodies 14 and 18 of the centring cone 9 comprise a guide 22, which is defined between two limit switches 23 and 25, which are arranged on the inner surface of the outer body 14 and define the movement of the inner body 18 receiving at least one projecting element 24 of the latter in abutment. In greater detail, the projecting element 24 of the inner body 18 acts upon the upper limit switch 23 of the outer body 14 to raise the latter, when the container 7 to be filled is transported towards the valve assembly 5. The lower limit switch 25 of the guide 22, preferably consisting of a Seger cone inserted in a suitable seat formed in the outer body 14, is able to receive the projecting element 24 of the inner body 18 to stop its falling movement in the absence of the container 7.

[0056] In accordance with the embodiment illustrated in detail in figure 6, the projecting element 24 of the inner body 18 is obtained with an annular fifth gasket 83 inserted in a seat formed on the outer surface 29 of the inner body 18. Such a fifth gasket whilst being elastic is able to go into abutment against the lower limit switch 23 and upper limit switch 25 of the guide 22 (during the sanitising treatment or the filling operations, respectively) without significant deformations or else remaining constrained inside the same guide 22 without the possibility of going past the limit switches.

[0057] The use of a gasket 83 as projecting element 24 allows the inner body 18 of the centring cone 9 to be easily extracted from the outer body 14 to replace it with another one without having to dismount any other part of the filling machine 1. Such a replacement operation may be necessary, in addition to for normal maintenance, also to use an inner body with a different configuration and to thus adapt the filling machine 1 to operate with containers 7 having the mouth with different dimensions.

[0058] Operatively, the step of replacing the inner body 18 of the centring cone 9 simply requires that the latter be extracted from the outer body 14 overcoming the holding force of the lower limit switch 25 on the fifth gasket 83 until the inner body 18 passes through the third opening 78 of the outer body 14, and then it is foreseen to insert a new inner body 18 through the same third opening 78 overcoming in the opposite direction the interference of the fifth gasket 83 with the lower limit switch 25.

[0059] Usefully, the inner surface of the tubular profile 30 of the outer body 14 is shaped with a frusto-conical shape progressively narrowing towards the top to gradually compress the fifth gasket 83 of the inner body 18 during the insertion thereof in the outer body 14. When the fifth gasket 83, by elastically deforming, has gone past the lower limit switch 25, it re-expands inside the guide 22 forcing the inner body to slide inside it between the two limit switches 23 and 25.

[0060] Usefully, the lower limit switch 25 of the guide 22 is bevelled to facilitate the operation of extracting the inner body 18 from the outer body 14.

[0061] Of course, the force necessary to extract the inner body 18 must in any case be greater than that exerted by the sanitising liquid during the sanitising operations.

[0062] During the sanitising process, as will be described in detail hereafter, the inner body 18 remains resting on the lower limit switch 25 of the outer body 14.

[0063] In this position, between the inner body 18 and the outer body 14 a gap 28 remains defined closed on top by the tap 44, suitable for allowing the entire outer surface 29 of the inner body 18 to be cleaned.

[0064] The gap 28 and the chamber 27, defined between the centring cone 9 and the rinsing container, are in fluid communication with each other through one or more passages 26 formed on the centring cone 9.

[0065] The passages 26 are, for example, obtained by making holes or millings on the inner body 18 or else on the outer body 14 or on both. Otherwise, such passages 26 are formed by shaping the inner body 18 and/or the outer body 14 with recesses that define a continuous channel between the chamber 27 and the gap 28.

[0066] In particular, as illustrated in the example embodiment of figure 6, the passages 26 comprise first grooves 79 formed (vertically) on the upper portion 15 of the outer body 14, to allow the sanitising liquid to flow up to the projecting element 24, and through holes 81 formed on the inner body 18 with opening positioned above the projecting element 24 to allow the sanitising liquid to bypass the seal between the projecting element 24 and the lower limit switch 25 and thus flow up to the lower concavity 21 of the inner body 18 thus reaching the inner chamber 27. In accordance with a different embodiment that has not been illustrated the passages 26 are formed on the inner body 18 of the centring cone 9, in particular between many projecting elements 24.

[0067] Therefore, in accordance with the present invention, the sanitising liquid can reach, and thus sterilise, the entire outer surface 29 of the inner body 18. The latter, as known, can easily suffer from fouling, for example, with dust or residues of alimentary liquid deposited on the centring cone 9 during the filling operations of the containers 7.

[0068] In accordance with a preferred solution of the present invention, the filling machine 1 comprises separating casings 33 positioned at the sides of the valve assemblies 5 and equipped with at least one mobile first portion 35, slidably mounted on the rotary carousel 3 and able to be actuated to move by second actuator means 36 between an extended position, protecting the valve assemblies 5 during the normal filling steps, and a withdrawn position to allow the rinsing containers 13 to be moved between the inoperative position and the operative position.

[0069] In detail, the mobile first portion 35 of the separating casings 33 comprises a cylindrical plate that extends around the carousel 3 of the filling machine 1 and is usefully formed from many sectors fixed together without solution of continuity. Substantially vertical dividing panels extend radially from such a cylindrical plate towards the periphery of the filling machine 1 to separate each valve assembly 5 from the adjacent one during the filling steps of the containers 7.

[0070] The separating casings 33 preferably comprise a second fixed portion, fixedly connected to the rotary carousel 3 and intended to protect the parts of the filling machine 1 arranged below the rinsing recipients 13, in particular when the first portion 35 is in the extended position. In detail, the second portion of the separating casings 33 is fixed to the support disc 38 of the carousel 3 rotating as a unit with it. The first portion 35 is slidably inserted in a vertical track fixedly connected to the fixed second portion.

[0071] The separating casings 33 comprise a third portion fixed at the bottom to the tap 44 of the valve assembly 5 to protect the centring cone 9 and at least the neck of the container 7 from possible explosions of containers arranged at the adjacent valve assemblies 5. Preferably, the second actuator means 36 for moving the mobile first portion 35 of the separating casings 33 comprise second pneumatic cylinders mounted on the filling machine 1. In detail, the second pneumatic cylinders are mounted vertically along the periphery of the carousel 3 and are connected together by a horizontal joining ring to move as a unit with respect to one another.

[0072] Operatively, in accordance with the embodiments illustrated in the attached figures, the second cylinders are elongated to bring the first portion 35 of the separating casings 33 into the extended position (see figure 2) or else they are shorted to bring it into the withdrawn position (see figure 4).

[0073] The second pneumatic cylinders are suitable for lifting the first portion 35 of the casing for a predetermined stroke (for example 200 mm) up to the vertical position of the taps 44 or else at least up to the lower edge of the third portion of the separating casings 33 fixed at the bottom to each tap 44.

[0074] During the filling step of the machine 1, the valve assemblies 5 are arranged at an operative height established based on the height of the containers 7 to be filled.

[0075] In the case in which the valve assemblies 5 are arranged at a lower operative height than that which is reached by the first portion 35 of the separating casings 33, then such a first portion 35 is lifted by the second pneumatic cylinders only until it goes into abutment against foreseen spacers mounted at the bottom of the taps 44. By doing this, the taps with the spacers stop the rising of the first portion 35 of the separating casings 33, overcoming the pressure exerted by the compressed air injected in the second pneumatic cylinders. Hereafter we shall describe the operating method of a filling machine according to the invention keeping the references to the preferred embodiment described previously, but considering such a method to also be applicable to other filling machines without for this reason departing from the scope of protection of the present patent document.

[0076] The filling operations of the containers 7 foresee a step of lifting the plates 10 to bring the mouth 20 of the container 7 against the centring cone 9, as illustrated in figure 2. In detail, with reference to figure 8, the mouth 20 of the container 7 enters into the lower concavity 21 of the inner body 18 going into abutment against the second gasket 62 and pushes the inner body 18 with its top wall 19 to form a seal against the lower wall 16 of the tap 44 at the dispensing opening 41 of the tubular pipe 6. By doing this, the projecting element 24 of the inner body 18 goes into abutment against the upper limit switch 23 of the outer body 14 making it lift.

[0077] The compensation cannula 68, during the lifting of the container 7, penetrates inside the mouth 20 of the latter until it reaches the desired depth to define the fill level of the liquid to be bottled.

[0078] Thereafter, the shutter 12 of the interception means 11 of the tap 44 is opened to allow the liquid to flow into the container 7 through the tubular pipe 6. As the alimentary liquid enters into the container 7, the air present in it comes out through the compensation cannula 68. When the liquid reaches the desired level in the container 7, the flow thereof is stopped through the closing of the shutter 12.

[0079] Once the possible self-levelling and degassing steps have ended, respectively to precisely define the level of liquid in the container 7 and to bring the pressure in the bottle equal to ambient pressure, the container 7 is put back in the initial vertical position through the lowering of the corresponding plate 10. Consequently, the inner body 18 and the outer body 14 descend to the vertical position permitted by a stop block mounted on the vertical shafts 43. The inner body 18 descends further with respect to the outer body 14 until it rests with its projecting element 24 on the lower limit switch 25 of the outer body 14.

[0080] During such filling operations of the container 7, the separating casings 33 associated with each valve assembly 5 are kept in extended position to protect the same valve assemblies 5, for example, from fragments of glass generated by the possible explosion of a container 7. The sanitising treatment of the filling machine 1 initially foresees to actuate the moving means 11 to bring the valve assemblies 5 in raised limit switch position through the lifting of the tank 4 according to the arrow A of figure 3.

[0081] Moreover, as illustrated in figure 4, the second actuator means 36 carry the mobile first portion 35 of the separating casings 33 in withdrawn position, in which the upper edge 75 of the same first portion 35 is at a lower height with respect to the rinsing containers 13 to allow it to be subsequently moved.

[0082] Thereafter, therefore, the first pneumatic cylinders of the first actuator means 76 set in rotation the crown gear (or else, in accordance with a different embodiment described above, each cylinder sets in rotation a corresponding toothed sector engaged with a group of pinions) engaged with the pinions 46 of the arms 48. Such a rotation takes place for an arc of circumference set by the limit switch extension of the first pneumatic cylinders. The crown gear transmits the rotation to the pinions 46 making the arms 48 open. These, as illustrated in figure 4, carry the rinsing containers 13 that they support in operative position, in which they are aligned below the corresponding valve assemblies 5.

[0083] Thereafter, the moving means 11 lower the valve assemblies 5 (according to the arrow B of figure 5) until the centring cone 9 is hermetically pressed against the cup 56 of the rinsing container 13. As can be observed in the detail of figure 9, the lower portion 17 of the outer body 14 enters with its tubular profile 30 in the cup 56 until the latter goes into abutment against the projection 32 of the outer body 14. The outer side surface 63 of the tubular profile 30 in this way hermetically seals to the third gasket 64 positioned in the annular recess 65 generating a radially sealed relationship between the outer body 14 and the rinsing container 13.

[0084] The descent of the valve assembly 5 also brings the inner surface of the stepped seat 77 of the tap 44 to adhere on the upper portion 15 of the outer body 14 with the fourth gasket 70. The descending thrust of the valve assembly 5 makes the second tubular body 54 of the rinsing container 13 slide downwards in the first tubular body 51, until the lower end 57 of the same second tubular body 54 goes into abutment against the bottom 52 of the first tubular body 51. Such a lower end 57 is then hermetically closed by the projecting portion 59 of the bottom 52 that adheres in sealed relationship with the first gasket 60. In this way, no liquid can come out from the bottom of the rinsing container 13.

[0085] The lowering of the valve assembly 5 also ensures that the compensation cannula 68 enters, through the centring cone 9, into the chamber 27 defined by the same centring cone 9 and by the rinsing container 13.

[0086] During the sanitising treatment, the inner body 18 has its projecting element 24 resting on the lower limit switch 25 of the outer body 14. As described earlier, in this position, in which the inner body 18 is perimetrally enclosed by the outer body 14, a gap 28 remains defined between the lower wall 16 of the tap 44, the outer body 14 and the outer surface 29 of the inner body 18.

[0087] The subsequent washing step foresees supplying the sanitising liquid to one or more hydraulic circuits of the filling machine 1, which are connected through, for example, the opening of the poppet valve 71 to the auxiliary pipe 72.

[0088] The sanitising liquid coming from the auxiliary pipe 72 enters into the gap 28 through the second opening 73 of the outer body 14, also washing the outer surface 29 of the inner body 18.

[0089] Thereafter, the sanitising liquid passes through the passages 26 formed on the centring cone 9 arriving in the chamber 27. From here it rises both through the tubular pipe 6 and through the compensation cannula 68 to enter into a hydraulic sanitising circuit that comprises the tank 4. In this way, an accurate washing and a microbicide and anti-contamination treatment is ensured both of all of the parts of the filling machine 1 able to come into contact with the alimentary liquid to be bottled, and of the outer surface 29 of the inner body 18.

[0090] Once the washing step is complete, the poppet valve 71 of the sanitising circuit is closed interrupting the supply of sanitising liquid. Thereafter, the moving means 11 lift the valve assemblies 5 from the rinsing containers 13 causing the extraction of the tubular profile 30 of the centring cone 9 from the cup 56 of the second tubular body 54. When the force exerted by the outer body 14 on the second tubular body 54 ceases, the latter is raised from the bottom 52 of the first tubular body 51 by the stretching force exerted by the elastic means 58. The projecting portion 59, therefore, separates from the lower end 57 of the second tubular body 54 going past the first gasket 60 and allowing the sanitising liquid remaining inside the rinsing container 13 to be completely evacuated through the draining holes 53.

[0091] Thereafter, the first actuator means 76 bring the rinsing containers 13 back into their inoperative position.

[0092] Finally, the second actuator means 36 bring the first portion 35 of the separating casings 33 back in extended position and the moving means 11 bring the valve assemblies 5 back into their initial position to allow the filling operations to start up again.

[0093] The invention thus conceived therefore achieves the predetermined purposes.

[0094] Of course, it can, in its practical embodiment, also take on different shapes and configurations to the one illustrated above without for this reason departing from the present scope of protection. Moreover, all of the details can be replaced with technically equivalent elements and the sizes, shapes and materials used can be whatever according to requirements.

Claims

1. Filling machine (1) comprising:

- a support structure (2);

- a rotary carousel (3) rotatably mounted on said support structure (2);

- a tank (4) for containing a liquid to be bottled supported by said rotary carousel (3);

- a plurality of valve assemblies (5) hydraulically connected to said tank (4) and mounted peripherally with respect to said rotary carousel (3); each valve assembly (5) comprising:

o a tap (44) equipped with a tubular pipe (6), for supplying said liquid from said tank (4) to containers (7) to be bottled, and interception means (8) associated with said tubular pipe (6) and suitable for adjusting the flow of said liquid into said container (7);

o a centring cone (9) aligned with said tubular pipe (6);

- moving means (11), mechanically connected to said rotary carousel (3) and suitable for adjusting the vertical position of said valve assemblies (5);

- a plurality of rinsing containers (13) of a sanitising fluid each able to be operatively and mechanically associated with one of said valve assemblies (5) during foreseen sanitising operations;

- first actuator means (76) suitable for moving said rinsing containers (13) each between an inoperative position, in which said rinsing container (13) is outside of the working bulk of said valve assemblies (5), and an operative position, in which said rinsing container (13) is vertically aligned below one of said valve assemblies (5);
characterised in that said centring cone (9) comprises:

- an outer body (14), supported by said valve assembly (5), equipped with an upper portion (15) able to enter into sealed relationship with said tap (44), and equipped with a lower portion (17) able to enter into sealed relationship with said rinsing container (13) when it is in said operative position and said valve assemblies (5) are carried by said moving means (11) in a lowered position on said rinsing containers (13);

- an inner body (18), slidably mounted inside said outer body (14), equipped with a top wall (19) able to enter into sealed relationship with the lower wall (16) of said tap (44), and equipped with a lower concavity (21) able to enter into sealed relationship with the mouth (20) of said container (7).

2. Filling machine (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that said centring cone (9) is provided with one or more passages (26) suitable for placing a chamber (27), at least partially defined by the lower concavity (21) of said inner body (18), by said outer body (14) and by said rinsing container (13), in fluid communication with a gap (28), at least partially defined by the outer surface (29) of said inner body (18), by said outer body (14) and by the lower wall (16) of said tap (44).

3. Filling machine (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that the lower portion (17) of said outer body (14) is equipped with a tubular profile (30) able to be inserted inside said rinsing container (13), when it is in said operative position, and to enter into radially sealed relationship with sealing means (31) mounted on said rinsing container (13).

4. Filling machine (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that said tap (44) is equipped at the bottom with a stepped seat (77) suitable for making a radially sealed relationship with the upper portion (15) of said outer body (14) when said valve assemblies (5) are taken by said moving means (11) into said lowered position on said rinsing containers (13).

5. Filling machine (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that said centring cone (9) is equipped with guide means arranged between said inner body (18) and said outer body (14) to allow the relative sliding of said inner body (18) with respect to said outer body (14).

6. Filling machine (1) according to claim 5, characterised in that said guide means comprise at least one upper limit switch (23) of said outer body (14), which is able to receive in abutment at least one projecting element (24) of said inner body (18) when said container (7) to be filled is taken towards said valve assembly (5) by support means mounted on said rotary carousel (3).

7. Filling machine (1) according to claim 5, characterised in that said guide means comprise at least one lower limit switch (25) of said outer body (14), vertically spaced with respect to said upper limit switch (23); said lower limit switch (25) being able to receive said at least one projecting element (24) of said inner body (18) in order to limit the descending movement of said inner body (18) at the bottom with respect to said outer body (14) in the absence of said container (7).

8. Filling machine (1) according to claims 6 and 7, characterised in that said at least one projecting element (24) comprises at least one fifth gasket (83), preferably annular-shaped, which projects sideways from the outer surface (29) of said inner body (18), and which is able to elastically change shape to get past said lower limit switch (25) allowing said inner body (18) to be replaced.

9. Filling machine (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that each of said rinsing containers (13) comprises a first tubular body (51) connected to said first actuator means (76) and a second tubular body (54) mounted concentrically inside said first tubular body (51) and able to slide vertically with respect to it.

10. Filling machine (1) according to claim 2, characterised in that the tubular profile (30) of said outer body (14) is limited on top by at least one projection (32) able to receive in abutment the edge of a cup (56) of said rinsing container (13).

11. Filling machine (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises separating casings (33) mounted on said rotary carousel (3), equipped with at least one first portion (35) able to be actuated by second actuator means (36) to slide between an extended position, protecting said valve assemblies (5) when said rinsing containers (13) are in inoperative position, and a withdrawn position, to allow said rinsing containers (13) to pass between said inoperative position and said operative position.

12. Method for sanitising a filling machine (1) according to claim 1, which foresees:

- a step of lifting said valve assemblies (5) through said moving means (11);

- a step of moving said rinsing containers (13) through said first actuator means (76) in which said rinsing containers (13) are taken from said inoperative position to said operative position;

- a step of lowering said valve assemblies (5), through said moving means (11), in which the centring cone (9) of each valve assembly enters into sealed relationship with said rinsing container (13);

- a washing step, in which the sanitising fluid of a sanitising circuit is circulated at least in the tank (4) of said: filling machine (1), the tubular pipe (6) of said valve assemblies (5) and said rinsing containers (13);

- a second step of lifting said valve assemblies (5);
characterised in that said step of lowering said valve assemblies (5) takes care of:

- coupling the lower portion (17) of said outer body (14) in sealed relationship with said rinsing container (13);

- coupling the upper portion (15) of said outer body (14) in sealed relationship with the tap (44) of said valve assembly (5).

13. Method for sanitising a filling machine (1) according to claims 6 and 12, wherein during said washing step the inner body (18) of said centring cone (9) rests with said projecting element (24) in abutment on the lower limit switch (25) of said outer body (14) to allow the outer surface of said inner body (18) to also be washed.

14. Method for sanitising a filling machine (1) according to claims 11 and 12, wherein said step of moving said rinsing containers (13) is preceded by a step of moving the first portion (35) of said separating casings (33) from said extended position to said withdrawn position through said second actuator means (36).

15. Method for sanitising a filling machine (1) according to claims 9 and 12, wherein during the lowering of said valve assemblies (5) the bottom (52) of said first tubular body (51) inserts forming a seal in said second tubular body (54) making a closed chamber.

Drawing