Contactless filling device and control method thereof

Abstract

 There is disclosed a filling valve (10, 10') for filling an article (2) with a pourable product, having a temperature higher than room temperature, comprising: a tank (6) fillable with said pourable product at said temperature higher than said room temperature; a first fluidic line (12) extending between said tank (6) and a pouring opening (14); a first valve (15) interposed along the first fluidic line (12), and displaceable between an open position and a closed position; a second fluidic line (20) fluidically connected with the first fluidic line (12) and with the tank (6); a second valve (41) interposed along the second fluidic line (20), and displaceable between a second open position in which it fluidically connects the tank (6) and the first fluidic line (12) through the second fluidic line (20), and a second closed position in which it prevents the fluidic connection between the tank (6) and the first fluidic line (12) along the second fluidic line (20); the second valve (41) is displaceable between the second open position and the second closed position independently of the pressure within the second fluidic line (20).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a contactless filling device for filling an article with a pourable product having a temperature higher than room temperature.

[0002] The present invention also relates to a control method of a contactless filling device for filling an article with a pourable product having a temperature higher than room temperature.

[0003] More in particular, the present invention relates to a filling device adapted to perform a "hot" filling, i.e. to fill the articles with a pourable food product at a temperature higher than room temperature, for example 80 degrees centigrade.

[0004] This type of filling is generally used with especially perishable pourable products, for example energy drinks, to which a relevant amount of preservative cannot be added.

[0005] Filling machines are known, comprising a filling station fed with empty articles and adapted to provide articles filled with the pourable food product.

[0006] The filling station substantially comprises a carousel conveyor rotating about a rotation axis, a tank containing the pourable food product, and a plurality of filling devices supported by the carousel conveyor in a position radially external with respect to the rotation axis of the carousel conveyor.

[0007] In greater detail, the carousel is provided with a plurality of support elements for respective articles provided to arrange the mouths of respective articles in a lower position and at a given distance with respect to the respective filling devices and to displace the articles along a circumferential arc trajectory about the above said rotation axis integrally to the respective filling devices.

[0008] Each filling device essentially comprises a fixed body connected to the carousel and a shutter sliding with respect to the fixed body between an open position and a closed position.

[0009] In greater detail, when the shutter is arranged in the open position, the shutter defines an opening with the fixed body. The pourable product thereby flows from the tank to a filling mouth of the relative article passing through the opening.

[0010] Differently, when the shutter is arranged in the closed position, it sealingly cooperates with an abutment surface defined by the fixed body, preventing the pourable product from flowing from tank towards the mouth of the relative article.

[0011] In case of contactless filling of still products, the opening is arranged at a given distance from the mouth of the article to be filled.

[0012] For example, WO2008/141717 discloses filling devices capable of contactless filling articles with a hot pourable product.

[0013] In order to perform the filling with a hot pourable product, the components of the filling device can be maintained hot when the filling of the articles is interrupted.

[0014] The filling devices shown in the above said patent application also allow the circulation of a sanitising fluid within the components thereof, so as to periodically sterilise the components in contact with the pourable product.

[0015] To perform the above said operations, the filling devices of the known type comprise a first fluidic line along which the shutter slides between an open and a closed position. When the shutter is arranged in the closed position, it sealingly separates the first fluidic line in a first portion fluidically connected to the tank and a second portion connected to a filling mouth for the articles.

[0016] The first fluidic line also comprise a bell element defining a filling opening of the filling device.

[0017] The filling device also comprises:

• a common manifold, in turn connected with a heating boiler and with a tank;
• a first seat fluidically connected with the first portion of the first fluidic line and a first duct connected to the manifold; and
• a first pressure limiting valve housed within the seat and displaceable between respective open and closed positions to control the flow from the first fluidic line to the first duct.

[0018] More in particular, the first limiting valve automatically allows the flow from the first fluidic line to the first duct, only when a first value of the pressure difference at its sides is overcome.

[0019] When the shutter is arranged in the closed position, the pressure in the first portion of the first fluidic line increases until the first valve is displaced in the respective open position.

[0020] Thereby, the pourable product continuously circulates from the tank to the manifold and, from the latter to the boiler, remaining hot.

[0021] When the shutter is displaced to the respective open position to perform the filling, the pressure in the first portion decreases. Accordingly, the first valve returns to the respective closed position and prevents the circulation of the pourable product along the manifold.

[0022] In other words, when the shutter reaches the closed position, it automatically controls the opening of the first valve.

[0023] The filling device finally comprises:

• a second seat;
• a second duct interposed between the first duct and the bell element; and
• a second pressure limiting valve housed within the seat and displaceable between respective open and closed positions to control the flow between the first and the second duct.

[0024] More precisely, the second pressure limiting valve automatically allows the flow from the first fluidic line to the first duct, when a second value, greater than the first value, of the pressure difference at its sides is exceeded.

[0025] When the filling device needs to be sterilised, a closing element is placed to close the pouring opening and the tank is filled with a sanitising fluid at a pressure higher than the pressure of the pourable product. In particular, the pressure of the sanitising fluid is such as to displace both the first and the second pressure limiting valves to the respective open positions.

[0026] The shutter is also arranged in the respective open position so as to automatically displace the first valve to the respective open position.

[0027] The sanitising fluid can therefore flow within the first fluidic line of the first duct towards the common manifold and at the same time induce the opening of the second valve.

[0028] The sanitising fluid in the first duct also induces the displacement of the second valve to the open position and can therefore sterilise the bell element and reach the common manifold.

[0029] The Applicant has observed that the fact that the first and the second valves are pressure limiting valves sets some limits to the operation flexibility of the filling device.

[0030] For example, the first valve automatically reaches the relative closed position, when the shutter reaches the relative open position.

[0031] The need is felt in the sector to provide filling devices which can fill articles with a hot pourable product and which can be sterilised with a sanitising fluid, which allow for operation modes as flexible as possible.

[0032] In particular, the carousel carrying the filling devices covers a circular path comprising:

• an operative segment disclosed from a station for withdrawing articles to be filled towards a station for releasing the articles filled with the pourable product; and
• a return segment disclosed from the release station towards the withdrawal station.

[0033] The need is felt, along the return segment and during a step of filling the articles, both to prevent the recirculation of the hot pourable product and to maintain the shutter in the respective closed position.

[0034] US-A-2010/0071802 discloses a contact filling device for carbonate products.

[0035] It is an object of the present invention to provide a filling device for filling an article with a pourable product at a temperature higher than room temperature, which allows to easily and cost-effectively meet at least one of the above said needs.

[0036] The aforementioned object is achieved by the present invention as it relates to a contactless filling device as defined in claim 1.

[0037] The present invention also relates to a control method of a contactless filling device for filling an article with a pourable product having a temperature higher than room temperature, as defined in claim 7.

[0038] Two preferred embodiments are hereinafter disclosed for a better understanding of the present invention, by way of non-limitative example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

• figure 1 shows a section view of a first embodiment of a filling device made according to a first embodiment of the present invention, which is shown only for illustrative purposes;
• figure 2 shows the filling device of figure 1 during a sterilising step;
• figure 3 diagrammatically shows a filling machine incorporating the filing device of figure 1;
• figure 4 diagrammatically shows an operation scheme of the filling device of figure 1;
• figure 5 diagrammatically shows a second embodiment of the filling device of figure 1; and
• figure 6 diagrammatically shows a third embodiment of the filling device of figure 1.

[0039] With reference to figures 1, 2 and 3, numeral 1 indicates a filling machine limitedly to a filling station for filling articles 2 with a pourable food product.

[0040] In particular, the filling station is adapted to fill articles 2 with a high temperature pourable product, for example 80 degrees centigrade.

[0041] In particular, the product is a food product and could be an energy drink.

[0042] In greater detail, the filling station essentially comprises (figure 3):

• a carousel 3 rotating about an axis A, which is vertical in the case shown, along a circular path P;
• a plurality of filling devices 10 adapted to fill respective articles 2 with the pourable food product and supported by a peripheral edge external to axis A of carousel 3;
• an inlet conveyor 4, in particular a star wheel, feeding carousel 3 with articles 2 to be filled, at a station I of path P; and
• an outlet conveyor 5, in particular a star wheel, fed by carousel 3 with articles 2 filled with the pourable product, at a station 0 of path P.

[0043] More precisely, path P comprises:

• a working segment R extending from station I to station O; and
• a return segment S extending from inlet station 0 to inlet station I.

[0044] Conveyor 4 is mobile along a circular path Q1 tangent to path P, at station I.

[0045] Conveyor 5 is mobile along a circular path Q2 tangent to path P, at station O.

[0046] Carousel 3 also includes:

• a tank 6 (figure 1 and 2) common to all filling devices 10 and containing the pourable food product or a sanitising fluid depending on the operation conditions of machine 1; and
• a heat exchanger 39 common to all filling devices 10 and adapted to heat the pourable food product flowing in tank 6.

[0047] Each article 2 comprises:

• a mouth 8 adapted to allow the filling of article 2 by means of the filling machine and the following pouring of the food product from article 2;
• a bottom wall (not shown) opposite to mouth 8; and
• a neck portion 9a supported by a relative sealing element 9b borne by filling machine 1.

[0048] Article 2 is in the case shown a container made of glass, plastic or cans.

[0049] For simplicity, the following description will refer to only one device 10 and to relative article 2, as devices 10 are identical to one another.

[0050] Device 10 essentially comprises a frame 11 fixed to carousel 3 and defining in turn a duct 12.

[0051] In particular, as evident from Figure 1, opening 14 is spaced and arranged at a certain distance from mouth 13, during the filling of article 2.

[0052] In this way, device 10 carries out a contactless filling of article 2.

[0053] Duct 12 comprises, on its opposite parts, an inlet mouth 13 connected to tank 6 and a pouring opening 14 facing mouth 8 of article 2.

[0054] Duct 12 also comprises a main segment 7 elongated along an axis B parallel to and spaced from axis A. Segment 7 extends in particular between mouth 13 and pouring opening 14.

[0055] Mouth 13 has an axis orthogonal to axis B and the pouring opening 14 extends symmetrically about axis A.

[0056] Segment 7 also has a section 16 having a narrower section 16 interposed between mouth 13 and pouring opening 14.

[0057] Filling device 10 finally comprises a filling valve 15 housed within duct 12.

[0058] Valve 15 can be displaced between:

• an open position in which it allows the flow between mouth 13 and pouring opening 14; and
• a closed position in which it sealingly separates mouth 13 and pouring opening 14.

[0059] Valve 15 also comprises a shutter 17 that moves forwards and backwards along axis B between a closed position and an open position, and ends, on the side of pouring opening 14, with an axial end projection 18.

[0060] More precisely, projection 18 is arranged with respect to section 16 on the side of pouring opening 14.

[0061] When shutter 17 is arranged in the closed position, projection 18 abuts against frame 11, at section 16. Thereby, mouth 13 and pouring opening 14 are sealingly separated.

[0062] When shutter 17 is arranged in the open position (shown in figure 1), projection 18 is spaced from section 16 and exposes an opening 19, which fluidically connects mouth 13 and pouring opening 14.

[0063] Frame 11 further comprises:

• a duct 20 extending between mouth 21 of duct 12 and a mouth 22;
• a duct 25 extending between pouring opening 14 and a mouth 26;
• a duct 30 fluidically connected with mouths 22, 26;
  and
• a chamber 31 fluidically connected with duct 30.

[0064] Mouth 21 is open in duct 12 in a position axially interposed between mouth 13 and section 16. More in particular, mouth 21 is open in duct 12 immediately above section 16. Thereby, both when shutter 17 is arranged in the closed position and when shutter 17 is arranged in the open position, duct 20 is fluidically connected with tank 6.

[0065] Filling device 10 also comprises:

• a valve 41 housed within duct 20; and
• a valve 42 housed within duct 25.

[0066] Valve 41 is adapted to allow recirculation of the pourable food product during a step of interrupting the filling of articles 2.

[0067] More in particular, the pourable food product recirculates between duct 20, duct 30, chamber 31, heat exchanger 39 and tank 6 and therefore is maintained at the filling temperature. Thereby, when the filling of articles 2 starts again, the pourable product is already at the filling temperature higher than room temperature.

[0068] Advantageously, valve 41 may be displaced between the respective open and closed positions, independently of the pressure difference existing between mouths 21, 22 within duct 20.

[0069] In other words, the displacement of valve 41 between respective closed and open positions is controlled by means of a control external to duct 20 and according to an operation law set during the step of setting the filling machine.

[0070] Valve 41 is housed within a seat 43 defined by frame 11.

[0071] Seat 43 is defined by a pair of walls 55, 56 respectively a top and a bottom wall, and by an annular wall 57 axially interposed between walls 55, 56.

[0072] Valve 41 essentially comprises:

• a sleeve 50 fixed to wall 57 of seat 43;
• a piston 51 mobile within seat 43 parallelly to axis B, having a frustoconical end 54 and connected to sleeve 50 by means of compressible bellows; and
• a spring 52 interposed between sleeve 50 and piston 51 and preloading valve 41 towards the open position.

[0073] Wall 56 defines mouth 22.

[0074] Wall 55 and piston 51 also define a chamber 58 within which a pressurised fluid is present, in particular air. This fluid can be discharged from chamber 58 in a manner which is not shown.

[0075] The pressure in chamber 58 arranges end 54 sealingly in abutment within mouth 22 (figure 1).

[0076] Differently, when the fluid is discharged from chamber 58, spring 52 extends and end 54 defines with wall 56 an opening, which is fluidically connected with mouth 22. In other words, valve 41 is arranged in the open position, discharging the fluid from chamber 58.

[0077] Valve 42 is adapted to control the flow of a sanitising fluid, during a step of sterilising filling device 10.

[0078] As shown in Figure 2, a closing element 45 is connected to frame 11 to close pouring opening 14 during the step of sterilising, so as to preventing the sanitising fluid from exiting from pouring opening 14.

[0079] Closing element 45 also fluidically connects ducts 12, 25 during the step of sterilising.

[0080] Closing element 45 finally lies on a plane orthogonal to axis B, when it is arranged so as to close pouring opening 14.

[0081] Valve 42 may be displaced automatically between a closed position in which it fluidically isolates pouring opening 14 and mouth 26, and an open position in which it fluidically connects pouring opening 14 and mouth 26.

[0082] Valve 42 is, in the case shown, a pressure limiting valve, i.e. it is automatically displaced in the open position when a given pressure difference between pouring opening 14 and mouth 26 is reached.

[0083] Valve 42 is also a check valve, which allows the flow from duct 12 to duct 30 through duct 25, when closing element 45 is fixed to frame 11.

[0084] Differently, valve 42 shuts off the flow from duct 30 to duct 12.

[0085] More in particular, valve 42 comprises:

• a stem 47 sliding within duct 25 and provided with a shutter 48; and
• a spring 49 loading stem 47 towards the closed position.

[0086] Shutter 48 defines an opening with the portion of frame 11, when valve 42 is arranged in the open position and shuts this opening, when valve 42 is arranged in the closed position shown in Figure 1.

[0087] Chamber 31 is connected by means of a rotating manifold 38 with fixed heat exchanger 39.

[0088] The operation of filling machine 1 is disclosed hereinafter, with reference to only one filling device 10 and a single corresponding article 2.

[0089] More precisely, the operation of filling machine 1 is disclosed hereinafter during a "hot" filling step of article 2 with a still pourable food product.

[0090] In particular, tank 6 is filled with the hot pourable food product at a first pressure value.

[0091] Carousel 3 receives article 2 to be filled from conveyor 4 at station I of path P, and feeds filled article 2 to conveyor 5 at station 0 of path P.

[0092] More precisely, article 2 is arranged so that mouth 8 is below pouring opening 14 of duct 12.

[0093] It is important to stress that, during the whole filling of article 2, mouth 8 remains at a certain distance from opening 14 along axis B. In this way, filling device 1 carries out a contactless filling of article 2.

[0094] Valve 15 is arranged in the relative open position during segment R of path P, so as to perform the filling of article 2 with the hot pourable food product.

[0095] Valves 41, 42 (figure 4) are arranged in the relative closed positions, along segment R of path P. Thereby, the pourable food product cannot flow along ducts 20, 25.

[0096] Valve 15 is displaced to the relative closed position along segment S of path P.

[0097] Valves 41, 42 are arranged in the relative closed positions also along segment S of path P.

[0098] When the above said step of filling needs to be interrupted without stopping filling machine 1, for example because the feeding of articles 2 has been interrupted, a step of recirculating the pourable food product is performed therein along duct 12, duct 20, duct 30, chamber 31, exchanger 39 and tank 6.

[0099] Thereby, the pourable food product is continuously heated by exchanger 39 and can be immediately used to fill article 4 when the filling steps is resumed.

[0100] The step of recirculating is performed by arranging valve 41 in the relative open position along whole path P, so as to fluidically connect ducts 12, 20 and maintaining valves 15, 42 in the relative closed positions along whole path P.

[0101] When it is necessary to perform a sterilisation of the parts of filling machine 1 in contact with the pourable food product, tank 6 is filled with a sanitising fluid and a closing element 45 (figure 2) is arranged so as to close pouring opening 14, so as to prevent the sanitising fluid from flowing out of the pouring opening 14.

[0102] More in particular, closing element 45 fluidically connects ducts 12, 25.

[0103] During the sterilising step, valves 15 and 41 are arranged in the relative open positions along whole path P.

[0104] Thereby, the sanitising fluid can flow from tank 6 along the whole duct 12 and pass through whole duct 20 up to duct 30.

[0105] The sanitising fluid also flows from duct 12 to duct 25 and, in virtue of its pressure, automatically arranges valve 41 in the open position along whole path P.

[0106] The sanitising fluid thereby flows along whole duct 25 until it reaches duct 30 and from here to chamber 31 and then return to tank 6.

[0107] With reference to figure 5, 10' indicates, as a whole, a filling device according to a different embodiment of the present invention. The filling device 10' is similar to filling device 10 and will be described hereinafter only as far as it differs therefrom; corresponding or equivalent parts of filling devices 10 and 10' will be indicated where possible by the same reference numbers.

[0108] In particular, filling device 10' differs from filling device 10 by comprising a valve 42' controllable independently of the pressure difference between pouring opening 14 and mouth 26, once closing element 45 has been connected to frame 11 so as to close pouring opening 14.

[0109] In other words, the displacement of valve 42' between the respective closed and open positions is controlled by means of a control external to duct 25 and according to an operation law set during the step of setting the filling machine.

[0110] Valve 42' is arranged within a seat 60' arranged externally to duct 25 and controls the flow between a first portion 61' of duct 25 originating in pouring opening 14 and a second portion 62' of duct 25 ending in mouth 26.

[0111] Valve 42' essentially comprises:

• a support body 63' fixed within seat 60';
• an elongated stem 64' mobile orthogonally to axis B;
  with respect to support body 63'; and
• a membrane 65' having opposite ends 70' fixed to frame 11, and a central portion 71' fixed to stem 64'.

[0112] Valve 42' essentially comprises:

• a spring 66' interposed, on the opposite side of membrane 65', between stem 64' and frame 11;
• an open duct 67' within seat 60' on the side of spring 66' with respect to stem 64' and fluidically connectable selectively to a source of pressurised fluid, in particular pressurised air; and
• an open duct 68' within seat 60' on the side of membrane 65' with respect to stem 64' and fluidically connectable selectively to a source of pressurised fluid.

[0113] Valve 42' is maintained in the relative closed position by the action of the preload of spring 66' and by the action of the pressure of the fluid fed from duct 67' within seat 60' on the side of spring 66' with respect to stem 64'. These actions load stem 64' towards membrane 65' and maintain central portion 72' of membrane 65' in the flat configuration.

[0114] Valve 42' is displaced in the relative closed position connecting duct 68' to the pressure source and discharging duct 67'. Thereby, a pressure is generated on membrane 65' directed towards stem 64'. This action arranges central portion 71' of membrane 65' in the curved configuration, compresses spring 66' and fluidically connects portions 61', 62' of duct 25 to one another.

[0115] In particular, ducts 67', 68' are connected to the pressure source by means of respective ducts (not shown) external to frame 11.

[0116] The operation of filling device 10' differs from the operation of filling device 10 in that the opening and the closing of valve 42' are controllable independently of the pressure difference between pouring opening 14 and mouth 26.

[0117] In other words, the displacement of valve 42' between respective closed and open positions is controlled by means of a control external to duct 25 and according to an operation law set during the step of setting the filling machine.

[0118] With reference to figure 6, 10" indicates, as a whole, a filling device according to a different embodiment of the present invention. Filling device 10" is similar to filling device 10' and will be described hereinafter only as far as it differs therefrom; corresponding or equivalent parts of filling devices 10 and 10" will be indicated where possible by the same reference numbers.

[0119] Valve 42" of device 10 " differs from valve 42' of device 10' by being similar to valve 41.

[0120] In detail, valve 42" is housed within a seat 43" defined by frame 11.

[0121] Seat 43" is defined by walls 55, 56 respectively on the top and on the bottom and by a further wall 57" of frame 11" interposed axially between walls 55, 56. Wall 57" is also adjacent to and integral with wall 57.

[0122] Duct 25" differs from duct 25 by comprising a mouth 26" passing through wall 56 and a mouth 80" passing through wall 57.

[0123] In particular, mouth 26" is fluidically connected to duct 30 and mouth 80" is fluidically connected to pouring opening 14, once closing element 45 (not shown in figure 6) has been applied to frame 11.

[0124] Mouths 80", 26" are respectively arranged upstream and downstream of valve 42", according to a feeding direction of sanitising fluid from pouring opening 14 to duct 30.

[0125] Valve 42" essentially comprises:

• a sleeve 50" fixed to wall 57" of seat 43;
• a piston 51" mobile within seat 43" parallelly to axis B, having a frustoconical end 54", and connected to sleeve 50" by means of compressible bellows; and
• a spring 52" interposed between sleeve 50" and piston 51" and preloading valve 42" towards the open position.

[0126] Wall 55" and piston 51" also define a chamber 58" within which a pressurised fluid is present, in particular air. This fluid can be discharged from chamber 58" in a manner which is not shown.

[0127] The pressure in chamber 58" arranges end 54" sealingly in abutment within mouth 22" (figure 6).

[0128] Differently, when the fluid is discharged from chamber 58", spring 52" extends and end 54 defines an opening with wall 56", which opening is fluidically connected with mouth 22". In other words, valve 42" is arranged in the open position, discharging the fluid from chamber 58".

[0129] It should be noted that chamber 58" is fluidically connected with distributor 81 in a manner which is not shown and by means of ducts obtained within frame 11.

[0130] The operation of device 10" differs from the operation of device 10' in that piston 51" of valve 42" is elastically preloaded by spring 52" towards the open position and is displaceable to the closed position by feeding a pressurised fluid within chamber 58".

[0131] From an analysis of the features of devices 10, 10', 10" and of the method according to the present invention, the advantages it allows to obtain are apparent.

[0132] In particular, valve 41 is controllable independently of the pressure difference in duct 25 between mouths 21, 22.

[0133] Thereby, the operation modes of filling device 10, 10', 10" results much more flexible with respect to the known solutions disclosed in the introductory part of the present description.

[0134] For example, both valves 15, 41 can be arranged at the same time in the respective closed positions.

[0135] There follows that, when filling device 10, 10', 10" is incorporated in filling machine 1, both valves 15, 41 can be arranged in relative closed positions along segment S and during a step of filling articles 2.

[0136] The flexibility of filling device 10', 10" is further increased by the fact that also valve 42', 42" is controllable independently of the pressure difference within duct 25 between an upstream section and a downstream section of the above said valve 42, 42".

[0137] In virtue of this, valve 42' can always be maintained during the step of filling articles 2.

[0138] Thereby, in case the pressure is increased in duct 30, the pourable product is prevented from returning along duct 25 and reaches pouring opening 14. Accordingly, dripping of the pourable food product from pouring opening 14 is avoided, during the step of recirculating the pourable product.

[0139] Device 10" comprises valves 41, 41" connected to distributor 81 by means of ducts obtained internally to frame 11.

[0140] Accordingly, device 10" requires no further ducts external to frame 11 to control the displacement of valves 41, 41" between the respective open and closed positions.

[0141] Finally, it is apparent that modifications and variants not departing from the scope of protection of the claims may be made to filling device 10, 10', 10" and to the method disclosed herein.

[0142] In particular, the bellows of valves 41, 42" could be replaced by membranes.

Claims

1. A contactless filling device (10', 10") for filling an article (2) with a pourable product, having a temperature higher than room temperature, comprising:

- a tank (6) fillable with said pourable product at said temperature higher than said room temperature to perform a step of filling said article (2) with said pourable product;

- a first fluidic line (12) extending between said tank (6) and a pouring opening (14) placed, in use and during the filling of said article (2), at a certain distance from a filling mouth (8) of said article (2);

- a first valve (15) interposed along said first fluidic line (12), and displaceable between a relative open position in which it fluidically connects said tank (6) and said pouring opening (14) and a relative closed position in which it fluidically isolates said tank (6) from said pouring opening (14);

- a second fluidic line (20) fluidically connected with said first fluidic line (12) and with said tank (6) and adapted to allow a continuous circulation of said pourable product at said temperature higher than said room temperature, when said first valve (15) is in the relative said closed position; and

- a second valve (41) interposed along said second fluidic line (20), and displaceable between a relative open position in which it fluidically connects said tank (6) and said first fluidic line (12) through said second fluidic line (20), and a relative closed position in which it prevents the fluidic connection between said tank (6) and said first fluidic line (12) through said second fluidic line (20);
said tank (6) being fillable with a sanitising fluid to perform a step of sanitising the filling device (10', 10"); and by comprising:

- a third fluidic line (25, 25") fluidically connected with said tank (6);

- a closed element (45) releasably fixable to said frame (11) during said step of sanitising and so as to close said pouring opening (14) and to fluidically connect said first and third fluidic line (12; 25, 25"); and

- a third valve (42', 42") interposed along said third fluidic line (25, 25"), and displaceable between a relative open position in which it allows said sanitising fluid to flow along said third fluidic line (25, 25") from said first fluidic line (12) towards said tank (6), and a relative closed position in which it prevents said sanitising fluid from flowing along said third fluidic line (25, 25") ;
characterized in that said second valve (41) is displaceable between the relative said open and closed positions independently of the pressure difference, in use, within said second fluidic line (20) between an upstream section (21) and a downstream section (22) of the second valve (41);
said third valve (42', 42") being displaceable between said relative open and closed positions independently of the pressure difference, in use, within said third fluidic line (25, 25") between an upstream section (14) and a downstream section (26, 26") of said third valve (42', 42").

2. The device according to claim 1, characterised in that at least one of said second and third valves (41; 42', 42") is displaceable between the respective open and closed positions by means of a command that can be selectively issued from the outside.

3. The device according to claim 1 or 2, characterised by comprising a frame (11) defining said first, second and third fluidic line (12; 20; 25, 25") and a seat (43, 43") housing at least one of said second and third valves (41, 42") ;
said at least one of said first and third valves (41, 42") comprising:

- a shutter (51, 51") displaceable between a first position in which it sealingly cooperates with a mouth (22, 26") defined by said seat (43, 43"), and a second position in which it defines an opening with said mouth (22, 26") ;

- elastic means (52, 52") adapted to load said shutter (51, 51") towards one of said first and second positions;

- a chamber (58, 58") defined between said first seat (43, 43") and said shutter (51, 51") and fillable with variably pressurised fluid to displace said shutter (51, 51") towards the other of said first and second positions against the action of said elastic means (52, 52");

said filling device (10, 10") comprising a distributor (81) fluidically connectable with said chamber (58, 58") by means of further ducts internal to said frame (11).

4. The device according to claim 2 or 3, characterised by comprising a duct (30) fluidically interposed between said tank (6) and each of said second and third fluidic lines (20, 25).

5. The device according to claim 4, characterised in that said second and third fluidic lines (20, 25) are both interposed between said first fluidic line (12) and said duct (30).

6. A filling machine (1), characterized by comprising:

- a first conveyor (3) mobile along a first path (P) formed by an operative segment (R) and a return segment (S), and comprising in turn a filling device (10, 10', 10") according to any of the preceding claims;

- a second conveyor (4) mobile along a second path (Q1) tangent to said first path (P), at an initial station (I) of said operative segment (R); and

- a third conveyor (5) mobile along a third path (Q2) tangent to said first path (P), at an end station (0) of the operative segment (R);
said first and second valves (15, 41) being controllable so as to be both arranged in respective said closed positions along said return segment (S) of said first path (P).

7. A control method for a contactless filling device (10', 10") for filling an article with a pourable product, having a temperature higher than room temperature, comprising the steps of:

- filling a tank (6) with said pourable product at said temperature higher than said room temperature, to perform a step of filling said article (2) with said pourable product;

- arranging a filling mouth (8) of said article (2) at a given distance from a pouring opening (14) of a first fluidic line (12) extending between said tank (6) and said pouring opening (14);

- displacing a first valve (15) interposed along said first fluidic line (12) between an open position in which it fluidically connects said tank (6) and a pouring opening (14), and a closed position in which it fluidically isolates said tank (6) from said pouring opening (14); and

- maintaining a continuous circulation of said pourable product through a second fluidic line (20) fluidically connected with said first fluidic line (12) and with said tank (6), when said first valve (15) is in said relative closed position;
said step of maintaining a continuous circulation comprising the step of displacing a second valve (41) interposed along said second fluidic line (20) from a second closed position, in which it prevents the fluidic connection between said tank (6) and said first fluidic line (12) through said second fluidic line (20), towards a second open position, in which it fluidically connects said tank (6) and said first fluidic line (12) through said second fluidic line (20);
said method further comprising the steps of:

- filling a tank (6) with a sanitising fluid to perform a step of sanitising said filling device (10, 10', 10");

- arranging a closing element (45) so as to close said pouring opening (14) and fluidically connect said second fluidic line (12) and a third fluidic line (25, 25") fluidically connected with said tank (6);

- allowing said sanitising fluid to flow along said third fluidic line (25, 25") from said first fluidic line (12) towards said tank (6), during a step of sanitising said filling device (10, 10');
said step of allowing comprising the further steps of:

- displacing a third valve (42', 42") interposed along said third fluidic line (25, 25") between a relative closed position in which it prevents said sanitising fluid from flowing along said third fluidic line (25), and a relative open position in which it allows said sanitising fluid to flow along said third fluidic line (25);
characterized in that said step of displacing said second valve (41) comprises the step of displacing said second valve (41) between said relative open and closed positions independently of the pressure difference within said second fluidic line (20) between an upstream and a downstream section (21, 22) of said valve (41);
said step of displacing said third valve (42', 42") comprising the step of displacing said third valve (42', 42") between the relative said open and closed positions independently of the pressure difference within said third fluidic line (25, 25") between an upstream section (14) and a downstream section (26, 26") of the third valve (42, 42").

8. A method according to claim 7, characterized by comprising the steps of:

- feeding a first conveyor (3) comprising at least one said filling device (10, 10') along a first path (P) formed by an operative segment (R) and a return segment (S);

- feeding a second conveyor (4) along a second path (Q1) tangent to said first path (P), at an initial station (I) of said operative segment (R);

- feeding a third conveyor (5) mobile along a third path (Q2) tangent to said first path (P), at an end station (0) of the operative segment (R); and

- arranging both said first valve (15) and second valve (41) in the respective said closed positions, during said return segment (S) of said path (P).

Drawing