Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
PATENT
az~~RwE~ Faa~~aza~ v~~v~
Field of the invention
This invention relates to filling valves for use
in counterpressure filling machines. More specifically,
this invention relates to filling valves having a movable
vent tube for counterpressure filling containers with
carbonated liquids.
Backqxound of the invention
The beverage industry continually strives for
1a machinery and methods which facilitate rapid, economical
and efficient filling of containers, such as bottles or
cans, with carbonated liquids. Impraved machinery for
filling containers with carbonated liquids and improved
filling valves for rapidly and efficiently filling these
containers are therefore desirable. These machines and
valves must ensure that the carbonated liquid which fills
the containers under pressure does not escape from the
machine during filling, and that the carbonation does not
escape from the liquid as the container is filled.
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Methods and <_apparatus for filling containers with
carbonated liquids have evolved into counterpressure filling
machines in which the containers are first filled with a gas
under pressure, for example, C02, at about 40 psi. The
carbonated liquid is thereafter admitted to the containers
under pressure so than the carbonated liquid does not
escape. The containers are then quickly closed, thereby
ensuring that the carbc>nation does not escape the liquid.
An example of a filling valve in a carbonated liquid
bottling machine is shown in U.S. Patent No. 4,089,353,
Antonelli, which is conunonly assigned.
In the Antonelli patent, a filling valve is shown
which connects a container with a tank containing a supply
of the liquid which will fill the container, and a supply of
the pressurized gas for counterpressurizing the container.
The filling valve is controlled by a cam outside of the tank
which actuates a firsi~ valve membE~r such that the
counterpressure gas is first admitted to the container. The
container is filled with the counterpressure gas until the
pressures of the gas anal the liquid are equal. A second
valve member is then opened by the cam which allows the
liquid to flow into the container under the influence of
gravity. When the container is filled, the cam actuator
closes the valve members and the bottle is lowered away from
2~ the valve in a sequenced operation.
2C~~1~.1~
3 - PATENT
In exemplary machines for filling cans employing
the princ~plas of the Antonelli patent, a plurality of
filling valves are mounted to the machine on a bottom
circular surface. The cans which are to be filled are
carried along a conveyer to lifters which move along a path
under the filling valves. Examples of such filling valves
are found in U.S. Patent No. 4,750,533, Yun, which is
commonly assigned. The Yun patent teaches a filling valve
far filling cans with a pressurized fluid wherein the can
is lifted to the filling valve. Each can is carried to a
lifter which moves the can vertically upward to the filling
valve. The lifter and the can are then moved in a circular
path with the filling valve as the can is filled with the
carbonated liquid. After the can is filled, the lifter
lowers the can away from the valve. Machines which utilize
lifters are relatively complex and expensive, and require
complex structures to support the lifters as they cooperate
with the filling valves.
To reduce the cost and complexity of such can
filling machines, machines have been developed in which the
cans are not elevated toward the filling valves, but
rather, remain stationary in a vertical direction while the
filling valve is lowered to meet the can. Although these
machines are mechanically less complicated and
substantially less expensive to produce, they have a severe
disadvantage due to a reduced operating speed.
The filling valves which are used in these
stationary can machines generally include two concentric
~ ~ P1~TED1T
valve members. An outer valve member for admitting liquid
into the container is provided, and an inner valve member
for admitting counterpressure gas into the container is
further provided. The outlet dispensing end or "vent tube"
for the inner valve member must be inserted a certain
distance into the container for proper operation of the
filling valve. To achieve this action, the filling valve
must have a relatively long stroke to meet the containers,
thereby ensuring that the outlet of the vent tube is
inserted the proper depth in the container and that the
vent tube is lifted clear from the container after the
container is filled with the carbonated liquid. The
requirement of moving the filling valves along this
relatively long stroke significantly slows down the overall
operation of stationary container filling machines.
Examples of filling machines having movable
filling valves may be found in U.S. Patent No. 4,679,603,
Rademacher et al. The Rademacher et al. patent discloses a
filling valve which can be lowered into the filling
position by a cam disk and a pressure spring, or which can
be lowered into position by overpressure within the filling
machine vessel. A centering member within the filling
valve can similarly be moved into position with the
container. An upwardly extending piston member forming
part of the piston-cylinder unit contains a return gas tube
which can move independently of the piston-cylinder unit.
The piston-cylinder unit in cooperation with a double lever
arm arrangement places the filling valve in the open
-» ~, - PAT ENT
condition to achieve complete pressure equalization. See
column 1, line 5g, through column 2, line 15.
The filling valves disclosed in the Rademacher et
al. patent do not fulfill a long-felt need in the art for
filling valves that perform fast and efficient filling of
containers with carbonated liquids. The use of the double
arm lever arrangement disclosed in the Rademacher et al.
patent for allowing independent movement of the return gas
tube with respect to the valve is cumbersome and requires
complex mechanisms to actuate valve movement. These
complex mechanisms are costly, and greatly add to the time
it takes for the filling valve to be lowered into position
over the container which will be filled with the carbonated
liquids.
The filling valves described above do not satisfy
a long-felt need in the art for filling valves which can
efficiently and expeditiously fill a large number of
filling cans in a counterpressure filling machine. Filling
valves which would satisfy this need should have a
shortened vent tube stroke and be movable to interface with
stationary containers which will be filled with carbonated
liquids.
Summar~r of the Invention
The above mentioned long-felt needs in the art
are satisfied by filling valves provided in accordance with
the present invention. Tn accordance with this invention,
filling valves for counterpressure filling containers with
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carbonated liquids are provided. Valve body means for
conducting the carbonated liquid to the container from an
external reservoir, thc-~ valve body means having an end from
which the carbonated .liquid is dispensed to the container is
further provided. Counterpressure valve means movably
mounted in the valve body means for controlling the flow of
counterpressure gas to the container is also further
provided. Vent tube means slidably mounted in the valve
body means through the dispensing end of the valve body
means for dispensing the counterpressure gas to the
container, the vent tube means being slidable with respect
to the valve body mean's from a retracted position to an
extended position in the container in response to the
counterpressure gas is provided. Housing means movably
mounted with respect i~o the valve body means for securing
the container to valve during filling is provided.
Actuating means coupled thereto for moving the housing means
relative to valve body means onto the container is further
provided.
Further, pressure relief means interfaced through
the valve body means f:or venting gas from the valve after
the liquid has filled the container whereby movement of the
vent tube means from the extended position to the retracted
position is substantially unimpeded may be provided in
2:~ accordance with the irnvention.
According tca another aspect the invention provides
a method of dispensing carbonated liquids from a
counterpressure fillirw~ machine to a container comprising
the steps of: moving the container in proximity to a
counterpressure valve in the counterpressure filling
machine; operating a <~as valve to permit counterpressure gas
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to flow into a cylinder associated with a piston conneca ed
to a vent tube, thereby increasing t=he pressure in the
cylinder and displacing the piston t:o permit counterpressure
gas to flow into the vt:nt tube and thereby moving the vent
tube into the container from the counterpressure valve;
filling the container with counterpressure gas through the
vent tube until a pres:~ure equilibrium is reached, whereby a
liquid valve is opened by the action of a spring to permit
carbonated liquid to f:l_ow into the container; filling the
container with the carbonated liquid, thereby displacing a
substantial portion o:f the counterpressure gas from the
container through the vent tube; closing the liquid valve
and sealing the vent tube; venting remaining counterpressure
gas from the container; moving the vent tube from the
container; and relieving pressure impedance in the cylinder
developed by the migration of the piston in the vent tube.
Brief Description of the Draraings
Figure 1 is a. schematic of a counterpressure
filling machine utilising filling valves provided in
accordance with the present invention.
Figure 2 is a. side elevation view of a filling
valve provided in accordance with the present invention.
Figure 3 is a side elevation view of a filling
valve provided in accordance with the present invention in
2~ engagement with a can.
Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of a filling
valve taken along the ~l-4 line of Figure 1.
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Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of a filling
valve taken along the '.~-5 line of Figure 3.
Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of a filling
valve engaged with a cars as the can is being filled with
carbonated liquid.
~~~ ~,~.~r~ ~~
- 8 - PATENT
De~ta~iled Descri~ptiora of preferred embodiments
Referring now to the drawings wherein like
reference numerals refer to like elements, Figure 1 is a
schematic drawing of a counterpressure filling machine
shown generally at 10. The entire machine is supported by
base 20, which is mounted or rests on a conventional
footing. A drive motor 30 having a main drive gear
assembly 40 in rotational engagement with drive motor 30 is
mounted to base 20. Main drive gear assembly 40 is
supported by base 20 through main bearings 50. Cylindrical
support casting 60 is mounted to main drive gear assembly
40.
Reservoir 70 is generally cylindrical in shape
and is supported by main drive gear assembly 40. Reservoir
70 is rotatable by main drive gear assembly 40 and contains
carbonated liquid and counterpressure gas used in filling
containers. Reservoir 70 is mounted to cylindrical support
casting 60 by vertical support member 80 and is further
centrally disposed about and in fluid communication with
counterpressure gas feed hub 90, and carbonated liquid feed
line 100 respectively. Due to this arrangement, a constant
supply of counterpressure gas and carbonated liquid may be
supplied to reservoir 70 even as it rotates.
Depending externally from and extending into
reservoir 20 is a filling valve 110 provided in accordance
with the present invention. A valve actuating arm 120 is
connected to a cam 130 contained within the reservoir and
m 9 _ LATENT,'
in contact with valve 110. Valve actuating arm 120 is used
to dispose cam 130 with respect to valve 110 in various
operating positions as valve 110 fills a container 140 with
carbonated liquid. The container may be a bottle, can, or
any other receptacle appropriate for holding carbonated
liquids.
In operation of previous filling machines,
containers are repeatedly engaged and disengaged with
stationary filling valves by a carousel apparatus which
moves the containers to the filling valves. In accordance
with the present invention, such a carousel apparatus with
its associated lifter mechanisms may be eliminated, and
filling valve 110 is lowered onto stationary can 140 in
order to fill the can with carbonated liquids.
Referring to Figure 2, filling valve 110 is shown
above a stationary can 140. Filling valve 110 is in fluid
communication with reservoir 70. The filling valve has a
generally cylindrical valve body 150 having an end from
which the carbonated liquid is dispensed to a container and
'. 20 which extends downward onto a housing 160, herein denoted
as a "bell."
Bell 160 is mounted to valve body 150 by machine
screces 170 through bracket 180. Shift valve 190 is mounted
to valve body 150 and, in typical operation of a
counterpressure filling machine, is actuated by a shift cam
to release counterpressure gas from the top of can 140
after the can has been filled with the carbonated liquid.
Additionally, a clean in place valve 200 is interfaced with
~~a~,~'~~~~
- 1, l3 - ~'ATENT
valve body 150 and is actuated to allow cleaning fluid to
course through the valve and accomplish the cleaning
operation which kills bacteria in the filling machine.
Rell 160 is slidably mounted around valve body
150. A valve actuating cam 210 is pivotally mounted to
bracket 180 which joins bell 160 to valve body 150. An
arcuate slot 220 is integrally formed in actuating cam 210.
A cam roller 230 is housed within arcuate slot 220 and is
mounted to valve body 150. Cam roller 230 rides within
arcuate slot 220 as actuating cam 210 pivots around bracket
180. Cam roller 230 is rotatably mounted to valve body 150
by a cam roller shaft 240 which extends through valve body
150 to the opposite side of the valve body wherein an
identical actuating cam and cam roller axe mounted. A
second cam roller shaft 250 is disposed through actuating
cam 210 and bracket 180 to further secure cam 210 to valve
body 150, and to mechanically join cam 210 to bell 160,
which is longitudinally, slidably mounted around the bottom
of valve body 150.
A resilient spring 260 is secured at 270 to the
top of valve body 150. Resilient spring 260 is also
securely mounted on a back arm 280 which is integrally
formed on actuating cam 210. In Figure 2, resilient spring
! 260 is shown in the extended position, indicating that bell
.'.
160 is disengaged from can 140.
Tn preferred embodiments, actuating cam 210 is
.. fixedly secured on a second arm 290 to a roller 300.
Roller 300 rests on cam follower surface 310. Cam follower
1'ATEPTT
surface 310 will generally have a sloping profile which
varies along the periphery of the filling machine in
accordance with the position that the filling valve is
intended to take with respect to the stationary cans at the
various filling positians on the machine. Since cam
follower surface 310 is sloped, roller 300 actuates cam 210
and drives cam 210 along cam roller 230 in arcuate slot 220
with respect to ~,ralve body 150.
As cam 210 changes its position due to the
movement of the arcuate slot 220 along cam roller 230, bell
160 slidably moves longitudinally around valve body 150 and
is put in engagement with can 140. In this fashion,
actuating cam 210 forces bell 160 into engagement with can
140 as roller 300 rolls along cam follower surface 310,
thereby causing cam roller 230 to move in engagement with
arcuate slot 220.
Referring now to Figure 3, valve 110 is shown
wherein bell 160 is engaging can 140. Roller 300 has
rolled to a position on cam follower surface 310 such that
actuating cam 210 has pivoted on shafts 240 and 250,
thereby causing cam roller 230 to migrate in arcuate slot
220 to the opposite end of the arcuate slot. In this
position, resilient spring 260 is at its natural length,
and bracket 180 mounted to bell 160 through bolts 170 has
forced bell 160 into engagement with the top of can 140.
In still further preferred embodiments, arcuate
slot 220 is fashioned so as to contain an unstable point of
equilibrium 320 for cam roller 230. When cam roller 230
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falls on unstable equilibrium point 320 as roller 300 forces
actuating cam 210 to move, cam roller 230 is forced into the
position shown in Figm-e 3, thereby forcibly engaging bell
160 with can 140. In this manner, arcuate slot 220 having
unstable equilibrium point 320 is assured of fixedly
securing bell 160 to ~~an 190 during the filling process..
Unstable equilibrium point 320 within arcuate 220
is particularly necessary for filling valves provided in
accordance with this invention which utilize sealing rubbers
located within bell 160. Sealing rubbers for use in
counterpressure filling machines and filling valves are
taught in U.S. Patent I~(o. 4,750,533, Yun. Thus, unstable
equilibrium point 320, which, in preferred embodiments, is
located substantially around the center of arcuate slot 220,
ensures that cam roller 230 is forced into the position
within arcuate slot 2:?0 that causes actuating cam 210 to
securedly fix bell 160 onto the top of can 140 during the
counterpressure filling process.
Referring to Figure 4, a filling valve provided in
accordance with this .invention is fixedly mounted through
flange 370 to the bottom wall 330 of reservoir 70 by volts
340. Reservoir '70 COrltains carbonated liquid 350 which is
dispensed to can 140 during operation of the filling
machine. A counterpressure gas 360 at elevated pressure,
2:~ typically nitrogen or carbon dioxide at 40-45 psi, is above
liquid 350 in reservoir 70. A liquid passage
13 ~ PATED1T
380 extends longitudinally through a portion of valve body
150 from the top end of valve body 150 and is in
communication with liquid 350 in reservoir 70.
A tube 390 extends upwardly through the liquid
passage 380 into reservoir 70 to a point above the level of
liquid 350. The tube 390 has a passage 400 extending
longitudinally therethrough terminating at its upper end in
first valve member 410 which is constructed, in preferred
embodiments, to permit the flow of counterpressure gas 360
from reservoir 70 into passage 400. The construction and
' operation of similar filling valves is described in the
Antonelli patent.
Valve member 410 is actuated by a cam 420 which
directly acts on a valve cap 430. When valve cap 430 is
released by cam 420, a counterpressure spring 440 forces
counterpressure valve 410 upward, thereby allowing counter--
pressure gas 360 to flow into and through longitudinal
passage 400. The bottom end of tube 390 opens into a
cylinder 450 which contains a longitudinally slidable
piston 460 having a longitudinal passage 470 in substantial
alignment with longitudinal passage 400 of tube 390. A
vent tuba 480 is secured to the bottom of piston 460 and
extends longitudinally from the bottom of the piston such
that the bottom of the vent tube 480 is in substantial
alignment with the passage 470 of piston 460.
Vent tube 480 is slidably mounted in valve body
150 through the end of valve body 150 for dispensing 'the
counterpressure gas into the container. 3n preferred
- 7.4 - PATENT
embodiments, vent tube 480 is longitudinally slidable with
respect to valve body 150 from a retracted position to an
extended position in the container. Similarly, vent tube
480 is slidable back into the retracted position in valve
body 150 from the extended position in the container.
Vent tube 480 is adapted to receive a "checkball°'
cage 490 to regulate the flow of the carbonated liquid to
the container on its bottom end. Checkball cage 490 is
seated in a recess 500 at the bottom end of the valve body
l0 150. A ball 510 is located within the checkball cage 490.
A resilient spring 520 is compressed between the piston 460
and the bottom end of the cylinder at 530. Resilient
spring 520 urges piston 460 in an upward direction towards
reservoir 470 to seat the checkball cage 490 in a recess
500.
A second valve member 540 is located within valve
body passage 380 surrounding valve tube 450. Located on
the bottom of the second valve member 540 is valve seat 550
which is seated on openings 560 that extend through the
bottom portion of valve body 150 to the end of bell 160.
Valve seat 550 is held against openings 560 by cam 420.
However, spring 620 between valve tube 390 and second valve
member 540 tends to lift valve seat 550 away from openings
560 when permitted by cam 420.
Referring now to Figure 5, can 140 is carried by
conveyor to a position in proximity under filling valve 110
in a counterpressure filling machine. In this fashion,
bell 160 is lowered onto can 7.40 which remains stationary.
4~ ~ ~ .~
-. ~,5 ~- PATENT
Cam 420 then operates the valve member 410 to allow
counterpressure gas to flow through the passage 400 into
cylinder 450. The counterpressure gas presses on piston
460, causing it to move downwardly in the cylinder 450.
The counterpressure gas overcomes the resiliency of spring
520 and thus forces vent tube 480 and checkball cage 490
into the can 140 in the extended position, as indicated by
the arrows 570 in Figure 5.
Referring to Figure 6, when can 140 is filled
with counterpressure gas, spring 620 pushes the second
valve member 540 up, thereby allowing carbonated liquid to
flow from reservoir 70 through passage 470 to the openings
560 and dawn inlet gaps 580 into can 140, as indicated by
arrows 590 in Figure 6. The liquid entering the can 140
causes the counterpressure gas to be displaced upwardly out
y, of the can as indicated by arrows 600 in Figure 6.
The carbonated liquid fills can 140 until it
reaches the level of ball 510 in checkball cage 490. As
the liquid reaches the level of ball 510, the liquid lifts
s 20 the ball upwardly until it closes the valve stem 480 and
stops the flow of counterpressure gas out of can 140. This
;.
in turn stops the flow of liquid into can 140. Since the
gas and the liquid are in the same reservoir 70 their
pressures are equal and hence, liquid flow stops when gas
can no longer escape from can 140. This method of shutting
off liquid flow is accurate and efficient and is discussed
in detail in the Antonelli patent.
~~r~~~,~.~
- 16 - PATENT
At this point, the snift valve 190 is actuated
w allowing she counterpressure gas in the head space of can
140 to be vented to the atmosphere through valve body 150.
Since the counterpressure gas has been removed from valve
body 150, spring 450 urges piston 460 to move upward into
the valve body, thereby removing checkball cage 490 and
vent tube 480 out of can 140 longitudinally back into the
. valve in the retracted position. During this procedure,
bell 160 stays stationary and fixed to the top of can 140
.. 10 since, in preferred embodiments, vent tube 480 is movable
with respect to bell 160 within the valve body 150.
However, as piston 460 and vent tube 480 are
urged upward into valve body 150, any remaining
., counterpressure gas and air is displaced upward and tends
to overcome the resiliency of spring 520, thereby impeding
the migration of piston 460 and vent tube 480 back up into
valve body 150 after the liquid has filled the can. In
preferred embodiments, to overcome the undesirable effects
of this trapped gas and air, pressure relief means 610 is
interfaced through valve body 150 and passage 380. In
further preferred embodiments, pressure relief means 610 is
a passage interfaced through the valve body means. Passage
610 is opened to the atmosphere and allows the displaced
gas and air which impedes migration of piston 460 up into
valve 110 to escape valve body 150 allowing vent tube 480
substantially unrestricted traverse to the retracted
position after can 140 has been filled with the carbonated
liquid.
J~~~~.:L~
17 m PATENT
In still further preferred embodiments, vent tube
480 moves separately from bell 160 into, and out of can
140. Therefore, it is only necessary for bell 160 to move
a short distance, typically about 1/4 inch, in order to
make sealing contact with can 140. Actuating cam 210 need
thus only move bell 160 a very short distance, which
alleviates the necessity for complex mechanical components
to bring valve 110 into sealing contact with can 140 so
that can 140 can be filled with carbonated liquids.
Furthermore, since vent tube 480 moves separately from bell
160, the remaining distance which checkball cage 490 must
'. traverse to achieve the proper depth in can 140 to fill the
can is similarly minimized. This further alleviates the
need for complex machinery to accurately and quickly place
vent tube 480 within the can so that the can may be filled.
The vent tube stroke of filling valves provided
in accordance with this invention, and the distance which
bell 160 must move is much shorter than similar strokes of
other filling machine valves in which a filling valve moves
in contact with a stationary can. ~y providing a shortened
stroke, faster operation of the filling machine is
achieved. This greatly increases the economy and
efficiency of counterpressure filling machines provided in
accordance with this invention, and solves a long-felt need
in the art for counterpressure filling machines and filling
valves which can fill containers with carbonated liquids at
high speed. Additionally, since only bell 160 moves to
make sealing contact with can 140, only a small amount of
~~9~~~,:~~~
18 ~ PATENT
mechanical structure must be moved, 'thereby aiding and
further increasing the speed of the filling machine.
Filling valves provided in accordance with the present
invention thus solve a long°felt need in the art for
filling valves which have a shortened stroke to permit
faster operation of the counterpressure filling machines.
There have thus been described certain preferred
embodiments of methods and apparatus for filling containers
with carbonated liquids. While preferred embodiments have
been described, it will be appreciated by those with skill
w in the art that modifications are within the true spirit
and scope of the invention. The appended claims are
intended to cover all such modifications.
