FILLER

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a container filler with a food product, prevalently beverages.

Prior Art

The use of a rotary filler of containers is known in the technical sector. The rotary filler comprises a carousel in turn comprising:

- a rotary tank for containing the product;

- a plurality of filling stations distributed along a perimeter of the carousel. Each of said filling stations comprises:

- a dispenser which enables a container to be filled;

- a dispensing line connecting the tank and the dispenser;

- a cannula which extends vertically along a portion of the dispensing line and which projects externally of the dispenser; the cannula is used for evacuating air during the filling of the container. It thus determines the filling level of the bottle. In fact, when the level reaches the end of the cannula which projects internally of the container the gas will slightly rise in the cannula so that the gas pressure in the cannula and in the tank balance and then the dispensing is interrupted.

When the container format is changed, the filling level thereof and the height of the lower end of the cannula have to be adjusted. With the purpose of enabling a rapid change-format there is a ring which enables an adjustment of all the cannulas of all the filling stations. By raising or lowering the ring the immersion depth of all the cannulas internally of the containers is changed.

During this adjustment there is the risk that the cannula will carry dirt inside the dispensing line. In fact, if the cannula lowers it will push further down along the dispensing line, drawing with it any eventual dirt that was first confined in a zone located above the dispensing line. With the aim of minimising the introduction of dirt, seals are present which by dragging on the cannula at least partly retain the dirt and prevent it from being dragged into the dispensing line. The dragging seals enable the issue to be minimised but not definitively eliminated.

Aim of the invention

In this context, the technical task underlying the present invention is to provide a filler which obviates the drawbacks of the prior art as described above.

In particular, an object of the present invention is to provide a filler that prevents contamination of the dispensing line of product during the adjustment of the product level.

The stated technical task and specified objects are substantially achieved by a filler comprising the technical features set forth in one or more of the appended claims.

Brief description of the drawings

Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following indicative, and hence non- limiting, description of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of a filler as illustrated in the appended drawings, in which:

- figure 1 shows a perspective view of a filler according to the present invention;

- figures 2 and 3 show two different configurations of a filling station according to the present invention;

- figures 4, 5 and 6 show enlargements of figure 3;

- figure 7 shows an enlargement of figure 1 .

Detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention

In the appended figures, reference number 1 indicates a container filler with a food product. The food product is preferably a liquid with possibly some solid pieces suspended therein (typically a beverage). The container is preferably a glass bottle.

The filler 1 further comprises a rotary carousel 2. The carousel 2 is rotatable about a rotation axis 21 . The rotation axis 21 is vertical. In the preferred solution, the carousel 2 comprises a plurality of filling stations 20. The filling stations 20 are distributed about the rotation axis 21 . They are distributed along the circumferential perimeter of the carousel 2.

The carousel 2 (but preferably a plurality of/each filling station 20) advantageously comprises:

- a dispensing line 3 of product;

- a cannula 4 for passage of a fluid.

The cannula 4 extends at least partly inside the dispensing line 3 of the product. The cannula 4 has a straight extension. It is substantially vertical. It is typically rigid, preferably made of a metal material. The cannula 4 is a part of defining means of the filling level of the container (appropriately these means also comprise displacing means in a vertical direction of the cannula 4). In fact the cannula 4 enables the exit of the gas present in the container. For this purpose note that during the filling, the dispensing of the product is accompanied by the exit of the gas from said container which takes place through a lower end of the cannula 4. When the level of the product internally of the container reaches the lower end of the cannula 4, the exit of the gas is interrupted and shortly thereafter also the dispensing of the product. A lower end of the cannula 4 is open. It enables the removal of the gas which strikes an internal wall of the container.

The cannula 4 advantageously further enables inlet of gas inside the container so as to place the container under pressure. This step typically takes place during the pressurisation step of the container (this is a well- known step in the sector and it is necessary for the subsequent isobaric filling).

The carousel 2 (but preferably a plurality of/each filling station 20) advantageously comprises a tubular jacket 5 that envelops a portion of the cannula 4 which projects inside the dispensing line 3 (it does not necessarily envelop all the cannula 4 inside the dispensing line 3, but completely surrounds at least a portion of the cannula). In this way the tubular jacket 5 is part of means that prevent contact between at least a longitudinal portion of the cannula 4 and the product to be dispensed. The tubular jacket 5 is impermeable to the product to be dispensed. The tubular jacket 5 projects internally of the dispensing line 3. The cannula 4 projects inside the dispensing line 3; in particular it projects inside the tubular jacket 5.

The tubular jacket 5 might be a monolithic element. It might however be an assembly of a plurality of components. For example, the tubular jacket 5 comprises a sleeve 54 (in the present description the term sleeve 54 is taken to mean a tubular structure which can be metal or not; it can be in a single piece or can be an assembly of a plurality of pieces). The sleeve 54 is preferably rigid. Further, the sleeve 54 is solidly constrained to at least a portion of the dispensing line 3.

The tubular jacket 5 comprises at least a tubular portion 53 that is at least partly elastically deformable. The deformable portion 53 extends vertically for more than 50% (preferably more than 90%) of the length of the jacket 5 (even in the configuration of minimum deformation of the jacket 5).

The jacket 5 is vertical. Both the sleeve 54 and the deformable portion 53 have a preponderantly vertical extension.

The cannula 4 opens internally of said dispensing line 3 (i.e. it opens in a zone surrounded by the dispensing line 3) at a first zone 31 . It is specified that the cannula 4 opens internally of the dispensing line 3 at the first zone 31 from above.

The jacket 5 (in particular the sleeve 54) envelops the cannula 4 at least at the first zone 31 . The deformable portion 53 preferably but not necessarily envelops the cannula 4 at the first zone 31 . The portion 53 might in fact start at a lower height with respect to said first zone 31 .

As illustrated by way of example in figure 4 or 6 the deformable portion 53 is connected to the sleeve 54. In particular they are coaxial. They are reciprocally superposed (while remaining in contact) for a portion. A deformation of the deformable portion 53 does not result in a displacing of the sleeve 54. The jacket 5 comprises a first portion 51 which is solidly constrained (possibly by use of intermediate coupling elements) to the dispensing line 3 at the first zone 31 and/or in a zone located outside the dispensing line 3 and above said first zone 31 . The first portion 51 may not be a part of the deformable portion 53, but might be fashioned in said sleeve 54.

The jacket 5 comprises a second portion 52 which is below the first portion 51 and which is fixed to the cannula 4. The second portion 52 is advantageously unremovably connected to the cannula 4. The connection takes place along an annular portion. This ensures a fluid-dynamic seal which prevents the inlet of fluid between the jacket 5 and the cannula 4. A gap is preferably present between the jacket 5 and the cannula 4, which gap typically contains air.

The displacement of the cannula 4 with respect to the first portion 51 determines a lengthening/shortening of said jacket 5.

The first portion 51 of the jacket 5 is preferably a first end of the jacket 5. Likewise the second portion 52 of the jacket 5 is at a second end of the jacket 5.

In a first constructional solution (see figure 4) the tubular jacket 5 comprises a smooth external surface 50 (including in the non-deformed configuration). This facilitates cleaning.

The external surface 50 is in fact destined to come into contact with the product.

The deformable portion 53 of the jacket 5 can advantageously be made of silicone.

The deformable portion 53 of the tubular jacket 5 is preferably extendible by at least 300% without breaking. In the solution by way of example, the cannula 4 has a maximum vertical run of 8 centimetres. The deformable portion 53 follows this stretch with no difficulty.

In an alternative solution (see figure 7) the deformable portion 53 of the tubular jacket 5 is a bellows.

With reference to figure 2 it is specified that the filler 1 comprises: - a tank 6 for the product;

- a dispenser 7 (during the filling the container is sealedly located against an abutment that surrounds the dispenser 7 and isolates it from the external environment - the evacuation of the gas takes place through the cannula 4);

- the dispensing line 3 connecting the tank 6 and the dispenser 7.

Each filling station 20 advantageously comprises a dispenser 7 of its own. The dispenser 7 advantageously enables the dispensing of the product externally of the filler 1 . A plurality of dispensing lines 3 is advantageously present, which connect the tank 6 with corresponding filling stations 20. The tank 6 is common to all the filling stations 20. It is advantageously annular and advantageously rotates together with the carousel 2. As illustrated by way of example in the accompanying figures, the dispensing line 3 comprises a first portion 310 which extends at and below the tank 6 and a second portion 320 (preferably vertical) internally of which the jacket 5 at least partly extends. The second portion 320 extends in a radially more external position with respect to the first portion 310 (the radially more external position is to be evaluated with reference to the rotation axis 21 of the carousel 2). A slide 330 is located between the first and the second portion 310, 320.

A valve 31 1 is advantageously located along the first portion 310, which enables/inhibits outflow of the product present in the tank 6 along the dispensing line 3. There are no valves intercepting the product along the second portion 320 and preventing dispensing thereof. A siphon 312 is advantageously present along the first portion 310. The siphon advantageously prevents inlet of air into the tank 6.

The object of the present invention further relates to a filling method of a container by means of a filler having one or more of the characteristics described hereinabove.

The method comprises the step of regulating a filling level of the container. This takes place by raising or lowering the cannula 4. The step of raising or lowering the cannula 4 advantageously determines a lengthening or shortening of the deformable portion 53 of the jacket 5.

The method further comprises a step of positioning the container below an outlet of the dispensing line 3, by penetrating the cannula 4 inside the container. This preferably takes place following the step of adjusting the filling level of the container.

At this point the method can comprise one or more of the following steps:

- depressurisation of the container in order to reduce the presence of air inside the container; the depressurisation can take place via a first additional valve located along the dispensing line 3 through which the air present in the container is expelled;

following or during the depressurisation via the cannula 4 an inert gas can be introduced, for example carbon dioxide, to carry out a flushing that facilitates the expulsion of the air; the depressurisation and eventual flushing are possibly repeated several times;

- pressurisation of the container to place the pressure in the container substantially in equilibrium with the gas pressure in the tank 6 (the pressurisation advantageously takes place by introducing the gas via the cannula 4).

The method comprises a step of introducing the product inside the container by making the product transit through the dispensing line 3 and contemporaneously evacuating a gas present in the container through the cannula 4.

The method can subsequently comprise a step of reducing the pressure in the container with respect to the atmospheric pressure. In that case the excess of gas present in the container is extracted via a second additional valve located along the dispensing line 3.

The present invention offers important advantages.

Primarily it enables preventing entry of dirt inside the dispensing line of the product at the moment when the format change is carried out (and in particular the filling level of the containers is adjusted). Secondly it enables optimisation of the components and in any case ensures the cannula 4 can perform runs of a length that is absolutely compatible with requirements.

The invention as it is conceived is susceptible to numerous modifications and variants, all falling within the scope of the inventive concept characterising it. Further, all the details can be replaced with other technically-equivalent elements. In practice, all the materials used, as well as the dimensions, can be any according to requirements.