US 20030106606A1 ay United States «2 Patent Application Publication co) Pub. No.: US 2003/0106606 AL Stocchi 3) Pub. Date: Jun. 12, 2003 (54) FILLING VALVE OF BOTTLING PLANT. Publication Classification (76) Inventor: Gabriele Stocehi, Parma (IT) 61) Incl? BOSB $7/14; BOSB 57,06; Conrespondence Addeess: OSB 3/28; BOTC 300; BOSB 1/30 OBLON, SPIVAK, MCCL NEUSTADT, Pc. 1940 DUKE STREET . ALEXANDRIA, VA 22314 (US) 6n ABSTRACT LAND, MAIER & 141/198 Appl. No: 103312,875 Improvements to filing valves of bottling plants ia which PCT Filed: Jul 5, 2001 the interruption of the processing uids’ flow happens oc sripout automatically when the level of the liquid inside the filled een ey bottle reaches the lower edge of the vent tube and the air 30) Foreign Application Priority Data trapped! in the filling valve prevents the coming out of the . meen . liquid feom the tank even ifthe external membrane (6) stil Jul. 7,200 (11) 1802000000409 in the open positionPatent Application Publication Jun. 12, 2003 Sheet 1 of 2 US 2003/0106606 Al TirePatent Application Publication Jun. 12,2003 Sheet 2 of 2 US 2003/0106606 AL FIG. 2US 2003/0106606 AL FILLING VALVE OF BOTTLING PLANT FIELD OF THE ART [0001] ‘The prescat invention is related tothe technologies Of the boting processes, and it specifically pertains to improved filling valves of turret filling machines. Such technologies are included in the International Classification Bore STATE OF THE ART [0002] _In he previous technology are known several kinds Of filling valves that are set up peripherally around filling [0003] All kinds of known filling valves have intercepting ‘organs inside the bodies of the filling valve that constitute an ‘obstacle for the flow of the filling fluid and forthe cleansing ‘options. In fact, said intercepting organs inside the down- flow conduits create retention zones or interstices, where the residual particles of the processing uid often are gathered, [0004] ‘The problem to be solved is to eliminate such intercepting organs inside the filing valve in order to eliminate all the related problems of the traditional filling valves. DESCRIPTION [0005] The invention is now disclosed with reference to the schematic figures of the attached drawings as a not limiting example [0006] FIG. 1 represents schematically 4 fling valve at the end of filing phase of a bottle. One ean notice thatthe filing valve does not have intercepting organs inside of the downflow conduits. Nonetheless, he downtlow of the liquid is stopped by the air trapped inside the filling valve, [0007] This phenomenon allows the optimization of the Shape of the dowaflow conxluits, thus solving all the prob- ems of the traditional filing valves, [0008] The filing valves made according the improve- ‘meois object of the present inveation will be cheaper in the realization and more celiable during the filling and cleansing ‘operations. [0009] FIG. 2 represents schematically a Gilling valve ‘uring the removal phase of the filled bottle. One can notice that, during this phase, the filling valve without inner intercepting organs is closed by a membrane 6 external to the enbloc body of the filling valve; sai) membrane is deformed by an extemal synchronized electrovalve 7. [0010] One can notice that there are aot intercepting and sealing organs inside the filling Valve and that said mem- brane 6; hermetically sealed, is constantly held upon the eenbloc body of te filling valve and that it keeps closed from the outside the dawnflow conduit [0011] Inthe figures of the attached drawings, each single ‘detail is marked as follows: [0012] 1 is the filled bottle [0013] 2 indicates the lower edge of the venting tube that sets the filling level ofthe liquid in the bottle Jun. 12, 2003 [0014] 3 is the air venting tube inside the empty botile [0015] 4 bortle’s hand! [0016] Sis the zone where the aie is tapped when the Tiguid’s level teaches the lower edge of the venting tube (0017) [0018] (0019) (0020) [0021] 9 is the genera tank of the tguid [0022] The evidence ofthe figures highlighis the operation Of the filling valve is extremely simple and automatic. In fact, even though the filling valve does not internal inter- cepting organs, the stopping of the filling process happens by siphon effect, I is the residual air that being, tapped inside the flowing conduits interrupts the downflow of the iquid when inside the bottle is reached the level set by the position of the lower edge of the venting tube. [0023] ‘The absence of intercepting onsans inside the fill- ing valve allows to realize flowing conduits with optimized profile, that is without retention zones and interstices that disturb the laminar motion of the filling anc doo’t obstruct the cleansing operation. [0024] The invention of course allows for several varia- lions of practical realization as far as the proportional structuring and the technological choice are concerned, that ‘will adjusted to the different needs of bottling plants [0025] 1 is therefore evident that all. improvements 10 filling valves that will be based on the inventive principles ‘of the present invention, as substantially described, illus- tated and hercinafier claimed, will be considered part of the protection sphere of the present invention. 1) Improvements to filling valves of bottling plants (CHARACTERIZED BY THE FACT THAT the iatereeption ‘of the downllow of the process fluids happens automatically ‘when the Jevel of the liquid inside the filled bottle reaches the lower edge of the venting tube and that the air trapped inside the fling valve prevents the coming out ofthe liquid from the tank even ifthe external membrane 6 is sil in the ‘opening position, 2) Improvements to filling valves of botling plants, asin claim 1, CHARACTERIZED BY THE FACT THAT since the internal organs of interception and sealing have been eliminated, the shape of downflow conduit is optimized ‘because it does not present retention zones or interstices that clistucb the laminar filling downflow and obstruct the cleans- ing operations of the botling plant 3) Improvements to filling valves of botling plants asin previous claims, CHARACTERIZED BY ‘THE FACT. ‘THAT during the removal operations ofthe filled bottle, the filling valve is kept closed by the clastic membrane 6 cexternal to the enbloe body of the filling valve and it is actuated by a synchronized electro-valve 7, device 6 is the external membrane in opening posi- 6 is the external membrane in closing position Tis the external synchronized electro-valve 8 is the liquid phase of the bottling process