U.S. patent application number 12/190004 was filed with the patent office on 2010-02-18 for neck ring seal.
This patent application is currently assigned to The Coca-Cola Company. Invention is credited to Tsuyoshi Akimoto, Kiyoshi Hiroya, Kenji Mizukawa, Hirofumi Sato, Yoshihisa Tachibana, Shingo Wada.
Application Number | 20100037983 12/190004 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41680433 |
Filed Date | 2010-02-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100037983 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hiroya; Kiyoshi ; et
al. |
February 18, 2010 |
NECK RING SEAL
Abstract
A filling valve device having a gripper and a container mouth
seal, in which vertical movement of the gripper holding an empty
beverage container relative to a filling valve causes a filling
valve container mouth seal to be brought into contact with a neck
ring to form a gas seal and fill a beverage containing carbon
dioxide. The cross-sectional shape of the container mouth seal
approximates an inwardly facing lip shape. Flexibility is imparted
in the vertical direction of the filling valve. The inside of the
container mouth seal is brought into contact with the neck ring
during beverage filling, and a sealing force is applied to the
beverage container and the container mouth seal by the gas pressure
applied during filling.
Inventors: |
Hiroya; Kiyoshi;
(Nakamura-ku, JP) ; Mizukawa; Kenji; (Nakamura-ku,
JP) ; Sato; Hirofumi; (Tokyo, JP) ; Wada;
Shingo; (Tokyo, JP) ; Akimoto; Tsuyoshi;
(Tokyo, JP) ; Tachibana; Yoshihisa; (Tokyo,
JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FINNEGAN, HENDERSON, FARABOW, GARRETT & DUNNER;LLP
901 NEW YORK AVENUE, NW
WASHINGTON
DC
20001-4413
US
|
Assignee: |
The Coca-Cola Company
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Food & Packaging Machinery Co.,
Ltd
|
Family ID: |
41680433 |
Appl. No.: |
12/190004 |
Filed: |
August 12, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
141/46 ;
141/368 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B67C 2003/2697 20130101;
B67C 2003/2648 20130101; B67C 3/2614 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
141/46 ;
141/368 |
International
Class: |
B65B 3/00 20060101
B65B003/00; B65B 31/00 20060101 B65B031/00; B65B 39/00 20060101
B65B039/00 |
Claims
1. A filling valve device for filling a container with a fluid,
comprising: a filling valve including a ring-shaped seal packing
for sealing the container, the seal packing having a
cross-sectional shape approximating an inwardly facing lip shape
and an inner section resilient in an vertical direction of the
filling valve; and a container lift configured to hold the
container and to move vertically with respect to the filling valve,
whereby the seal packing is brought into contact with a portion of
the container to form a gas seal.
2. The filling valve device of claim 1, wherein the portion of the
container is a container mouth.
3. The filling valve device of claim 1, wherein the portion of the
container is a container neck ring.
4. The filling valve device of claim 1, wherein the portion of the
container is a container barrel cone.
5. The filling valve device of claim 1, wherein the seal packing
comprises a flexibility in a vertical plane.
6. The filling valve device of claim 1, wherein the seal packing
comprises a shaped cross-sectional shape.
Description
DESCRIPTION
[0001] 1. Technical Field
[0002] Disclosed herein is a device for filling a beverage into a
container under the back pressure of carbon dioxide gas inside a
fluid storage tank.
[0003] 2. Background
[0004] When filling beverage containers with carbonated beverages
using conventional filling valves, gas pressure is applied to the
interior of the container. The pressure prevents the carbon dioxide
gas dissolved in the beverage from foaming and escaping during
filling. To seal the container, seal packing is typically pressed
onto the container mouth. A large pressing force sufficient to seal
the interior of the container was needed even at maximum carbonated
beverage pressures, resulting in a shortened seal packing life,
especially when using the soft materials. For instance, as
described in Tokkyo 2856057, the seal packing is enlarged, and a
pressure sufficient to seal, even at the maximum pressure of the
carbonated beverage, is required. The resulting seal force is
large, leading to a shortened life of the seal packing. This
carbonated beverage filling device is a system emphasizing
sanitation, in which a packing furnished at the bottom end of an
external cylindrical chamber integral with a filling valve is
pressed into the top surface of a plastic container neck ring,
sealing it such that the container mouth does not directly contact
the filling nozzle.
[0005] In the container barrel portion of the filling valve device
shown in JP 03-098803, the system of gas sealing by a ring-shaped
air tube expands inwardly. An inwardly expanding ring-shaped
packing is fit into a ring-shaped groove provided on the inside
cylinder side of a filling valve external cylinder. When the
container is drawn in, air pressure is applied, causing the air
tube to expand inward and constricting the barrel portion of the
container to form a seal. It was difficult, however, to apply the
system to containers in which the barrel portion was not circular
in cross-section, or which have convex and/or concave sides. It
also had a complex structure and was costly.
[0006] In the sealing system shown in JP 03-098894, in which seal
packing at the bottom end of an external cylinder integral with the
filling valve is pressed into the conical surface of the upper
barrel portion of the container to form a seal, the seal packing is
enlarged, and a pressure sufficient to seal even at the maximum
pressure of the carbonated beverage is required, therefore the
large sealing force led to shortened life of the seal packing.
SUMMARY
[0007] Disclosed herein is a filling valve device having a filling
valve with a ring-shaped seal packing for sealing a container and a
container lift configured to hold the container and to move
vertically with respect to the filling valve such that the seal
packing is brought into contact with a portion of the container to
form a gas seal. The seal packaging can have a cross-sectional
shape approximating an inwardly facing lip shape. The device may
also include a supply of pressurized gas to apply a sealing force
to the seal packing in contact with the container.
[0008] It is to be understood that both the foregoing general
description and the following detailed description are exemplary
and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention, as
claimed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 depicts a side elevation cross-sectional diagram of a
filling valve device according to one embodiment disclosed
herein;
[0010] FIG. 2 depicts a side elevation cross-sectional diagram
showing a container mouth seal and container mouth periphery
according to an embodiment disclosed herein;
[0011] FIG. 3 depicts a side elevation cross-sectional diagram
showing the operation of the container mouth seal of FIG. 2;
[0012] FIG. 4 depicts a side elevation cross-sectional diagram
showing a container mouth seal and container mouth periphery
according to an embodiment disclosed herein;
[0013] FIG. 5 depicts a side elevation cross-sectional diagram
showing the operation of the container mouth seal of FIG. 4;
[0014] FIG. 6 depicts a side elevation cross-sectional diagram
showing a container mouth seal and container mouth periphery, in
operation, according to an embodiment disclosed herein;
[0015] FIG. 7 depicts a side elevation cross-sectional diagram
showing the shape of the container mouth seal in an embodiment
disclosed herein; and
[0016] FIG. 8 depicts a side elevation cross-sectional diagram
showing the operation of the container mouth seal of FIG. 7.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0017] Disclosed herein is a filling valve device with a simple
constitution and having a container seal structure in which a
pressing force is applied to the seal packing without causing the
permanent deformation or wear on the seal packing.
[0018] In one embodiment, the filling valve device includes a
container lift and a filling valve furnished with a ring-shaped
seal packing for sealing a beverage container. The container lift
is configured to move vertically relative to the filling valve and
is capable of holding a beverage container. When the container
mouth portion or a container neck ring portion of the empty
container contacts the seal packing, a gas seal forms, allowing a
carbonated beverage to be dispensed into the container. The
cross-sectional shape of the seal packing resembles an inwardly
facing lip shape.
[0019] Flexibility is imparted in the vertical axis of the filling
valve to the inner perimeter of the beverage container. When the
container lift raises the beverage container towards the filling
valve, the interior of the seal packing is brought into contact
with the container mouth portion or the neck ring portion during a
cycle of a filling mode. A sealing force is applied to the beverage
container and the seal packing by gas pressure of filling. In
another embodiment, the filling device is configured to fill a
beverage container having a barrel cone portion instead of a
container mouth or neck ring portion.
[0020] In yet another embodiment, the filling valve device includes
an exterior frame of the ring-shaped seal packing. Flexibility is
provided with a shaped cross-sectional shape that resembles a
backwards C, open at the interior, facilitating a filling valve
seal packing press-in channel, while maintaining a sealing force
between the filling valve and the ring-shaped seal packing by gas
pressure action. This imparts flexibility to the seal packing and
enables the seal packing to fit easily into a seal fitting groove
without splitting the filling valve, while maintaining a sealing
force between the filling valve and the ring-shaped packing using
gas pressure. Thus, the structure of the seal packing and the
filling valve fitting groove is simplified, reducing costs.
[0021] When the seal packing is brought into contact with the
container mouth portion, neck ring portion, or the container barrel
cone portion, the amount of deformation is small, and back pressure
(gas pressure) from the gas-containing beverage is applied such
that a sufficient seal can be obtained proportional to the beverage
gas pressure. Thus, this structure gives longer durability life of
the seal packing while simplifying the structure and reducing the
manufacturing costs.
[0022] Reference will now be made in detail to various exemplary
embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying
drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be
used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like
parts.
[0023] Turning now to FIG. 1, a beverage conduit 12 supplying
carbonated beverage is connected to a main unit valve 17 of a
filling valve 11. Gas conduits 37a, 37b for supplying carbon
dioxide gas and a gas return conduit 37c are connected to a gas
conduit 17b inside main valve unit 17. A container mouth seal 43 is
attached by a nut 19 to a cylindrical portion at the bottom portion
of main valve unit 17. A flow meter 26 for measuring the carbonated
beverage filling volume is provided on beverage conduit 12, as is a
flow switchover valve 27 to adjust the flow in two stages, so that
the fluid flow can be precisely measured.
[0024] An air cylinder 22 is attached to the upper portion of main
valve unit 17, and a fluid valve 18 is directly coupled to a drive
rod on air cylinder 22. By switching the operating air at a
switchover valve 24, air cylinder 22 is driven up or down in the
vertical plane, such that fluid valve 18 moves and main valve unit
17 opens and closes. A seal packing 15 seals fluid valve 18.
[0025] The ends of gas conduits 37a, 37b and gas return conduit 37c
opposing the ends connected to gas conduit 17b are connected to a
switchover main valve unit 31. In rotary filling machines,
switchover main valve unit 31 has a ring shape and can include a
triple ring-shaped gas conduit (not shown). Electromagnetic valves
34a, 34b, and 34c are attached to main valve unit 17.
[0026] In operation, a PET bottle 8 is placed at a predetermined
position at filling valve 11. Before PET bottle 8 is filled with a
carbonated beverage, electromagnetic valve 34a opens, and low
pressure carbon dioxide gas is fed to the PET bottle 8 via gas
conduit 17b. In an aspect, the pressure of low pressure carbon
dioxide gas ranges from about 0.5 kg/cm.sup.2G to about 1.5
kg/cm.sup.2G. In a further aspect, the pressure of low pressure
carbon dioxide gas ranges from about 0.8 kg/cm.sup.2G to about 1.2
kg/cm.sup.2G. In yet another aspect, the low pressure carbon
dioxide is about 1 kg/cm.sup.2G. Electromagnetic valve 34c is
opened, and gas return conduit 37c is turned on. Air in PET bottle
8 is replaced by low pressure carbon dioxide gas. Before filling
the beverage, electromagnetic valves 34a, 34c are closed, gas
return conduit 37c is closed, and electromagnetic valve 34b is
opened. In an aspect, the time period for closing electromagnetic
valves 34a, 34c and gas return conduit 37c and opening
electromagnetic valve 34b is about 0.4 seconds or less. In another
embodiment, the time period is about 0.2 seconds or less. PET
bottle 8 is filled with carbon dioxide gas at the same, or
substantially the same, pressure as the back pressure of the
carbonated beverage. Filling fluid valve 18 is opened, and PET
bottle 8 is filled with a preset volume of beverage in place of the
carbon dioxide gas. Air cylinder 22 is operated when filling is
completed. Filling fluid valve 18 is closed, electromagnetic valve
34b is closed, and electromagnetic valve 34c is opened. Gas return
conduit 37c is turned on, the gas in the bottle 8 is snifted,
reducing gas pressure, and PET bottle 8 is lowered and released
from filling valve 11.
[0027] A container lift 35 provided on each fluid filling valve 11
includes a gripper 41 for gripping PET bottle 8 at a neck ring 8a,
for example, at the bottom portion, and a container lift cam 36 for
lifting and lowering gripper 41. Gripper 41 grips empty PET bottle
8, and container lift 35 moves gripper 41 vertically relative to
filling valve 11, thereby bringing container mouth seal 43 at the
bottom portion of filling valve 11 into contact with the upper
surface of neck ring 8a, forming a gas seal.
[0028] Turning now to FIGS. 2 and 3, the cross-sectional shape of
container mouth seal 43 is an inwardly facing lip shape.
Flexibility in the vertical axial direction of filling valve 11 is
imparted on the inside inner circumference. During a filling step,
as shown in FIG. 3, the inside of container mouth seal 43 contacts
neck ring 8a and bends, and the gas pressure applied during filling
becomes the sealing force on container mouth seal 43. In one
embodiment, an additional pushing force to neck ring 8a from
filling valve 11 is not needed to maintain the sealing force.
Moreover, additional force is not required for gripper 41 and/or
container lift 35 other than the force used to support PET bottle 8
when filling.
[0029] In yet another embodiment, the filing device is configured
to seal a container at the mouth portion of the container. Gripper
41 holds an empty PET bottle 8. Container lift 35, by moving
gripper 41 vertically relative to filling valve 11, brings a
container mouth seal 44 on the bottom portion of filling valve 11
into contact with a top surface 8b of the mouth portion of PET
bottle 8, forming a seal. Nut 21 attaches container mouth seal 44
to filling valve 17.
[0030] As shown in FIG. 4, the cross-sectional shape of container
mouth seal 44 is an inwardly facing lip shape. Flexibility in the
vertical axial direction of filling valve 11 is imparted on the
inside inner circumference.
[0031] When filling with carbonated beverage, as shown in FIG. 5,
the inside of container mouth seal 44 contacts top surface 8b of
PET bottle 8 and bends, and the gas pressure applied during filling
becomes the sealing force on container mouth seal 44. In one
embodiment, an additional pushing force to top surface 8b from
filling valve 11 is not needed to maintain the sealing force.
Moreover, additional force is not required for gripper 41 and/or
container lift 35 other than the force used to support PET bottle 8
when filling.
[0032] In this connection, container mouth seal 44 can be applied
to other containers having no neck ring, for example, a bottle can
28. Because the location where bottle can 28 and filling valve 11
are sealed is a cone portion 28a and there is no neck ring, a star
wheel, fixed container guide, or the like (not shown) can be used
to grip or handle bottle can 28 below filling valve 11. Container
lift 38 pushes in an upward direction at the bottom of bottle can
28.
[0033] As shown in FIG. 6, a container seal 45, as a lip shape
directed toward the interior, imparts flexibility in the axial
direction on the inside inner circumference, bringing the inside of
container seal 45 into contact with cone portion 28a during
beverage filling. A sealing pressure is applied to container seal
45 by the gas pressure applied when filling. In one embodiment, an
additional pushing force to bottle can 28 from filling valve 11 is
not needed to maintain the sealing force. Moreover, additional
force is not required to container lift 38 other than the force to
support bottle can 28 when filling. Nut 58 attaches container seal
45.
[0034] Turning now to an embodiment depicted in FIGS. 6 and 7, a
container seal 46 may be used in place of container mouth seals 43,
44, or 45. As shown in FIG. 7, the exterior frame of the
ring-shaped seal packing for sealing containers is given
flexibility with a shaped cross-sectional shape, open at the
interior so that for purposes of attaching container seal 46,
container seal 46 can easily fit into a fitting groove 51a on a
main valve unit 51 (a single integrated piece including main valve
unit 17 and container seal attaching nuts 19, 21, or 58), even
without splitting the main valve unit 17 described in connection
with FIGS. 1-5 above. At the same time, the sealing force between
the main valve unit 51 and the container seal 46 can be maintained
by the gas pressure action and, because the gas pressure pushes on
the shaped section of container seal 46, the sealing force between
container seal 46 and main valve unit 51 can also be
maintained.
[0035] Other embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those
skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and
practice of the invention disclosed herein. It is intended that the
specification and examples be considered as exemplary only, with a
true scope and spirit of the invention being indicated by the
following claims.
* * * * *