Filling element for filling containers with a liquid product, filling machine and method for filling containers

Abstract

The invention relates to a filling element for filling systems for filling bottles or similar containers with a liquid filling product, comprising a liquid channel for the liquid product in a housing of the filling element, which forms at least one discharge opening for introducing the liquid product into the respective container, and with valve means for the controlled discharging of the liquid product into the respective container.

1 - 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . An apparatus for filling containers with a liquid product, said apparatus comprising
 a filling element, said filling element having
 a housing, 
 a liquid channel for channeling said liquid product, said liquid channel forming part of a delivery orifice for passing said liquid product into a container, and 
 a valve assembly for controlled delivery of said liquid product into a container, said valve assembly being configured for infinitely variable control or regulation of filling speed during a filling phase, said filling speed being defined by an amount of liquid product flowing into said container per unit of time. 
   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 ,
 wherein said valve assembly is provided in said liquid channel, and   wherein said liquid valve has a cross-section that is infinitely variable for controlling or regulating said filling speed,   said cross-section being selected from the group consisting of a flow cross-section and an orifice cross-section.   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein said valve assembly comprises:
 a return gas path configured in said housing for discharging a return gas that is displaced from said container by liquid product flowing into said container, and
 a return gas valve disposed on said return gas path, 
 wherein a cross-section or orifice cross-section of said return gas valve is infinitely variable for controlling or regulating said filling speed, 
 said cross-section being selected from the group consisting of a flow cross-section and an orifice cross-section. 
   
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein said apparatus is configured to fill containers that are in a sealed position up against said filling element. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein said valve assembly comprises a fluid valve having a cross-section that is infinitely variable for controlling or regulating filling speed, wherein said fluid valve is selected from the group consisting of a liquid valve and a gas valve, and wherein said cross-section is selected from the group consisting of a flow cross-section and an orifice cross section. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , further comprising a device for superimposing an infinitely variable change in flow cross-section or orifice cross-section on an incremental adjustment, said device being selected from the group consisting of a control device and an actuating device. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein said device comprises a triggerable actuating element, said triggerable actuating element selected from the group consisting of an electrically triggerable actuating element, a hydraulically triggerable actuating element, and a pneumatically triggerable actuating element. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein said device comprises a triggerable actuating element, said triggerable actuating element being selected from the group consisting of an electrical linear drive, a hydraulic linear drive, a piezoelectric actuator, and a piezoelectric motion element. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein said device comprises a first actuating element for causing an incremental valve lift and a second actuating element for causing an infinitely variable valve lift that is superimposed on said incremental valve lift. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein said filling element is configured for open-jet filling of containers. 
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein said filling element is configured to form, in a region of said delivery orifice, a seating for a mouth of said container. 
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , further comprising a rotor that is rotatable about a vertical machine axis, wherein said filling element is mounted on said rotor. 
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 27 , further comprising an electronic controller for controlling or regulating said filling speed as a function of an amount of product that flows into said container during a particular filling phase. 
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein said controller is configured for controlling or regulating a filling speed as a function of a desired value associated with a filling curve. 
     
     
         30 . A method of filling containers with a liquid product, said method comprising:
 during each filling phase, controlling or regulating a filling speed, said filling speed corresponding to an amount of product flowing into a container per unit time,   wherein controlling or regulating said filling speed comprises controlling an infinitely variable change of a cross-section of a valve assembly, said cross-section being selected from a group consisting of a flow cross-section and an orifice cross-section.   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein controlling or regulating filling speed comprises
 changing an infinitely variable cross-section of a fluid valve as a function of an actual value that corresponds to at least one of a current filling speed and an amount of product that has already flowed into said container,   said fluid valve being selected from the group consisting of a liquid valve and a return gas valve, and   said cross-section being selected from the group consisting of an orifice cross-section and a flow cross-section.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein controlling or regulating a filling speed comprises controlling and regulating said filling speed as a function of time. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein controlling or regulating a filling speed comprises controlling and regulating said filling speed as a function of a container-specific filling curve.