Filling apparatus

Abstract

The invention relates to a filling apparatus for filling containers ( 12 a - d ) with liquid and/or pasty materials, in particular for a packing machine ( 14 a; 14 d ), having a metering apparatus ( 26 a - d ) having at least one metering pump ( 16 a - d ) having at least one metering stroke chamber ( 18 a - d ) having a stroke volume ( 24 a - d ) that can be varied by a metering piston ( 20 a - d ) in a piston stroke. According to the invention an overall stroke chamber ( 28 a - d ) of the metering apparatus ( 26 a - d ), comprising all metering stroke chambers ( 18 a - d ), corresponds at least to a multiple of a filling volume to be discharged to at least one container ( 12 a - d ) in one metering operation.

1 . A filling apparatus for filling containers ( 12   a - d ) with liquid and/or pasty materials, comprising a metering apparatus ( 26   a - d ) having at least one metering pump ( 16   a - d ) with at least one metering swept volume ( 18   a - d ) with a capacity ( 24   a - d ) that is changeable by a metering piston ( 20   a - d ) in one piston stroke, characterized in that an overall swept volume ( 28   a - d ) of the metering apparatus ( 26   a - d ) comprising all metering swept volumes ( 18   a - d ) corresponds to at least a multiple of a fill volume to be dispensed to at least one container ( 12   a - d ) in a metering process. 
     
     
         2 . The filling apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising at least one filling unit ( 34   a - d ) that is connected to an outlet cross section ( 32   a;    32   c ) of the metering apparatus ( 26   a - d ) and comprises a filling valve ( 36   a ;  36   b ), which is configured to selectively open or close off a filling cross section ( 38   a - c ) of the filling unit ( 34   a - d ). 
     
     
         3 . The filling apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of filling units ( 34   c ) that are connected to at least one outlet cross section ( 32   c ) of the metering apparatus ( 36 ) and that are configured for simultaneously filling a multiplicity of containers ( 12   c ). 
     
     
         4 . The filling apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the metering apparatus ( 26   a - d ) comprises at least one changeover valve ( 40   a - d ) which is configured to selectively connect the at least one metering swept volume ( 18   a - d ) with at least one inlet cross section ( 42   a ) or at least one outlet cross section ( 32   a;    32   c ). 
     
     
         5 . The filling apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a control unit ( 44   a ) which is configured to actuate a sequence of work cycles with, in each case, a suction process for filling the overall swept volume ( 28   a - d ) and, in each case, a multiplicity of metering processes following the suction process. 
     
     
         6 . A packaging machine for packaging liquid and/or pasty substances, comprising at least one filling apparatus ( 10   a - d ) as claimed in  claim 1 . 
     
     
         7 . The packaging machine as claimed in  claim 6 , further comprising a control unit ( 46   a ) which is configured to slow down a container advance ( 48   a;    48   d ), at least during a suction process that follows a metering process. 
     
     
         8 . The packaging machine at least as claimed in  claim 6 , further comprising a control unit ( 46   a ) is configured to initiate a start of a metering process depending on a closing-off process of at least one container base ( 50   a;    50   d ) of the respective at least one container ( 12   a - d ) to be filled in the metering process. 
     
     
         9 . The packaging machine at least as claimed in  claim 6 , further comprising a control unit ( 46   a ) configured to adapt at least one metering piston speed ( 52   a ) to a container advance speed ( 54   a ), at least during at least one metering process and/or a plurality of metering processes. 
     
     
         10 . A method for filling at least one container ( 12   a - d ) with a filling apparatus ( 10   a - d ) as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that a plurality of metering processes for filling at least one container ( 12   a - d ) follow at least one suction process of a metering apparatus ( 26   a - d ).