Filling system

Abstract

A filling system includes a liquid tank for storing liquid; a compressor for pressurizing the inside of the liquid tank; a filling head having a seal member adapted to be pressed against a mouth of a vessel and filling the liquid to the vessel through a liquid passageway while the mouth of the vessel is sealed by the seal member; a liquid valve provided in the liquid passageway; a gas passageway connecting a headspace of the liquid tank to the vessel; a gas valve provided in the gas passageway; a snifting passage connecting the vessel to the outside; and a flowmeter for detecting the amount of liquid supplied to the vessel. When the liquid is a non-fizzy liquid, the liquid valve is opened while the liquid tank is pressurized, the gas valve is closed and the snifting valve is opened.

1 . A filling system, comprising:
 a liquid tank for storing liquid;   a compressor for pressurizing the inside of the liquid tank;   a filling head having a seal member adapted to be pressed against a mouth of a vessel and channeling the liquid stored inside the liquid tank to the vessel through a liquid passageway while the mouth of the vessel is sealed by the seal member;   a liquid valve provided in the liquid passageway;   a gas passageway connecting a headspace of the liquid tank to an interior of the vessel abutting against the seal member;   a gas valve provided in the gas passageway;   a snifting passage connecting the interior of the vessel abutting against the seal member to an outside; and   a flowmeter for detecting the amount of liquid supplied to the vessel;   when the liquid is a non-fizzy liquid, the liquid valve is opened to allow the liquid fill the vessel while the liquid tank is pressurized, the gas valve is closed and the snifting valve is opened.   
     
     
         2 . The filling system according to  claim 1 , wherein when the liquid is a fizzy liquid, the liquid valve is opened to allow the liquid to fill the vessel while the liquid tank is pressurized, the gas valve is opened and the snifting valve is closed until the liquid filling is completed, at which point the snifting valve is opened. 
     
     
         3 . The filling system according to  claim 1 , wherein the filling head is located inside a sterile chamber and the snifting passage is opened to the sterile chamber. 
     
     
         4 . The filling system according to  claim 3 , wherein the compressor is adapted to regulate the pressure inside the liquid tank when filling either a fizzy liquid, for which the pressure in the liquid tank is set at a relatively higher pressure than a pressure set for filling a non-fizzy liquid, or filling a non-fizzy liquid, for which the pressure in the liquid tank is set at a pressure relatively higher than the sterile chamber. 
     
     
         5 . The filling system according to  claim 1 , wherein the filling head comprises a hollowed nozzle body and a valve rod liftably provided inside the nozzle body;
 the liquid passageway is provided between an inner surface of the nozzle body and an outer surface of the valve rod, and an outlet of the liquid passageway is provided at a bottom end of the nozzle body;   a swirl vane, which is provided on the outer surface of the valve rod, exerts a spiral force on a flow passing through the liquid passageway; and   the liquid valve comprises a valve seat provided on the inner surface of the nozzle body and a plug provided on the outer surface of the valve rod so that the liquid valve is opened and closed by an actuator raising and lowering the valve rod.   
     
     
         6 . The filling system according to  claim 5 , wherein the actuator is configured to control the position of the plug so that the opening degree of the liquid valve is selectable between a large opening degree and a small opening degree; the large opening degree is selected when filling a fizzy liquid and the small opening degree is selected when filling a non-fizzy liquid.