Method and filling device for filling flexible containers with pourable products

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a filling device ( 10 ) and method for filling a flexible container ( 20 ) with a pourable product (P), the filling device ( 10 ) comprising a product inlet ( 14 ), a filler valve device ( 12 ) connected to an aseptic chamber ( 16 ) comprising a product outlet ( 18 ), which is arranged connectable to a spout ( 19 ) of the flexible container ( 20 ). The filler valve device ( 12 ) comprises an axially movable internal shutter ( 30 ) having a centre axis (A), an upper end ( 34 ) and a lower end ( 36 ), the lower end ( 36 ) being kept within the aseptic chamber during the axial movement of the internal shutter, wherein the internal shutter encloses a product space ( 32 ) defined by an inner wall ( 38 ) of the internal shutter ( 30 ), the product space ( 32 ) having an inlet end ( 44 ) and an outlet end ( 46 ). The filler valve device further comprises an axially movable valve ( 40 ), which is coaxially arranged in the internal shutter ( 30 ) and being movable to a closed position in which the valve seals the outlet end ( 46 ) or to an open position in which the valve opens the outlet end ( 46 ) to release the pourable product from the product space ( 32 ). According to the invention, the valve ( 40 ) is arranged in a non-contact manner at an axial distance from the spout ( 19 ) both in the open and closed position.

1 . A filling device for filling a flexible container with a pourable product, the filling device comprising a product inlet, a filler valve device connected to an aseptic chamber comprising a product outlet, which is arranged connectable to spout of the flexible container, the filler valve device comprising:
 an axially movable internal shutter having a center axis, an upper end and a lower end, the lower end being kept within the aseptic chamber during the axial movement of the internal shutter, wherein the internal shutter encloses a product space defined by an inner wall of the internal shutter, the product space having an inlet end and an outlet end; and   an axially movable valve, which is coaxially arranged in the internal shutter and being movable to a closed position in which the valve seals the outlet end or to an open position in which the valve opens the outlet end to release the pourable product from the product space,   wherein the valve is arranged in a non-contact manner at an axial distance from the spout both in the open and closed position.   
     
     
         2 . The filling device of  claim 1 , wherein the internal shutter and the valve are arrangeable to:
 an upper closed position, in which the lower end of the internal shutter is arranged within the aseptic chamber at a distance (D) from the product outlet, and the valve is arranged to seal the product space towards the outlet end,   a lower closed position in which the internal shutter is arranged in a fluid-tight contact with a rim of the spout of the flexible container and the valve head is arranged to seal the product space towards the outlet end, and   a lower open position, in which the internal shutter is arranged in a fluid-tight contact with rim of the spout of the flexible container and the valve head is arranged to open the product space and the outlet end towards the product outlet.   
     
     
         3 . The filling device according to  claim 2 , wherein in the lower closed or open position the internal shutter is arranged to be in contact with the rim of the spout without substantially entering the spout interior inside the periphery of the spout. 
     
     
         4 . The filling device according to  claim 1 , wherein the filler valve device comprises means to fix the spout in an aligned manner with the filler valve device. 
     
     
         5 . The filling device according to  claim 1 , wherein the valve comprises a shaft and a valve head and the valve head has a larger transversal cross-sectional extension than the shaft, and wherein the product space has a tapering shape towards the outlet end. 
     
     
         6 . The filling device according to  claim 1 , wherein the valve head comprises sealing means arranged in fluid tight contact with the internal wall of the product space to provide a fluid tight seal in the closed position. 
     
     
         7 . The filling device according to  claim 6 , wherein the sealing means has a circular shape in cross-section or comprises at least one rounded portion in contact with the inner wall of the internal shutter portion. 
     
     
         8 . The filling device according to  claim 1 , wherein the internal shutter portion comprises outlet sealing means at the lower end thereof, the sealing means being configured to provide the fluid-tight contact with the spout of the flexible container. 
     
     
         9 . A method of filling a flexible container with a pourable product with a filling device comprising a product inlet, an axially movable filler valve device and comprising an axially movable valve fluidly connected to a product space and a product outlet, the method comprising:
 connecting a spout of the flexible container to the product outlet;   connecting the filler valve device to the spout in a closed position in a fluid tight manner wherein the valve is arranged at an axial distance (D 2 ) from the spout;   filling the container by moving the valve away from the product outlet to an open position at an axial distance D 3  in a non-contact manner with the spout and releasing the pourable product contained in the product space via the product outlet and the spout to the flexible container; and   stopping the filling when the flexible container has reached a desired filling level by bringing the valve to the lower closed position in which it seals the product space towards the product outlet at an axial distance D 2  from the spout.   
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9 , comprising moving the filler valve device to an upper closed position, in which the filler valve device is arranged at a distance D from the product outlet or the spout. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the filling device comprises an axially movable internal shutter which comprises the valve arranged coaxially with the internal shutter in the product space, and
 wherein the internal shutter is connected to an aseptic chamber comprising the product outlet.   
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the axial distance D 2  is smaller than the axial distance D 3 , which is smaller than the axial distance D. 
     
     
         13 . The filling device according to  claim 2 , wherein the filler valve device comprises means to fix the spout in an aligned manner with the filler valve device. 
     
     
         14 . The filling device according to  claim 3 , wherein the filler valve device comprises means to fix the spout in an aligned manner with the filler valve device. 
     
     
         15 . The filling device according to  claim 2 , wherein the valve comprises a shaft and a valve head and the valve head has a larger transversal cross-sectional extension than the shaft, and wherein the product space has a tapering shape towards the outlet end. 
     
     
         16 . The filling device according to  claim 3 , wherein the valve comprises a shaft and a valve head and the valve head has a larger transversal cross-sectional extension than the shaft, and wherein the product space has a tapering shape towards the outlet end. 
     
     
         17 . The filling device according to  claim 4 , wherein the valve comprises a shaft and a valve head and the valve head has a larger transversal cross-sectional extension than the shaft, and wherein the product space has a tapering shape towards the outlet end. 
     
     
         18 . The filling device according to  claim 2 , wherein the valve head comprises sealing means arranged in fluid tight contact with the internal wall of the product space to provide a fluid tight seal in the closed position. 
     
     
         19 . The filling device according to  claim 3 , wherein the valve head comprises sealing means arranged in fluid tight contact with the internal wall of the product space to provide a fluid tight seal in the closed position. 
     
     
         20 . The filling device according to  claim 4 , wherein the valve head comprises sealing means arranged in fluid tight contact with the internal wall of the product space to provide a fluid tight seal in the closed position.