FILLING UNIT AND METHOD FOR FILLING AN ARTICLE WITH A POURABLE PRODUCT

摘要

A filling unit for contact or contactless filling an article is disclosed. The filling unit includes a tank comprising: a first valve, which may allow or prevent the fluidic connection between a first region of the tank and the article; a first fluidic line which extends from the tank to the article in case of contact filling; a second valve, which may allow or prevent the flow along the first fluidic line; and a control unit configured to set the first valve in a first closed configuration and the second valve in a second open configuration in case of contact filling. The filling unit further includes a second fluidic line distinct from the first fluidic line and extends from the inner volume of the article to a discharge area distinct from the tank; and a third valve, which may allow or prevent the flow along the second fluidic line.

主权项

1. A filling unit for contact or contactless filling an article with a pourable product, comprising:
a tank comprising a first region fillable with said pourable product and a second region fillable with a first aeriform; and at least one filling device; said filling device comprising: a first valve which may be set in a first open configuration that allows the fluidic connection between said first region of said tank and said article, so as to fill said article with said pourable product, or in a first closed configuration that prevents the fluidic connection between said first region and said article; a first fluidic line for said first aeriform and which extends from said second region of said tank to an inner volume of said article in case of contact filling; a second valve, which may be set in a second open configuration that allows the flow of said first aeriform along said first fluidic line or in a second closed configuration that prevents said aeriform from flowing along said first fluidic line; and a control unit configured to set said first valve in said first closed configuration and said second valve in said second open configuration in case of contact filling, so as to pressurize said article before the filling thereof with said pourable product; at least one second fluidic line for at least one of said first aeriform and a second aeriform contained inside said article, which is distinct from said first fluidic line and extends from said inner volume of said article to a discharge area distinct from said tank; and at least one third valve, which may be selectively set in a third open configuration that allows the flow of at least one of said first aeriform and said second aeriform along said second fluidic line, or in a third closed configuration that prevents at least one of said first aeriform a second aeriform from flowing along said second fluidic line; said control unit being configured to set said first valve in said first open configuration and said third valve in said third open configuration in case of contact filling, so as to allow at least one of said first aeriform and a second aeriform contained in said article to be discharged from said article and during the contact filling of said article.