Filler valve unit

1. A filler valve unit ( 1 ) comprising:

feeding means ( 2 , 7 ) for feeding a preset amount of filling liquid ( 3 ) into a container ( 6 ) wherein the feeding means ( 2 , 7 ) have an outlet ( 4 ) for feeding out filling liquid, the outlet ( 4 ) being a nozzle;

injection means ( 9 , 10 ) for injecting a gaseous fluid into a container ( 6 ) wherein the injection means ( 9 , 10 ) have an outlet ( 11 ) for injecting gaseous fluid and are connected to the feeding means ( 2 , 7 ),

at least one stop element ( 14 ) forming a stroke limiter acting on the container ( 6 ) and functionally connected to the feeding means ( 2 , 7 ) and to the injection means ( 9 , 10 ), the stop element ( 14 ) being mobile and moving between at least two operating positions consisting of:

a first operating position wherein the stop element holds a mouth ( 5 ) of the container ( 6 ) at a preset flushing distance from the nozzle ( 4 ) of the feeding means ( 2 , 7 ); in the first operating position the mouth ( 5 ) not being in contact with the nozzle ( 4 );

a second operating position wherein the stop element ( 14 ) holds the mouth ( 5 ) of the container ( 6 ) at a filling distance from the nozzle ( 4 ) of the feeding means ( 2 , 7 ) which is less than the preset flushing distance, the filling distance being zero in order to prevent oxygen from entering the container during the filling stage; in the second operating position the mouth ( 5 ) being in contact with the nozzle ( 4 );

the preset flushing distance being the distance during a flushing stage between the mouth ( 5 ) of the container ( 6 ) and the nozzle ( 4 ) of the feeding means, the preset flushing distance permitting the gaseous fluid to fill the container ( 6 ) and at the same time expelling the oxygen inside the container ( 6 ); the filling distance being the distance between the mouth ( 5 ) of the container ( 6 ) and the nozzle ( 4 ) during the filling stage of the container with the filling liquid, the filling distance being less than the preset flushing distance; the feeding means ( 2 , 7 ), the injection means ( 9 , 10 ) and the stop element ( 14 ) being functionally connected to a control unit designed to control the movement of the stop element ( 14 ) and the operation of the feeding means ( 2 , 7 ) and the injection means ( 9 , 10 ).

2. A filler valve unit according to claim 1 wherein the control unit comprises at least one solenoid valve ( 15 ).

3. A filler valve unit according to claim 1 wherein the stop element ( 14 ) is functionally connected to a circuit containing actuating fluid at a preset pressure acting on the stop element ( 14 ) in order to move it between the first and second operating positions.

4. A filler valve unit according to claim 1 wherein the stop element ( 14 ) comprises a slider ( 18 ) housed in a seat ( 16 ) moving between a first active position wherein the actuating section ( 18 a ) of the slider ( 18 ) projects from the seat ( 16 ) and a second active position wherein the actuating section ( 18 a ) of the slider ( 18 ) is at least partially contained in the seat ( 16 ).

5. A filler valve unit according to claim 4 wherein the slider ( 18 ) divides the seat ( 16 ) into two chambers ( 16 a , 16 b ) each of which has a variable volume which is a function of the position of the slider ( 18 ) inside the seat ( 16 ).

6. A filler valve unit according to claim 5 comprising means for applying a preset pressure to the actuating fluid present in at least one of the chambers ( 16 a , 16 b ) so that the actuating section ( 18 a ) of the slider ( 18 ) moves between a first active position and a second active position.

7. A filler valve unit according to claim 6 comprising control means connected to the feeding means ( 2 , 7 ), the injection means ( 9 , 10 ) and the means for applying a preset pressure to at least one of the chambers ( 16 a , 16 b ) so as to actuate the movement of the slider ( 18 ) and control the feeding means ( 2 , 7 ) and the injection means ( 9 , 10 ) so as to operate the flushing and filling stages.

8. A filler valve unit according to claim 7 wherein the control means comprise at least one solenoid valve ( 15 ).

9. A filler valve unit according to claim 1 wherein the stop element ( 14 ) acts on lifting means ( 20 , 21 ) designed to move the mouth ( 5 ) of a container ( 6 ) towards the valve unit ( 1 ).

10. A filler valve unit according to claim 1 wherein the feeding means comprise:

a tank ( 2 ) containing a filling liquid ( 3 ) with at least one outlet ( 4 ) for feeding out the filling liquid wherein the outlet ( 4 ) is shaped to accept the mouth ( 5 ) of the container ( 6 );

a valve ( 7 ) connected to the outlet ( 4 ) and moving between a closed position and an open position of the outlet ( 4 ).

11. A filler valve unit according to claim 1 wherein the injection means comprise:

a reservoir ( 9 ) containing a gaseous fluid;

an injection pipe ( 10 ) connected to the reservoir ( 9 ) and having an outlet ( 11 ) shaped so that it can enter the mouth ( 5 ) of the container ( 6 ).

12. A filler valve unit according to claim 1 wherein the feeding means and the injection means comprise together:

a tank ( 2 ) containing a filling liquid ( 3 ) having an outlet ( 4 ) for feeding out liquid and wherein the outlet ( 4 ) is shaped so that it can enter the mouth ( 5 ) of the container ( 6 );

a reservoir ( 9 ) containing a gaseous fluid;

a tubular valve ( 7 ) connected to the outlet ( 4 ) and moving between an open position and a closed position so that a section of the side surface of the valve ( 7 ) acts on the outlet ( 4 ) so as to obstruct it;

an injection pipe ( 10 ) connected to the reservoir ( 9 ) containing the gaseous fluid and having an outlet ( 11 ) shaped so that it can enter the mouth ( 5 ) of the container ( 6 ) and wherein the injection pipe ( 10 ) is positioned coaxially to the valve ( 7 ).

13. A filler valve unit according to claim 12 wherein the injection pipe ( 10 ) has a flow deflector ( 13 ) positioned on an end part ( 12 ) of the injection pipe ( 10 ) designed to be hit by the filling liquid and whose purpose is to prevent the formation of foam inside the container.

14. A filler valve unit according to claim 11 wherein the injection pipe ( 10 ) acts, during the filling stage, as a pipe for expelling the gaseous fluid previously fed into the container during the flushing stage.

15. A filling machine characterised by the fact that it has a filler valve unit ( 1 ) according to claim 1 .