Filling technology and the style of filler itself has evolved over the years from the humble gravity filler to the newer and more customizeable electro-pneumatic designs. Criveller constantly evolves with this technology and continuously offers the most advanced bottling solutions available. With rigorous training, our technical staff constantly keeps parts available for all of our lines to better service our clientele.

Choosing the Perfect Bottle Filling System for Every Product

There is a wide variety filler technology available in our age of technology, and Criveller wants to make sure that the right technology is applied for your custom needs.

Understanding what is available to you is the first step in making the right decision, whether you plan on bottling 1,000 bottles per hour or 20,000 bottles per hour.

Gravity and Low Vacuum Filling

Gravity Filling and Low Vacuum Filling technology is suitable for filling both glass or plastic containers with still and non dense liquids

Example of Products

Please keep in mind that a Gravity Filler is designed to operate with still products and cannot fill carbonated products.

• Bottle conditioned beers
• Still Liquid
• Wine
• Spirits
• Fruit Juice (without partials)
• Vinegar
• Milk
• Chemical Products
• and more…

Options

• Centralized Level Adjustment which allows for adjustment in the level of the bottle with a single control so as not to insert or withdraw shims on the filling valve
• False Bottles allow you to carry out a washing cycle of each individual valve with cleaning product. This insures the complete washing of each filler spout internally and externally.May also be adapted to work with steam.
• Neck Holders ensure that both plastic and glass bottles of various sizes are held in place properly without possible deformation.
• Covering with Laminar Flow creates an an over pressurization of filtered air, which prevents dust or foreign partials from entering the filling area.
• Many Other Options are available, please inquire with our local office for additional material.

Isobaric (Counter Pressure) Filling

Isobaric or “Counter Pressure” technology is suitable for filling both glass and plastic containers (rated for appropriate pressures) with any low density product under any pressure above zero.

Typical Filling Operation

• Stage 1 the inlet star wheel feeds the bottle from the conveyor belt to the lifting for filling.
• Stage 2 the bottle lifting cylinder is operated by a spring and is driven upwards via a cam.
• Stage 3 as the bottle rises, the bottle will open the filling valve.
• Stage 4 once the the filling cycle ends and the required fill height has been achieved, the lifting cylinder shall be driven downwards by the cam and returns to the starting height before withdrawing.
• Stage 5 the outlet star wheel will then place the bottle back on the conveyor belt.

Styles of Valves

Standard Valve (“G” Valve)

This is our standard valve for gravity filling product only. This style of valve shines because of its simplicity and time proven design, that delivers consistent fill heights time and time again at a variety of speeds. The design allows for optimal filling while relying on few wear and tear parts, a mechanically operated design, and are easy to maintain and operate for the user.

Self Leveling (“SL” Valve)

Using similar technology of the G valve, the SL valve adds automatic leveling of the product in each container to ensure consistent fill heights. In the past this was achieved by leveling the product at a separate station after the filling process had been achieved . With the implementation of the “self leveling valve,” the valve itself levels the product before it leaves the filling station. This allows less moving parts to maintain, less wasted product, and more consistent fill heights.

Counter Pressure Filling Operations

(Please Reference “Typical Filling Operation” to compare the Differences in Filling Operations)

Once the bottle has been lifted to create a seal between the gasket and the bottle neck during Stage 2, the filling process for pressurized product can begin.

• Phase 1 the valve control device opens the back flow circuit, which enables the pressure balancing between the tank and the bottle.
• Phase 2 once the pressure between the tank and the bottle have equalized, a spring will open the liquid valve to start the filling process. The valve is designed to allow the liquid to be conveyed gently down the sides of the bottle via the deflector built into the valve. The filling phase is complete once the liquid reaches the end of the channel, (obstructing the air back flow circuit), thus determining the level height in the bottle.
• Phase 3 the final leveling is carried out via cam operation (this ensures consistency). Once the cam is triggered, an inert gas is injected into the bottle to create such a pressure to drive any excess liquid back into the holding tank through another inlet in the valve.
• Phase 4 a cam will then control the opening of the degassing circuit, before the bottle returns to Step 4 of the “Typical Filling Operation.”

Pre-Evacuation (“PS” Valve)

The “PS” Valve will allow you to self level with pressurized product, but adds the ability to pre-evacuate the bottle before the product is filled. This allows you to have more control over the environment that your product comes into contact with after leaving the holding tanks. This is very important for products that require low oxygen pick during the bottling process to help ensure constant color, aroma, longevity, and profile of your product during the bottling process. This is all achieved during the filling stage with your valve, and no additional stations.

PS Valve Filling Operations

(Please Reference “Typical Filling Operation” to compare the Differences in Filling Operations)

Once the bottle has been lifted to create a seal between the gasket and the bottle neck during Stage 2, the filling process for pressurized product can begin.

• Phase 1 the air shall be blown out by an outer circuit connected to a vacuum generator; evacuating the bottle.
• Phase 2 at the end of the evacuation phase the valve control device opens the back flow circuit, which enables the pressure balancing between the tank and the bottle.
• Phase 3 once the pressure between the tank and the bottle have equalized, a spring will open the liquid valve to start the filling process. The valve is designed to allow the liquid to be conveyed gently down the sides of the bottle via the deflector built into the valve. The filling phase is complete once the liquid reaches the end of the channel, (obstructing the air back flow circuit), thus determining the level height in the bottle.
• Phase 4 the final leveling is carried out via cam operation (this ensures consistency). Once the cam is triggered, an inert gas is injected into the bottle to create such a pressure to drive any excess liquid back into the holding tank through another inlet in the valve. Then a cam will then control the opening of the degassing circuit, before the bottle returns to Step 4 of the “Typical Filling Operation.”

Double Pre-Evacuation (“DPS” Valve)

The “DPS” Valve will still allow you to self level with pressurized product, but adds the ability to pre-evacuate the bottle before the product is filled twice. This allows you to have even more control over the environment that your product comes into contact with after leaving the holding tanks. This is very important for products that require low oxygen pick during the bottling process to help ensure constant color, aroma, longevity, and profile of your product during the bottling process. This is all achieved with the “DPS” valve during the filling stage, and no additional stations.

DPS Valve Filling Operations

(Please Reference “Typical Filling Operation” to compare the Differences in Filling Operations)

Once the bottle has been lifted to create a seal between the gasket and the bottle neck during Stage 2, the filling process for pressurized product can begin.

• Phase 1 the air shall be blown out by an outer circuit connected to a vacuum generator; evacuating the bottle.
• Phase 2 once the initial evacuation stage is complete, the bottle will be saturated with inert gas from an outer circuit.
• Phase 3 a second evacuation phase will commence.
• Phase 4 at the end of the evacuation phases the valve control device opens the back flow circuit, which enables the pressure balancing between the tank and the bottle.
• Phase 5 once the pressure between the tank and the bottle have equalized, a spring will open the liquid valve to start the filling process. The valve is designed to allow the liquid to be conveyed gently down the sides of the bottle via the deflector built into the valve. The filling phase is complete once the liquid reaches the end of the channel, (obstructing the air back flow circuit), thus determining the level height in the bottle.
• Phase 6 the final leveling is carried out via cam operation (this ensures consistency). Once the cam is triggered, an inert gas is injected into the bottle to create such a pressure to drive any excess liquid back into the holding tank through another inlet in the valve. Then a cam will then control the opening of the degassing circuit, before the bottle returns to Step 4 of the “Typical Filling Operation.”

Electro-Pneumatic (“EP” Valve)

An exciting innovation has been made available to bottler’s in the last few years called the Electro-Pneuamtic “EP”valve. Criveller is proud to make these available to the market, as they bring new levels of digital customization and versatility to bottling with the ability to use a single valve for multiple applications. .

With the support of pre-set programs in your PLC, the “EP” valve can solve a multitude of different situations including: double pre-evacuation, single pre evacuation, multiple leveling procedures to ensure precise fill levels even on difficult products, and much more. The “EP” valve also takes advantage of its smaller profile and its ability to collect additional information for the bottler to make on the spot decisions and custom programs through the combination multitude of temperature, oxygen, and fill height sensors built into the valve.

The “EP” valve has also been redesigned to have a narrow diameter spout profile. This allows the valve to fill the more difficult bottles being used in the spirit industry in the past years without decreasing the speed of the machine. Where in the past you would have needed to switch out the filler valves for different diameter applications, thus avoiding wasting time to do format changes.

A truly versatile filler spout for the 21st century.

These valves can also be utilized in High Vacuum situations as well (please inquire).

Additional Filling Operations

(Please Reference “Typical Filling Operation” to compare the Differences in Filling Operations)

Once the bottle has been lifted to create a seal between the gasket and the bottle neck during Stage 2, the filling process for pressurized or still product can begin.

• Phase 1 once the bottle has been lifted into place, a senor will detect the bottle’s presence sending a signal to the PLC confirming that the fill cycle can begin.
• the air shall be blown out by an outer circuit connected to a vacuum generator; evacuating the bottle.
• Phase 2 from this stage on, the preset programs and customizable PLC allows the bottler to proceed depending on the application and desired finished product.
  • Depending on the preset program, you can obtain a pre-evacuation of the air through a circuit that is connected to a vacuum pump, an injection of inert gas through an external circuit, or simply open the valve and start filling.
  • Once the filling is finished, the valves closes.
  • Depending on the type of program selected, you can obtain a final leveling height by means of vacuum in the main tank or by the injection of inert gas.(In the second case, the gas injection can continue even during the decent of the bottle. This allows for the saturation of the head space, and protects the product while it transfers to the next station.)
• Final Phase the bottle returns to Step 4 of the “Typical Filling Operation.”

Additional Filler Valves for Additional Filling Applications Available. Please Contact Criveller for more information

High Vacuum Applications, Volumetric Applications, and more available upon request…