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SMB Technik, Inc.
BEER

SMB Technik beer fillers and closers use the model designation of "Multima" followed by other designations which define the number and type of valves plus the number and type of closer heads.  So a Multima 18LV/6K is an 18 valve, long tube filler and 6 head crown capper in monoblock configuration.  The "V" indicates the machine is outfitted with a pre-evacuation system.

Beer fillers can be used for any other carbonated beverage as is.  Bottling of other carbonated beverages (i.e.: soft drinks and water) is less demanding than beer.  Please note that the valve selection may be different if the bottled product is not beer.

SMB Technik makes 3 counter pressure valves that can be used for beer or other carbonated beverages.  They are short tube, long tube (standard), and long tube (flushing).  The short tube and the long tube (standard) may be operated in conjunction with a pre-evacuation system for oxygen protection.  The long tube (flushing) valve directs inert gas to flow through the long tube to flush air out of the bottle before it is sealed onto the filling valve.  Valve selection depends upon the specified speed of the filler, level of oxygen protection required, and the personal preference of the customer.

The Multima line of beer fillers have several features which are unique among modern beer fillers. These features result in a very sanitary bottling environment and conserve beer to a higher  degree than other beer fillers on the market.
 

Whenever a bottle is filled, there is some residual product in the return gas pathway of the valve.  The return gas pathway must be cleared before an incoming bottled is filled or very poor performance results.  The common way to do this is by briefly opening this pathway to the open air.  This operation is called scavenging.  Results are beer loss and beer splattered all over the bottling environment.

The SMB system uses an external source of 100% CO2 to pressurize the bottle to a higher level than that of the filler bowl.  When the return gas pathway is opened, the residual product is pushed back into the bowl.  This simultaneously clears the return gas path, conserves the beer, and maintains the sanitary environment required for proper bottling.  This mechanism can be combined with a liquid leveling system. 

The use of an external source of CO2 compared to  bowl gas for bottle pressurizing is preferable since bowl head-space gas tends to be contaminated with oxygen from previously vented bottles.


Valve description

Short tube

The short tube valve is available in a 3  button version (pre-pressurizing, return gas path, snifting) or a 4 button version which has an additional vacuum channel for pre-evacuation operations.  Product is deflected to the outside of the bottle and cascades down the side during filling.

Oxygen protection of the product during filling is, typically, accomplished by using 2 cycles of pre-evacuation.

Long tube, standard and flushing

A long tube fill valve has a tube that goes down to the bottom of the bottle.  There are several advantages to this technology of filling. 

Inherently low oxygen pick up, only about 10% of a short tube filling system.
Low agitation of the product so foaming is reduced.
Higher flow rates so filling is faster and the number of valves required for a given speed is lowered.

Long tube, standard

The long tube, standard valve is available in a 3  button version (pre-pressurizing, return gas path, snifting) or a 4 button version which has an additional vacuum channel for pre-evacuation operations.  Product flows down the center of the tube and enters the bottle 1 - 2 cm above the bottle bottom.     

Oxygen protection of the product during filling is accomplished by the inherent design of the long tubes which can be augmented by the use of pre-evacuation.  A long tube filler with single pre-evacuation has approximately the same oxygen pick up across the filling operation as does a short tube, double pre-evacuation filler.

Long tube, flushing

The long tube, flushing valve has the capability of injecting CO2 into the bottle through the same tube as liquid flows before sealing against the filling valve.  The bottle raising mechanism is flattened just before sealing to insure sufficient time for efficient exchange of air in the bottle for CO2.  Product flows down the center of the tube and enters the bottle 1 - 2 cm above the bottle bottom.

Oxygen protection of the product during filling is accomplished by the inherent design of the long tubes plus bottle flushing before sealing.  This system has approximately the same oxygen pick up across the filling operation as does a short tube, double pre-evacuation filler.
 


Beer machines are normally outfitted with crown cappers.  Capping dies can be sized for pry top or twist top bottles.

The machines can be outfitted with screw cappers for closing PET bottles or other plastic bottles.

Machine sizes range from a 6/2 - filler/capper to a 40/8 filler/capper.  
Speed range for long tube fillers is approximately 30 bpm to 225 bpm based upon a 12 oz. (354 ml) bottle.
Short tube fillers operate approximately 8% slower.
Single pre-evacuation will reduce a given machine's speed by approximately 8%.
Double pre-evacuation will reduce a given machine's speed by approximately 13%


 
 
 
 


 
 
 

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