EP2279149A1

EP2279149A1 - Method and filling system for filling bottles or similar containers with a liquid filling material and filling material dispensed into containers

Info

Publication number: EP2279149A1
Application number: EP09734717A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Ludwig Clüsserath
Original assignee: KHS GmbH
Current assignee: KHS GmbH
Priority date: 2008-04-22
Filing date: 2009-04-09
Publication date: 2011-02-02
Anticipated expiration: 2029-04-09
Also published as: WO2009129937A1; US20110039044A1; EP2279149B1; SI2279149T1; PL2279149T3; US8590581B2

Abstract

A method for filling bottles or similar containers (2) with a liquid filling material comprising at least two components, using a filling system (1) comprising at least one filling element (3) having a fluid channel (6) for the controlled dispensing of the filling material by way of at least one dispensing opening (11), said channel forming said dispensing opening, a liquid valve (13) being disposed in said channel and said channel being connected to a first component supply container or vessel (8) by way of a liquid connection (7).

Description

Method and filling system for filling bottles or similar containers with a liquid product and filled into containers

The invention relates to a method according to the preamble of claim 1, to a filling system according to the preamble of claim 11 and to a filled in container contents according to the preamble of claim 17.

Bottled, canned or similar container bottled beverages are, for the most part, mixed drinks in which a major component, which is by far the greater volume of each bottled product, contains another liquid additive component, e.g. is added in the form of a flavor-giving highly concentrated flavoring. This mixture is produced in practice within a mixing plant, which is also referred to as a "mixer" and precedes the filling machine in the process flow, in which then the product mixed from the two components is filled into the container.

Examples of such mixed drinks are i.a. Water + liquid flavoring or flavoring additive, water + liquid flavoring or flavoring additive + sugar, water + liquid flavoring or flavoring additive + base syrup, etc. Mixed drinks produced in this way are, for example, fruit juices or cola drinks, also with the addition of carbon dioxide.

A disadvantage of these known methods, inter alia, that the mixer in which the components forming the mixed drink (water and / or sugar and / or base syrup and / or flavoring and / or carbonic acid) is mixed is also a spatially separate unit of the filling machine, and that, therefore, connecting lines between the mixer and the filling machine are necessary, which as well as fluid connections within the filling machine contain a considerable volume of liquid.

With each product change, for example, when changing the additional component ^), but also with a change of the basic component, it is necessary, the entire contained within the overall system liquid volume, especially from the piping between mixer and filling machine and from the individual supply lines of each fill valve. As a rule, at least a large part of this liquid volume must be discarded.

In addition to the resulting loss of high-quality product is also disadvantageous that in practice, the product change or the component change is very time-consuming alone by the necessary emptying of the connecting lines.

In order to avoid these disadvantages, it has already been proposed (EP 0 775 668 B1) to add an additional component to a base component within the respective filling element and during filling or during the filling phase, namely by the fact that this additional component monitored and controlled by a flow meter in the directly connected to a ring boiler or via an opening in communication with the ring tank section of the liquid channel of the filling element, ie introduced in the flow direction of the contents in front of the liquid channel arranged in the liquid valve becomes. This has the disadvantage, inter alia, that an undesired mixing of the additional component with the first component or main component contained in the ring boiler can not be reliably avoided, so that the main component contained in the ring vessel increasingly accumulates during the filling operation with the additional component and thereby a filling of Mixed drinks with a consistent and reproducible quality is not possible.

The object of the invention is to provide a method which, with a consistent and reproducible quality of the filled product, enables a product change or component change, and in particular a change of at least one additional component with a reduced loss of high-quality product and expenditure of time.

To solve this problem, a method according to claim 1 is formed. A filling system for carrying out the method is the subject matter of patent claim 11. A product filled in bottles or similar containers is the subject matter of patent claim 17.

In a general embodiment of the invention, the at least one additional component is added to the first component or Grundkornponent outside the respective filling element, preferably via at least one additional discharge opening for the at least one additional component directly into the container to be filled and / or in a current flowing to the container during filling or during the filling phase of the at least one first component.

Especially in this embodiment of the method according to the invention, it is not necessary to mix the components before and / or during introduction into a container. It has been shown that a sufficient mixing of the components to the mixed contents, for example, to the mixed beverage also takes place when the components are introduced separately and sequentially in the respective container. The mixing is then carried out almost automatically by, for example, during transport or during the action of the container occurring vibrations and movements. Furthermore, there is also the possibility that the mixing of the components in the sealed container only by the end user, for example, by shaking the container, while the components are previously present in the closed container deliberately separated, for example, in such a way that in a container transparent material (eg glass or clear plastic) is the "colorless" base component above the slightly heavier colored and / or flavor-forming further component or vice versa, which can also be used as an additional marketing effect. In a further general embodiment of the invention, the addition of the at least one additional component to the first component or base component also takes place outside the respective filling element or outside of the liquid channel containing the liquid valve formed in the filling element, namely in the fluid or fluid connection between the respective filling element and a reservoir or boiler, via which the at least one first component or base component is supplied to the respective filling element.

Advantages of the method and the device according to the invention include u.a. The fact that a consistent and reproducible quality of the bottled product is achieved, and that the product volume to be discarded during a product or component change is low, since there is no mixed product consisting of the components within the compounds of the filling system or of the respective filler only a very small volume of such a mixed product. The amount of product to be discarded in a product change and also the time required for a product change are therefore significantly reduced, namely with reproducible filling results.

Further developments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the figures of exemplary embodiments. Show it:

Fig. 1 in a simplified representation of a filling system according to the invention, together with a bottle formed as a container;

Figures 2 and 3, the filling system of Figure 1 in different operating conditions.

4 and 5 in representations as Figure 1 modified embodiments of the filling system of Figure 1;

FIG. 6 shows a representation similar to FIG. 1 of a further embodiment of the filling system according to the invention;

FIG. 7 shows the filling system of FIG. 6 in the operating state "rinsing"; FIG.

8 shows a modification of the filling system of FIG. 6.

In FIGS. 1-3, 1 is generally a filling system for filling bottles 2 with a liquid product or filling substance, which consists of at least two components, one of which contains a basic or main component and an additional component or additional component ZK / ZK ', for example, a flavoring and / or coloring additive is.

The filling system 1, which in the illustrated embodiment is part of a filling machine of continuous design, consists in a conventional manner of a filling element 3, which is provided with a plurality of similar filling elements on the circumference of a vertical machine axis rotatably driven rotor 4 of the filling machine.

In a housing 5 of the filling element 3, a liquid channel 6 is formed, which at an upper end via an at least partially formed by a conduit 7 Fluid connection with the common for all filling elements 3 of the filling system 1 and the filling machine and provided on the rotor 4 boiler 8 for receiving the main component or first component HK is used. When the filling system 1 is ready for operation, the boiler 8, which is designed, for example, as a ring boiler, is filled level-controlled up to the level N with the component HK.

In the fluid communication between the boiler 8 and each filling element 3 or its fluid channel 6, a flow meter 9 is provided which, e.g. is a magnetic / inductive flow meter and an electrical signal which corresponds to the volume flow or the respective filling element 3 flowing amount of the component HK, for example, provided by a computer control unit 10, which provided for all filling elements 3 of the filling system 1 together and for example, the filling machine controlling computer.

In the region of the underside of the filling element 3, the liquid channel 6 forms a dispensing opening 11 for dispensing the liquid filling material to the respective bottle 2 to be filled. In the dispensing opening 11, a gas barrier 12 is provided, which in the illustrated embodiment is formed by an insert, the sieve-like is provided with a plurality of passages or channels.

In the liquid channel 6, a liquid valve 13 for controlled release of the component HK is arranged in the respective bottle 2 between the upper connection to the liquid connection 7 and the lower discharge opening 11. The liquid valve 13 consists, as is known, of a valve body 14 which is movable between a closed position and an opened vertical stoop, i. in the Füllelementachse FA is movable up and down and rests in the closed position with a seal against a valve seat in the liquid channel 6. The controlled opening and closing of the liquid valve 13 via a controlled by the control unit 10 actuator 15, u.a. also as a function of the measurement signal supplied by the flow meter 9.

16 designates in FIG. 1 a fluid connection formed by a fluid channel, which serves for introducing the additional component ZK into the respective bottle 2 and for this purpose forms an additional discharge opening 17 for the additional component ZK on the underside of the filling element 3. In the embodiment of Figures 1 - 3, the discharge opening 17 is provided coaxially with the Füllelementachse FA on the underside of the gas barrier 12. The fluid connection 16, which consists for example of a sealed from the side into the liquid channel 6 below the liquid valve 13 pipe section is outside the liquid passage 6 and the filling element 3 via a controllable (eg electrically or pneumatically controllable) check valve 18 to the output a metering pump 19 which is also controlled by the control unit 10 and whose input is connected to a line 20 which leads to a reservoir or boiler, not shown, for the component ZK. The metering pump 19 is designed so that it promotes a precisely defined volume in a continuous operation at each pump revolution or clocked or pulsed operation in each stroke Each filling element 3 is associated with a container carrier 21 to which in the illustrated embodiment, the respective bottle 2 is held suspended from a 2.1 formed below the bottle mouth 2.1 flange, in such a way that the bottle mouth 2.1 from the bottom of the filling element 3 and thus of the local discharge openings 11 and 17 as well as from the lower, open end of an annular insert 22 is spaced, so that both components HK and ZK of the respective bottle to be filled 2 are supplied as a free jet, as shown in Figure 2.

The insert 22 surrounds the lower tubular housing section 5.1 of the housing 5 forming the discharge opening 11 at a distance, so that an annular channel 23 is formed between the inner surface of the annular insert 22 and the outer surface of the housing section 5.1. Furthermore, the insert 22 projecting slightly beyond the bottom of the gas barrier 12 and also via the discharge openings 11 and 17, so that after closing the lower, open end of the insert 22 with a rinsing cap 22.1 indicated by broken lines and when the liquid valve 13 is open a CIP cleaning with an example the liquid channel 6 from top to bottom and then flowing through the annular gap 23 and a connected thereto line 24 discharged cleaning medium is possible. In this CIP cleaning can then also the discharge port 17 and the associated fluid paths (fluid connection 16, check valve 18, metering pump 19, line 20, etc.) are included.

A possible mode of operation of the filling system 1 for introducing the components HK and ZK is shown in FIG. 2. After positioning the bottle 2 to be filled on the container carrier 21, the filling phase is initiated by opening the liquid valve 13, in which the component HK is in the free stream is introduced through the bottle opening 2.1 in the bottle 2. At the same time takes place with open check valve 18 by controlling the metering pump 19 is a precisely metered addition of the component ZK in the bottle 2 incoming stream of the component HK with a predetermined amount. Once the required amount of the component ZK is discharged through the discharge opening 17 and thus introduced into the bottle 2, the introduction of the component ZK is terminated in the respective bottle 2 by blocking the check valve 18 or by switching off the metering pump 19, so that then until complete filling of the bottle 2 of these only the component HK is supplied. The filling phase is controlled by the signal of the flow meter 9 by closing the liquid valve 13 then terminated when the desired filling volume is reached.

The operation in which the supply of the component HK ends before the liquid valve 13 is closed, has the advantage that in the region of the discharge opening 17 or in the region of the underside of the gas barrier 12 possibly present remnants of the component ZK entrained by the component HK and be introduced into the provided on the filling element 3 bottle 2, so that there are clear conditions at the beginning of each new filling phase. It is understood that in the case of several filling elements 3 on the rotor 4, an independent metering pump 19 and an independent shut-off valve 18 are provided for each filling element 3 and these are individually controllable for each filling element 3. The filling system 1 also allows a change of the components HK and / or ZK. The change of the component HK is carried out in the usual way by emptying the filling system 1 with respect to the component HK and ggs. by subsequent rinsing and / or cleaning of the filling system 1 as well as all fluid connections and routes also within the filling elements 3, preferably in a CIP cleaning process.

By using the gas barrier 20 it is achieved that after closing the liquid valve 13, i. At the end of each filling phase, the part of the liquid channel 6 located below the liquid valve 13 continues to be completely filled with the component HK, without any dripping of the filling element 3 taking place. Furthermore, the cross-section of the fluid connection 16 or of the fluid channel forming this fluid connection is also selected, in particular at the discharge opening 17, such that after the termination of the delivery of the component ZK, i. after the valve 18 has been blocked and the dosing pump 19 has been switched off, the part of the fluid connection 16 extending between the check valve 18 and the discharge opening 17 continues to be filled with the component ZK without dripping from the discharge opening 17. Thus, at the beginning of each new fill phase, both components HK and ZK see immediately, i. available without delay.

For a change of the component ZK against another component ZK ¹ , for example, a different component in taste and / or color according to the figure 3, first with closed liquid valve 13 in a flushing all flow connections containing the previously used component ZK with a flushing medium For example, rinsed with water or sterile water, in particular the fluid connection 16, the open check valve 18, the metering pump 19 and the leading to the metering pump 19 line 20, as far as it contains the component ZK. In this rinsing the metering pump is preferably driven. This rinsing takes place, of course, without bottles 2 on the filling elements 3. The liquid obtained during the rinsing (rinsing medium + remainder of the component ZK) are collected by a collecting trough 25 arranged below the filling element 3 with a suitable outlet. In a filling machine of rotating design, this drip tray 25 is then provided, for example, fixed to a machine element below the trajectory of the filling elements 3, in that angular range of rotation of the rotor 4, between a container outlet at which the filled bottles 2 are removed during the filling operation , and a container inlet is formed, to which the empty bottles are supplied during the filling operation, and at the (angle range), even in normal filling operation, no bottle 2 is located on the filling elements 3.

After flushing the fluid connection 16, the check valve 18, the metering pump 19 and connected to the input of the metering pump line 20 each filling element 3 is further supplied metering pump 19 and open check valve 18, the component ZK 'supplied or preferred, as long as until this component has reached the discharge opening 17 or exits there. Since the previously rinsed and taken after rinsing of the rinsing liquid volume is known, this preference of the component ZK 'can be done in principle by appropriate control of the metering pump 19 and funded by this pump volume flow.

If the drip pan 25 is fixed in the above-described manner to the filling machine of the rotary type, the changeover or change from the component ZK to the component ZK 'takes place in sections at the filling elements 3 situated above the drip pan 25 while the rotor 4 is rotated. and for example at continuously, but very slowly rotating rotor 4 or clocked rotating rotor 4th

It has been assumed above that each filling element 3 has a common metering pump 19 with a shut-off valve 18 for both components ZK and ZK ', and both components are accordingly also conducted via the line 20 to the metering pump 19. FIG. 4 shows a filling system 1a, which differs from the filling system 1 in that an independent metering pump 19 is provided on each filling element 3 for the components ZK and ZK ', the inlet of which via a line 20 with a reservoir or boiler for the relevant component is connected. Each metering pump 19 is connected via an independent, electrically controllable check valve 18 with the fluid connection 16, which is then common for both components.

The filling system 1a allows a change of the components ZK and ZK ', of course, in turn flushing the flow paths of the previously used component ZK or ZK' and under preference to be used after the change to component ZK 'or ZK, wherein the rinsing and drawing on the common fluid connection 16 can be.

The filling system 1a further also allows the volume-controlled introduction of both components ZK and ZK 'into the respective bottles 2 within one and the same filling phase. The components ZK and ZK 'are for this purpose, for example, by appropriate control of the associated metering pump 19 and the valve 18 offset in time in the respective bottle 2 are introduced, in such a way that the introduction of the components ZK and ZK' each with one of these components, for example started with the component ZK and also terminated with the same component, so that after filling each bottle 2, ie at the end of each filling phase, the same conditions with respect to the present at the discharge port 17 component ZK or ZK 'are present.

FIG. 5 shows a filling system 1b, which differs from the filling system 1 only in that the dispensing opening 17 for the component ZK or ZK 'is provided offset radially relative to the filling element axis FA or relative to the axis of the dispensing opening 11 in that the dispensing opening 17 is located outside the dispensing opening 11 and outside the gas barrier 12, but in the form that the jet of the component ZK or ZK 'emerging from the dispensing opening 17 reliably flows through the bottle opening 2.1 into the bottle provided on the filling element 3 2 is introduced. In the filling systems 1 - 1b, the boilers for the components ZK and ZK 'are provided in common for all filling elements 3 or else a group of several filling elements of the filling machine. The metering pumps 19 and the associated shut-off valves 18, however, are provided separately for the individual filling elements 3 and individually controllable.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show, as a further embodiment, a filling system 1c, which differs from the filling system 1 - 1b in that the introduction of the additional component ZK or ZK 'again outside the filling element 3, but already in the fluid connection between the boiler 8 and the relevant filling element 3, ie takes place in the line 7. For this purpose, an independent controllable (for example, electrically or pneumatically controllable) shut-off valve 26 is provided in line 7 for each filling element 3, the input of which is connected via a line section 7.1 to the boiler 8 and its outlet via a line section 7.2 to the flow meter 9. The metering pump 27, which in turn is provided individually for each filling element 3, is connected to the line section 7.2 via a controllable (for example, electrically or pneumatically activatable) shut-off valve 28. The input of the metering pump 27 is connected to a boiler 29 for the component ZK or ZK ', which is supplied via a line 30 with this component. The metering pump 27 is in turn designed so that it promotes a precisely defined volume in each working cycle in continuous operation at each pump revolution or in clocked or pulsed mode of operation

After the positioning of a bottle 2 under the Fülieiernent 3 or below the local with the gas barrier 12 provided discharge opening 11 and after the introduction of the filling phase by opening the liquid valve 13 takes place during a subphase of this filling phase after opening the check valve 28 via the metering pump 27, the volume controlled Introducing the component ZK or ZK 'in the line section 7.2, and preferably at previously locked check valve 26 to reliably prevent penetration of the component ZK or ZK' in the boiler 8. The introduction of the component ZK or ZK 'is terminated by closing the check valve 28 and by switching off the metering pump 27, so that then the filling of the respective bottle 2 with the component HK can be done or continued by opening the check valve 26.

Taking into account the liquid volume which is in fluid communication between the outlet of the check valve 28 and the discharge opening 11, the partial filling phase in which the component ZK or ZK 'is introduced into the line section 7.2 is selected and so provided within the total filling phase in that with the components HK flowing into the respective bottle 2 after closing the shut-off valve 28 and opening the shut-off valve 26, the entire, previously introduced component of the component ZK or ZK 'is carried into the bottle 2 before the filling phase has ended. As soon as the total volume measured with the flow meter 9 (volume of the component HK and the component ZK or ZK ') corresponds to the desired filling quantity, the filling phase is ended by closing the liquid valve 13. Of course, the filling system 1c also allows a change between the component ZK and ZK '. According to FIG. 7, when the shut-off valve 26 is open, the shut-off valve 28 and the liquid valve 13 open, the boiler 29, the metering pump 27, the shut-off valve 28, the line section 7.2, the flow meter 9, the liquid channel 6 and the discharge opening 11 with the gas barrier 12 rinsed with a suitable liquid rinsing medium, for example, with water, so that all the remainders of the hitherto used component ZK or ZK 'are removed. The resulting in this rinse liquid is in turn collected in the drip pan 25. After rinsing, the newly used component ZK 'or ZK is initially advanced in the form that this component is supplied via the line 30 so that it is not only with the shut-off valve 26 still open and the shut-off valve 28 open and the liquid valve 13 open the boiler 29, but also the line section 7.2 and the liquid channel 6 fills and finally exits at the discharge opening 12. Following this, when the shut-off valve 28 is closed and the shut-off valve 26 is opened, the rinsing of the line section 7.2 and the liquid channel 6 with the component HK _{1 takes place} so that at the end of the component change when the liquid valve 13 is closed again, a state is reached in which the entire line 7 and also the liquid channel 6 are filled with the component HK.

Finally, FIG. 8 shows a filling system 1d which differs from the filling system 1c only in that a separate vessel 29 is provided for each component ZK and ZK ¹ , which is connected to the line section 7.2 via the metering pump 27 and the blocking valve 28 , Among other things, with the advantage that when a component change flushing of the respective boiler 29, the associated metering pump 27 and the associated shut-off valve 28 is not required and also the possibility exists, both components ZK and ZK 'during the filling phase in the bottles. 2 contribute.

In the filling systems 1c and 1d, the boilers 29 for the components ZK and ZK 'are again provided in common for all filling elements 3 or else a group of several filling elements of the filling machine. The metering pumps 27 and the associated shut-off valves 28, however, are provided separately for the individual filling elements 3 and individually controllable.

All the above-described embodiments are i.a. together that the component ZK or ZK 'are volume-controlled respectively via the metering pump 19 and 27, respectively, and that each metering pump 19 or 27 is associated with a check valve 18 and 28, which u.a. a delay-free beginning and a delay-free termination of the addition of the respective component ZK or ZK 'allows.

In the case of the filling systems and in particular also in the filling systems 1 - 1b, it is also possible to control or regulate the proportion of the component ZK or ZK 'introduced into the respective bottle 2 using flow meters, which are then replaced by the metering pump 19 or 27 or in addition to this is provided in the liquid channel before or after the check valve 18 or 28, which is then controlled by the control unit 10 in response to the signal from these flow meters.

The invention has been described above by means of exemplary embodiments. It is understood that numerous changes and modifications are possible without thereby departing from the inventive concept underlying the invention. Thus, it goes without saying that the number of components which, in addition to the main component HK, may be introduced into the bottles or containers selectively or jointly in each case, may be arbitrary.

Also, the present invention can also be used to fill several different products in parallel on a filling machine during operation at a time. For example, it is possible to fill all the bottles 2 to be filled with the main component HK, wherein a first additional component ZK and a second number of bottles 2 a second additional component ZK ^{1 is} supplied by the filling elements 3 of a first number of bottles 2.

In this case, the ratio of the first number of bottles 2 to the second number of bottles 2 may be arbitrary. Also, the spatial arrangement of the first bottle 2 to the spatial arrangement of the second bottle 2 may be arbitrary. These can, for example, alternate or else be provided in blocks on the rotor 4.

This procedure makes it possible to create any product mix without conversion work.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1, 1a - 1d filling system

2 bottle

2.1 bottle mouth

2.2 flange

3 filling element

4 rotor

5 filler housing

6 fluid channel

7 line or fluid connection

7.1, 7.2 line section

8 kettles

9 flow meters

10 control electronics

11 discharge opening

12 gas lock

13 liquid valve

14 valve body

15 actuator

16 fluid connection or fluid channel

17 discharge opening

18 check valve

19 dosing pump

20 line

21 container carriers

22 use

22.1 closure

23 annular gap

24 line

25 drip tray

26 check valve

27 dosing pump

28 check valve

29 kettles

30 channel

N level of the liquid level of the Ki is 8

HK, ZK, ZK ¹ component

FA filler element axis

Claims

claims

1. Method for filling bottles or similar containers (2) with a liquid filling material consisting of at least two components (HK, ZK / ZK '), using a filling system (1, 1a-1d) with at least one filling element (3), which for controlled delivery of the contents via at least one discharge opening (11) has a discharge opening (11) forming the liquid channel (6) in which a liquid valve (13) is arranged and via a fluid connection (7) with a reservoir or boiler (8 ) of a first component (HK), characterized in that at least one additional component (ZK, ZK ') dosed outside the filling element (3) in the respective container (2) and / or in which the filling element (3) the liquid tank (7) connecting the storage tank or boiler (8) is introduced.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one additional component (ZK, ZK ') using a flow meter and / or a metering pump (19, 27) is metered introduced.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the at least one further component (ZK, ZK ') is introduced such that the mixing of this component with the first component (HK) takes place only within the container (2).

4. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one additional component (ZK, ZK ') introduced into the first component (HK) in a Fiüssigkeitskanai (7) between the boiler (8) and the filling element (3) becomes.

5. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one additional component (ZK, ZK ') via an additional discharge opening (17) in the respective container (2) and / or in a liquid flow of the first component (ZK) , For example, in a free-jet filling in the free jet of the first component (HK) emerging from the filling element (3) or via at least one discharge opening in the liquid channel (7) connecting the filling element (3) with the reservoir or boiler (8) is introduced.

6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that the at least one discharge opening (17) for the additional component (ZK, ZK ') in the region of at least one discharge opening (11) of the first component (HK) and / or in the region of located there gas barrier (12), for example, within the at least one discharge opening (11) of the first component (HK) and / or relative to this discharge opening (11) radially offset.

7. The method according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the at least one discharge opening (17) for the additional component (ZK ₁ ZK ') with at least one metering pump (19, 27) and / or flow meter is in communication, the one or more preferably in series with a controllable check valve (18, 28) is arranged.

8. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by at least two with the at least one discharge opening (17) for the additional component (ZK ₁ ZK ') and / or with the liquid passage (7) preferably via a respective check valve (18, 28) associated metering pumps (19, 27) and / or flow meter.

9. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one discharge opening (11, 17) of the filling element (3) opens in a closable by a closing element (22.1) during a CIP cleaning space.

10. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first component (HK) is a main component and the at least one additional component (ZK, ZK ') is an additive, for example a taste-forming and / or coloring additive.

11. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that during operation, all bottles to be filled (2) are filled with the main component (HK), wherein at the same time a first number of bottles (2) with a first additional component (ZK ) and at least a second number of bottles (2) are filled with at least one second additional component (ZK ').

12. filling system for filling bottles or similar containers (2) with a liquid filling material consisting of at least two components (HK; ZK / ZK '), with at least one filling element (3), which for controlled delivery of the filling material via at least one discharge opening ( 11) has a liquid channel (6) forming this discharge opening (11), in which a liquid valve (13) is arranged and which is connected via a liquid connection (7) to a storage tank or vessel (8) of a first component (HK), characterized by means with which at least one additional component (ZK ₁ ZK ') is metered outside the filling element (3) into the respective container (2) and / or into the liquid channel connecting the filling element (3) to the reservoir or vessel (8) (7) can be introduced and that controlled by at least one flow meter and / or a metering pump (19, 27).

13. A filling system according to claim 12, characterized by at least one discharge opening, via which the at least one additional component (ZK, ZK ') in the respective container (2) and / or in a liquid flow of the first component (ZK), for example in a free jet filling in the free jet of the first component (HK) emerging from the filling element (3) and / or into which the filling element ment (3) with the reservoir or boiler (8) connecting the liquid channel (7) can be introduced.

14. Filling system according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that the at least one discharge opening (17) for the additional component (ZK ₁ ZK ') in the region of at least one discharge opening (11) of the first component (HK) and / or Is located region of a local gas barrier (12), for example, within the at least one discharge opening (11) of the first component (HK) and / or relative to this discharge opening (11) offset radially.

15. Filling system according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that the at least one discharge opening (17) for the additional component (ZK, ZK ') with at least one metering pump (19, 27) and / or flow meter is in communication, the or preferably in series with a controllable check valve (18, 28) is arranged.

16. Filling system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by at least two with the at least one discharge opening (17) for the additional component (ZK, ZK ') and / or with the liquid channel (7), preferably via a respective check valve (18, 28). associated metering pumps (19, 27) and / or flow meter.

17. Filling system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one discharge opening (11, 17) of the filling element (3) opens into a closable by a closing element (22.1) during a CIP cleaning space.

18. In bottles or similar container (2) filled filling material, consisting of at least one first component and at least one additional component (ZK, ZK '), characterized in that the at least two components (HK, ZK, ZK') unmixed with each other in the filled and sealed container (2) are included.