CN114620665A

CN114620665A - Filling device, apparatus and method for filling containers with a filling product

Info

Publication number: CN114620665A
Application number: CN202111500366.1A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 斯特凡·珀施尔
Original assignee: Krones AG
Current assignee: Krones AG
Priority date: 2020-12-10
Filing date: 2021-12-09
Publication date: 2022-06-14
Also published as: EP4011821A1; DE102020133044A1

Abstract

Filling device, apparatus (1) and method for filling containers with a filling product, preferably in a beverage filling plant, wherein the apparatus has: a filler carousel rotatable relative to the stationary facility part, comprising a plurality of filling means arranged on the circumference of the filler carousel and for introducing filling products into respective containers, wherein the filling means form at least two groups; a product supply device for supplying the filling means with a filling product; a CIP device for providing CIP medium for the CIP process and into the circulation such that the product-guiding surface of the filler disk, including the surface of the filling mechanism, is in contact with the CIP medium; and a control device for operating the filler carousel, the product supply device and the CIP device such that a first group of filling organs introduces the filling product into the respective container, while a second group of filling organs, different from the first group, is subjected to the CIP process.

Description

Filling device, apparatus and method for filling containers with a filling product

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a filling device, a device and a method for filling containers with a filling product, in particular in a beverage filling system.

Background

When filling liquid food, the product-guiding parts of the filling device need to be cleaned and, if necessary, sterilized periodically for hygiene and health reasons. This does not apply only to the filling of sterile filling products, but to a particular extent. It is currently particularly common in the field of aseptic filling to sterilize the filling product by means of short-time heating (KZE) prior to the filling process. All filling means of the filler are filled with the same product. At the end of production, this may last for a time between 10 minutes and 40 minutes, depending on the type of filling product, for example followed by rinsing clean or cleaning. Hereby, the filling product is advanced and production can be continued.

Different methods for cleaning and disinfecting such devices are known. Thus, for example, so-called CIP methods ("clean-In-Place") and SIP methods ("Sterilization-In-Place") have been created, In which the filling device and other product-guiding components for Cleaning or Sterilization do not have to be removed, but rather are rinsed and/or cooked with a Cleaning or Sterilization medium In the installed state.

Thus, for example, DE 102010031873 a1 describes an apparatus and a method for filling containers with cleaning devices.

For cleaning and/or sterilizing the filling device, it is advantageous to use production pauses, for example, during changeover of product. However, improving facility efficiency by this technique is limited, especially in the case of small batches that become more and more frequent in the time of "stock keeping units" (SKUs) increase and to avoid food waste. Since the process time cannot be simply shortened in order to ensure a thorough and reliable cleaning and/or disinfection of the installation.

Disclosure of Invention

The object of the present invention is to improve the flexibility and/or efficiency of an apparatus and a method for filling containers with a filling product, in particular in a beverage filling plant.

This object is achieved by the filling device according to the invention, the apparatus according to the invention and the method according to the invention. Advantageous developments emerge from the description of the invention and the description of the preferred embodiments below.

The filling mechanism, apparatus and method according to the present invention are used to fill containers with a filling product. It is particularly preferably used in beverage filling facilities, for example for filling water (carbonated or distilled), beer, wine, fruit juices, soft drinks, mixed drinks, smoothies, dairy products and the like.

The filling mechanism includes: a product outflow opening, which is set up for introducing a filling product into the container; a product line which is in fluid communication with the product outflow opening and is set up for directing the filling product to the product outflow opening. The filling device also has a cooling device which is arranged in the region of the product line and is set up for cooling the filling product in the product line.

By actively cooling the filling product directly in the filling device, the filling device can be used in difficult production environments, since possible heat input from the outside into the filling product located in the filling device is prevented. This heat input can otherwise impair product quality, especially in the case of perishable filled products such as dairy products. In particular, the environment of the filling means can be tempered by integrated cooling, for example as a result of cleaning and/or sterilizing adjacent filling means, without causing any quality loss during production. The filling device can thus be used particularly flexibly, in particular in a device optimized for high efficiency, as described below.

Preferably, the filling device has a product connection for attachment to a medium line outside the filling device, wherein the product connection is in fluid communication with the product line and the cooling device is arranged between the product connection and the product outflow opening. The product transport path within the filling device, i.e. the distance between the product connection for attachment to the medium line and the product outflow, is protected in this way against external thermal influences, as a result of which the filling product can be brought to a desired, quality-ensuring temperature immediately before introduction into the container.

Preferably, the filling device has a CIP cover which is designed to close the product outlet opening for CIP operation and to open the product outlet opening for normal operation.

In addition to regular operation, the filling mechanism and the equipment described below allow for so-called CIP processing. The CIP ("Cleaning-In-Place") and SIP ("Sterilization-In-Place") processes perform the Cleaning and/or Sterilization of the filling mechanism or equipment without the need to disassemble the parts and surfaces In contact with the filling product or possible intermediate products and auxiliary materials. In particular, the filling means do not have to be removed for rinsing, cleaning and/or sterilization, but rather are rinsed or cooked with CIP medium, i.e. cleaning medium or sterilization medium, in the installed state during the CIP process.

The SIP method is included in the CIP method for linguistic simplicity, i.e. the CIP method includes rinsing and/or cleaning and/or disinfection.

For example, water and/or lye, for example sodium hydroxide solution, and/or acids, for example nitric acid and/or peracetic acid, and/or another disinfectant can be used as CIP medium. Alcohols, such as ethanol, can also be used as CIP media, alone or in combination. Furthermore, hot steam can be used for sterilization, either alone or as a carrier medium.

The above object is also achieved by an apparatus for filling containers with a filling product, preferably in a beverage filling plant. The apparatus has: a filler carousel rotatable relative to the fixed installation part, the filler carousel comprising a plurality of filling means arranged on the circumference of the filler carousel and set up for introducing a filling product into respective containers, wherein the filling means form at least two groups; a product supply device which is set up to supply the filling means with a filling product; a CIP device which is set up to provide CIP medium for the CIP process and to bring it into circulation, so that the product-guiding surfaces of the filler disk, including the surfaces of the filling means, come into contact with the CIP medium; and a control device which is set up to control the filler carousel, the product supply device and the CIP device such that a first group of filling organs introduces the filling product into the respective container, while a second group of filling organs, different from the first group, is subjected to the CIP process.

In other words, the regular operation of the filling product introduced into the respective container via the filling means and the CIP operation of the flushing and/or cleaning and/or disinfecting device do not have to be carried out sequentially in a sequence for a relatively long time, but can be carried out overlapping in time or even completely in parallel, since the filling means of the filler disk are grouped and individually operated in groups.

The following operation of the apparatus is referred to herein as "combined operation": one or more filling means are in normal operation while the other filling means are simultaneously ready for production, for example to be flushed, cleaned and/or sterilized during a CIP operation.

The combined operation allows that the production, i.e. the filling during normal operation, does not have to be interrupted for rinsing, cleaning and/or disinfection. In this way, the efficiency of the installation can be increased, in particular in the case of relatively small batches and/or frequent product changes. The system is suitable for large and small series, continuous operation and frequent product changes, so that it can be adapted particularly flexibly to variable production conditions.

Preferably, the production and CIP devices are part of a fixed installation part, in order to keep the provision of the filling product and CIP medium simple in terms of mechanical construction. The production supply device comprises, for example, a mixer for mixing the filling product to be filled, wherein in this case raw materials and/or concentrates are usually mixed into the product water stream. The device has in this case a rotary distributor which is set up for transporting the filling product and the CIP medium to the respective filling mechanism. The rotary distributor comprises a stationary part connected with the stationary installation part and comprises a rotary part connected with the filler carousel and being surrounded by it.

Preferably, the rotary distributor is a multi-channel rotary distributor having at least a first distributor channel and a second distributor channel, wherein the first distributor channel is in fluid communication with the filling means of the first group and the second distributor channel is in fluid communication with the filling means of the second group. The supply of the filling means with the respective media according to their group membership can be achieved in a mechanically simple and reliable manner by a multi-channel rotary distributor.

Preferably, the filling organs of the first group and the filling organs of the second group alternate, viewed in circumferential direction of the filler disk. In this way, the filling process is performed between the filling means at uniform intervals, thereby simplifying the control of the inflow at the containers to the filler carousel and the construction of the filler carousel.

In a more general grouping procedure, for example, the filling organs are divided into four groups as described below, adjacent filling organs preferably belonging to different groups, viewed in the circumferential direction of the filler disk.

Preferably, the rotary distributor is a four-way rotary distributor having a first distributor way, a second distributor way, a third distributor way and a fourth distributor way, wherein the first distributor way is in fluid communication with the filling means of the first group, the second distributor way is in fluid communication with the filling means of the second group, the third distributor way is in fluid communication with the filling means of the third group and the fourth distributor way is in fluid communication with the filling means of the fourth group. According to the present embodiment, the filling mechanism is divided into four groups as a whole, thereby further improving the flexibility of the apparatus. For example, in this way, even in a combined operation, a plurality of different filling products can be filled simultaneously at the installation.

Furthermore, multi-color fillers which already have a corresponding rotary dispenser and are designed for filling a plurality of filling products can be assembled in a mechanically simple and inexpensive manner for combined operation.

Preferably, one, more or all of the filling devices of the filler carousel are filling devices according to one of the above-described embodiment variants with integrated cooling devices. The features, technical effects, advantages and embodiments already described in connection with the cooled filling means apply analogously to the apparatus provided with such filling means.

Preferably, the device has a device for short-term heating, in particular as a component of a product supply device which is set up for sterilizing the filling product by heating before filling. In this way, sterile filling can be carried out by means of the apparatus. The technical contribution caused by the combined operation can be made particularly significant in the case of complex installations, such as aseptic installations, since the economics of such aseptic installations have hitherto been strongly linked to the filling of large batches. The solution described herein allows particularly flexible filling until just-in-time production is reached.

The above object is also achieved by a method for filling a container with a filling product, preferably in a beverage filling plant. The method comprises the following steps: rotating a filler carousel rotatable relative to a stationary facility part, the filler carousel comprising a plurality of filling means arranged on the circumference of the filler carousel and set up for introducing filling products into respective containers, wherein the filling means form at least two groups; providing a fill product and a CIP medium for CIP treatment; directing a filling product to a first group of filling mechanisms such that the first group of filling mechanisms directs the filling product into respective containers; and the CIP medium is put in circulation such that the product-guiding surface of the filler disk, the surface of the filling means comprising a second set of filling means different from the first set, is in contact with or loaded with the CIP medium.

The features, technical effects, advantages and embodiments described in relation to the apparatus apply analogously to the method.

The introduction of the filling means of the first group of filling products into the respective containers and the CIP treatment of the filling means of the second group are therefore preferably carried out at least temporally overlapping, in particular substantially simultaneously, whereby production interruptions are minimized and the efficiency of the installation can be optimized.

Preferably, the filling product is sterilized by heating before being introduced into the respective container for the reasons described above. Alternatively or additionally, the filling product can be cooled before being introduced into the respective container, in particular directly into the respective filling means.

The combined operation enables minimization of the conversion time of the facility for product changes by implementing production and CIP processes in parallel, in addition to efficiency improvements. After the CIP treatment of the filling means of the second group has ended, the same or a different filling product is therefore preferably guided to the filling means of the second group, so that the filling means of the second group introduce the filling product into the respective container. Preferably, the filling means of the first group are now subjected to a CIP process after the product change, which can be performed in parallel to the production.

It is noted that the expressions "first group", "first distributor lane", "second group", "second distributor lane", etc. do not imply a sequence, order or priority. The use of numerical representations is only intended for the linguistic distinction of different groups of filling means, medium lines, dispenser channels, etc.

Further advantages and features of the invention will appear from the following description of a preferred embodiment. The features described therein can be implemented individually or in combination with one or more of the above-described features, provided that these features are not contradictory. The following description of the preferred embodiments refers to the accompanying drawings.

Drawings

Preferred further embodiments of the invention are explained in detail below with reference to the drawing. Shown here are:

fig. 1 shows a schematic cross-sectional view through a filler carousel of an apparatus for filling containers with a filling product;

fig. 2 shows a schematic top view of the filler carousel according to the embodiment of fig. 1; and

fig. 3 shows a schematic view of a filling mechanism with a cooling device.

Detailed Description

Preferred embodiments are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In this case, identical, similar or functionally identical elements are provided with the same reference symbols in the drawings and, in part, a repeated description of these elements is omitted in order to avoid redundancy.

Fig. 1 and 2 show an apparatus 1 for filling a container, not shown in the figures, with a filling product. The apparatus is preferably a filler in a beverage filling facility, for example for filling water (carbonated or distilled), beer, wine, juices, soft drinks, mixed drinks, smoothies, dairy products and the like.

The device 1 has a filler carousel 10 which is rotatable about a rotation axis R relative to a stationary facility part 12. By using such a filler carousel 10, it is possible to feed a constant flow to the filler at the containers to be filled, fill the containers with the filling product and then deliver them to a subsequent processing step or a subsequent transport device.

The device 1 has a plurality of filling means 14 which are arranged on the circumference of the filler carousel 10 and are set up for filling the containers with a filling product in a continuous process.

During the filling process, the container spout is arranged at a small distance below or in pressure-tight contact with the product outflow opening 14b of the respective filling means 14, whereby the filling process can in principle be carried out as a free jet method, a counter-pressure method or a vacuum method. The container to be filled is held for this purpose at the filling device 14 or below the filling device 14 during filling via a container holding device (not shown in the figures) which has, for example, a holding clip for holding the container to be filled in the neck region, for example below the collar. In this case, so-called "card necks" (bottle handles) of the containers to be filled are also mentioned. The "neck of a bottle" is used in particular in the case of filling plastic containers in the form of PET bottles. Alternatively, the container can also be held or supported in its bottom region, for example by a guide trim on which the container rests. So-called "base handling" of the container to be filled is also mentioned here. "bottom-clamping" is used in particular in the case of glass bottles. Alternatively, the container to be filled can also be held and/or supported and transported in the region of the container or bottle belly or in another suitable manner.

For the purpose of delivering a medium, for example for delivering a filling product to be filled into containers, from the stationary installation part 12 to the filler carousel 10, a rotary distributor 2 is provided, wherein the filler carousel rotates in normal operation relative to the stationary installation part 12. The rotary distributor 3 comprises a stationary part 22, which is connected with the stationary equipment part 12, and a rotary part 20, which is connected with and surrounded by the filler carousel 10.

In the exemplary embodiment shown, the rotary distributor 2 has a sleeve which, in normal operation, surrounds the filler carousel 10 and is connected via a fixed distributor shaft which is connected to a fixed installation section 12.

In the circumferential sleeve of the rotary distributor 2, which forms the rotary part 20 of the rotary distributor 2, a plurality of distributor ducts 200 are provided, which are each connected to a media line 210. The media conduits 210 are used to transport media taken from the respective dispenser channels 200 to the respective desired location within the filler carousel 10. By means of the media line 210, for example: the filling product, control medium, gas, cleaning agent and/or disinfectant is delivered from the respective dispenser channel 200 to the filling means 14.

The respective media feed into the distributor channel 200 takes place, for example, via a respective axial and/or radial bore in the distributor shaft. The axial bore and/or the radial bore open into the distributor channel 200 accordingly.

The distributor channels 200 are sealed off from the environment and also from one another by means of seals, so that a media-clean guidance of the media in the distributor channels 200 is achieved, and a media-clean delivery of the respective media from the distributor shaft 22 onto the distributor channels 200 into the sleeves and subsequently into the media channels 210 is achieved.

It is noted that the rotary distributor 2 can also be constructed in the reverse order, i.e. with a stationary sleeve and a rotating distributor shaft. The rotary distributor 2 can be mounted in the upper region of the filler disk 10, as in the present exemplary embodiment, or in the lower region. The corresponding design and attachment of the rotary distributor 2 is related to the shaping of the entire installation.

Furthermore, the rotary dispenser 2 can optionally be dispensed with if the filler disk 10 has a corresponding reservoir rotating together, for example one or more central and/or annular containers for buffer filling of products, cleaning media or the like.

The device 1 also has a product supply device 30 which is designed to supply one or more filling products to the rotary dispenser 2 or the filling means 14. The product supply device 30 comprises, for example, a mixing zone for mixing the product to be filled, wherein in this case raw materials and/or concentrates are usually mixed into the product water stream.

In addition to regular operation, the apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment allows CIP processing. The CIP method ("Cleaning-In-Place") and the SIP method ("Sterilization-In-Place") are used for Cleaning or sterilizing the product supply device and the filler disk 10, wherein it is possible to dispense with the removal of parts and surfaces which come into contact with the filled product or possible intermediate products and auxiliary substances. For example, the filling means 14 does not have to be removed for cleaning or sterilization, but rather the filling means is rinsed or cooked in the installed state by means of a cleaning or sterilization medium.

The SIP method is included in the CIP method for the sake of linguistic simplicity, i.e. the CIP method includes rinsing and/or cleaning and/or disinfection.

The device 1 has a CIP apparatus 40 for carrying out a CIP process, which provides CIP medium and can be brought into circulation for carrying out a treatment, so that the surface to be cleaned or disinfected is in contact with the CIP medium. Preferably, the CIP medium comprises water and/or lye, such as sodium hydroxide solution, and/or acids, such as nitric acid and/or peracetic acid, and/or other disinfectants. Alcohols, such as ethanol, can also be used as CIP media, alone or in combination. Furthermore, hot steam can be used for sterilization, either alone or as a carrier medium.

The CIP device 40 has one or more CIP lines 41 which introduce CIP medium into the line system of the apparatus 1. Furthermore, one or more pumps can be provided for circulating the CIP medium, or the pumps of the apparatus 1 can be used synergistically for this purpose.

The filling means 14 is preferably provided with a CIP cover 14a, see fig. 3, which is arranged on the container side and, if required, establishes a product outflow opening 14b for closing the filling means 14. For example, the CIP cap 14a can be moved rotationally or linearly under the respective product outflow opening 14b and removed again after the CIP process has ended. The CIP covers 14a are preferably individually operable, however at least in groups.

The device 1 also has a control device 50, which is provided for process control of the device 1. For this purpose, the control device 50 communicates with the respective components (filling means 14, pumps, sensors, such as flow meters, valves, CIP device 40, product supply device 30, etc.) in order to open-loop or closed-loop control the processes executable by means of the apparatus 1, including normal operation and CIP processes.

The control device 50 can be implemented centrally or decentralized (i.e., as part of an internet-based and/or cloud-based application) or otherwise, and optionally access a database. The communication of the control device 50 with the respective components can be performed wirelessly or by wire.

The product supply device 30, the CIP device 40 and the control device 50 are schematically illustrated in fig. 1 and are not illustrated in the top view of fig. 2 for the sake of overview.

The medium line 210 comprises at least one first group of medium lines 211 which feed the first group of filling means 141 and a second group of medium lines 212 which feed the second group of medium means 142. In the present exemplary embodiment, for further flexibility of the device 1, even four groups are provided, namely a division of the filling means 14 into a first, second, third and fourth group of filling means 141, 142, 143, 144 and a corresponding division of the medium lines 210 into four associated groups of

medium lines

211, 212, 213, 214.

The filling

devices

141, 142, 143, 144 thus grouped can be arranged in any arrangement along the circumferential direction of the filler disk 10, wherein regular change-over is preferred. Thus, in the case of two sets, the filling mechanism 141 of the first set and the filling mechanism 142 of the second set are preferably switched. In the category of the more general grouping, adjacent filling means 14 preferably belong to different groups, viewed in the circumferential direction. The number of filling means 141, 142, 143, 144 in the different groups does not necessarily have to be the same large, although this is preferred for reasons of simplicity of control and mechanical construction.

The number of distributor channels 200 of the media distributor 2 is at least as large as the number of filling mechanism groups. Thus, in the present embodiment, the media distributor 2 comprises at least four

distributor channels

201, 202, 203, 204, which supply respective groups of

media lines

211, 212, 213, 214.

The different groups can be operated independently of one another, so that, for example, only every second or every third filling means introduces a filling product into the respective container in normal operation. For this purpose, fluid-side components such as check valves and the like (not shown in detail in the figures) are provided in order to be able to switch on and off the individual filling mechanism groups for production. The open-loop control or the closed-loop control is performed by the control device 50.

Particularly preferably, the control device 50 is set up to carry out CIP processes by one group of filling means 141, 142, 143, 144 and the associated

media lines

211, 212, 213, 214, while the other group carries out product filling. In other words, the normal operation of introducing the filling product into the respective container via the filling means 14 and the CIP operation of the rinsing and/or cleaning and/or disinfecting device 1 need not be carried out any more in succession from now on, but can be carried out in parallel in time, since the filling means are grouped into a plurality of groups which can be operated independently of one another.

The operation of the installation 1 in which one or more filling means 14 are in normal operation, while the other filling means 14 are simultaneously ready for production, for example for flushing, cleaning and/or disinfection during a CIP operation, is also referred to herein as "combined operation".

It is particularly preferred that the filling means 141, 142 form exactly two groups, i.e. the rotary distributor 2 comprises at least two

lanes

201, 202, wherein the control device 50 operates the apparatus 1 such that filling is only performed by every second filling means 141. A first group of these filling means 141 is in normal operation, while the further filling means 142 are not in normal operation and can thus be prepared for product change, for example. The filling means 142 of the second group can, for example, be rinsed, cleaned and/or sterilized cleanly, while the filling means 141 of the first group introduce the filling product into the respective container during normal operation.

In the combined operation, an undesirable heat input can occur from the filling means 14 in CIP operation to the filling means 14 in normal operation, in particular if the filling means are arranged adjacent to one another, viewed in the circumferential direction. Such heat input can impair product quality, especially in the case of perishable filled products such as dairy products. For this reason, the filling devices 14 are preferably each provided with a cooling device 14c for actively cooling the filling product, see fig. 3. Thus, by means of the filling means 14 and also the rotatable or displaceable CIP covers 14a being controllable individually or in groups, the filler can be prepared for the next production while production is in progress, without this adversely affecting production in terms of quality.

The cooling device 14c or its heat exchanger is arranged in the region of a product line 14d of the filling device 14, which brings the product connection 14e and the product outflow opening 14b into fluid communication. The product connection 14e of the filling device 14 serves to attach the product line 14d to the respective

medium line

211, 212, 213, 214.

The filling device 14 also usually has a filling valve (not shown in the figures) for controlling the filling product flow into the container, which filling valve can be designed as a regulating valve, a non-return valve or a proportional valve. The filling valve is located in the product line 14d, preferably in the region of the product outflow opening 14 b.

Preferably, the product supplying device 30 has a device 31 for heating the filling product for a short time, so that the filling product can be sterilized before filling. In this way, aseptic filling can be performed by the apparatus 1. Preferably, the product providing means 30 comprise at least two buffer tanks, whereby a batch of filled product can be buffered, while the means 31 for short heating are cleaned and/or sterilized. Alternatively, two or more devices 31 for short-time heating are installed in the product supplying apparatus 30.

The combined operation described above allows: it is not necessary to interrupt the production, i.e. the filling during normal operation, for rinsing, cleaning and/or sterilization. In this way, the efficiency of the installation can be increased, in particular in the case of relatively small batches and/or frequent changes of product. The technical contribution plays a particularly significant role in the case of complex installations, such as aseptic installations, since the economics of the installation have hitherto been strongly linked to the filling of large batches. The solution described in this document allows particularly flexible filling until just-in-time production is reached.

All individual features described in the embodiments can be combined with one another and/or substituted for one another as applicable without departing from the scope of protection of the invention.

List of reference numerals

Device for filling containers with a filling product

10 filler turntable

12 fixed facility parts

14 filling mechanism

14a CIP cover

14b product outflow

14c cooling device

14d product line

14e product interface

141 first group of filling mechanisms

142 second group of filling mechanisms

143 third group of filling mechanisms

144 fourth group of filling mechanisms

2 rotating distributor

20 rotating part

22 stationary part

200 distributor channel

201 first distributor channel

202 second distributor channel

203 third distributor channel

204 fourth distributor channel

210 medium pipeline

211 first group of medium ducts

212 second group of media conduits

213 third group of medium ducts

214 fourth group of media conduits

30 product supply device

31 device for short-time heating

40 CIP device

41 CIP pipeline

50 control device

R axis of rotation

Claims

1. A filling mechanism (14) for filling a container with a filling product, preferably in a beverage filling facility, wherein the filling mechanism (14) has:

a product outflow opening (14b) which is set up for introducing a filling product into the container; a product line (14d) which is in fluid communication with the product outflow opening (14b) and is set up for guiding the filling product to the product outflow opening (14 b); and

a cooling device (14c) which is arranged in the region of the product line (14d) and is set up for cooling the filling product in the product line (14 d).

2. The filling mechanism (14) according to claim 1,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the filling device (14) has a product connection (14e) for attachment to a medium line (211, 212, 213, 214) outside the filling device (14), wherein the product connection (14e) is in fluid communication with the product line (14d), and the cooling device (14c) is arranged between the product connection (14e) and the product outflow (14 b).

3. The filling mechanism (14) according to claim 1 or 2,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the filling device (14) has a CIP cover (14a) which is set up to close the product outflow opening (14a) for CIP operation and to open the product outflow opening (14a) for normal operation.

4. An apparatus (1) for filling containers with a filling product, preferably in a beverage filling device, wherein the apparatus (1) has:

a filler carousel (10) rotatable relative to a stationary facility part (12), the filler carousel comprising a plurality of filling means (141, 142) arranged on a circumference of the filler carousel (10) and set up for introducing the filled products into respective containers, wherein the filling means (141, 142) form at least two groups;

a product supply device (30) which is set up for supplying the filling means (141, 142) with the filling product;

a CIP device (40) which is set up to provide CIP medium for a CIP process and to bring it into circulation such that the product-guiding surfaces of the filler disk (10), including the surfaces of the filling means (141, 142), come into contact with the CIP medium; and

a control device (50) which is set up to actuate the filler carousel (10), the product supply device (30) and the CIP device (40) such that a first group of filling means (141) introduces the filling product into the respective container, while a second group of filling means (142), which is different from the first group, is subjected to the CIP process.

5. Device (1) according to claim 4,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the product supply device (30) and the CIP device (40) belong to a fixed installation part, and the apparatus (1) also has a rotary distributor (20) which is set up for conducting the filling product and the CIP medium to the respective filling means (14).

6. Device (1) according to claim 5,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the rotary distributor (20) is a multi-channel rotary distributor (20) having at least one first distributor channel (201) and a second distributor channel (202), wherein the first distributor channel (201) is in fluid communication with the first group of filling means (141) and the second distributor channel (202) is in fluid communication with the second group of filling means (142).

7. The device (1) according to claim 6,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the filling means (141) of the first group and the filling means (142) of the second group alternate, viewed in the circumferential direction of the filler disk (10).

8. The device (1) according to claim 6,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the rotary distributor (20) is a four-way rotary distributor (20) having a first distributor channel (201), a second distributor channel (202), a third distributor channel (203) and a fourth distributor channel (204), wherein the first distributor channel (201) is in fluid communication with the first group of filling mechanisms (141), the second distributor channel (202) is in fluid communication with the second group of filling mechanisms (142), the third distributor channel (203) is in fluid communication with a third group of filling mechanisms (143) and the fourth distributor channel (204) is in fluid communication with a fourth group of filling mechanisms (144).

9. The device (1) according to any one of claims 4 to 8,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

adjacent filling means (141, 142, 143, 144) belong to different groups, viewed in the circumferential direction of the filler disk (10).

10. The device (1) according to any one of claims 4 to 9,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

one, more or all filling means (141, 142, 143, 144) of the filler carousel (10) are filling means (14) according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

11. The device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 10,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the device also has a device (31) for short-time heating (31), preferably as a component of the product supply device (30), which is designed to sterilize the filling product by heating before it is filled.

12. A method for filling a container with a filling product, preferably in a beverage filling plant, wherein the method has:

rotating a filler carousel (10) rotatable relative to a stationary facility part (12), the filler carousel comprising a plurality of filling means (141, 142) which are arranged on the circumference of the filler carousel (10) and are set up for introducing the filled products into respective containers, wherein the filling means (141, 142) form at least two groups;

providing the fill product and a CIP medium for CIP treatment;

directing the filling product to a first set of filling mechanisms (141) such that the first set of filling mechanisms direct the filling product into respective containers; and

-bringing the CIP medium into circulation such that the product-guiding surfaces of the filler disk (10), including the surfaces of the filling organs (142) of the second group, different from the filling organs of the first group, are in contact with the CIP medium.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the first and second light sources are selected from the group consisting of,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the introduction of the filling product into the respective container by the first group of filling means (141) and the CIP treatment by the second group of filling means (142) take place at least temporally one above the other, preferably simultaneously.

14. The method according to claim 12 or 13,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

-sterilizing the filling product by heating before introducing it into the respective container and/or-cooling the filling product before introducing it into the respective container, preferably the filling means (141) of the first group.

15. The method of any of claims 12 to 14, further comprising:

after the CIP process of the second group of filling means (142) is finished, directing a filling product to the second group of filling means (142) such that the second group of filling means directs the filling product into the respective containers; and

preferably, the CIP medium is brought into circulation such that the product-guiding surfaces of the filler disk (10), including the surfaces of the first group of filling organs (142), are in contact with the CIP medium.