DE9218509U1 - Device for treating KEG, in particular for filling KEG - Google Patents

Description

Device for treating KEGs, in particular for filling KEGs

The innovation relates to a device according to the generic term Protection claim 1.

Methods and devices for treating, in particular for filling, KEGs are known in various designs. In particular, a method and device (DE-OS 32 20 135) are also known in which a valve arrangement is provided in the gas path of a filling head to control the pressure in the KEG during pre-tensioning (pre-tensioning pressure) and to control the pressure difference during filling. In the known case, this consists of a control or shut-off valve through which a compressed gas is supplied during the pre-tensioning phase. When the desired pre-tensioning pressure is reached, a pressure switch provided in the gas path responds, the signal of which causes the control valve to close.

During the filling phase, the flow rate of a branch of the gas path serving as a return gas path is forcibly changed via a cam-controlled valve, without an actual pressure measurement, in particular without a measurement of the actual pressure prevailing in the KEG and/or the actual filling material pressure.

The aim of the innovation is to demonstrate a device which is characterized by a particularly simple structure with regard to supply and discharge lines and their control means.

To solve this problem, a device is designed according to the characterizing part of claim 1.

The new device, which can be used for treating KEGs, ie in particular for filling or cleaning KEGs, has several treatment stations on a rotor rotating around a vertical machine axis. Each treatment station has a treatment _head on which

to which the respective KEG can be connected with its KEG fitting, preferably by lowering the KEG with its KEG fitting pointing downwards onto the treatment head through a KEG carrier. External lines that do not rotate with the rotor for supplying and/or discharging treatment media, media arising during treatment, etc. are connected via a rotary distributor to lines or connections that rotate with the rotor and lead to the treatment heads or to the gas and liquid channels there and in which at least some valves of control valve arrangements are provided, each of which is assigned to a treatment station or a group of treatment stations. The control valves of each control valve arrangement are designed as a control valve block and attached directly to the rotary distributor. This results in a particularly simple, clear design that, above all, saves on connecting lines.

When implementing the innovation, optimal, gentle filling is possible through the use of a proportional valve and the control of the pressure in the KEG during the pre-pressurization phase and the filling phase, depending on the actually measured pressure values.

In a preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention, the KEG carrier of the respective filling station is provided on two rods that extend in the vertical direction and are guided axially displaceably in a guide at least at their two ends. This design means that the respective filling station also has a particularly stable construction with respect to the KEG carrier and its guide.

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

The innovation is explained in more detail below using the figures of an example. They show:

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Fig. 1 shows a simplified representation of a KEG filling machine of rotating design;

Fig. 2 shows a schematic side view of the filling machine according to Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 shows a simplified detailed view of one of the filling stations of the filling machine according to Figures 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is a simplified block or functional diagram of a filling station of the filling machine of Figures 1 and 2;

Fig. 5 and 6 show a top view and a section of a rotary distributor for use in the filling machine according to Figs. 1 and 2.

The filling machine 1 shown in the figures is used to fill metal barrels, i.e. to fill KEGs 2 with a carbonated liquid filling material, for example beer. The KEGs 2 have, in a known manner, on one end, i.e. on their top, a KEG fitting 3, which is arranged in the area of the axis of the KEG 2 and essentially forms two openings 4 and 5, of which the opening is coaxial with the axis of the KEG and is connected to one end of a tubular spear or riser pipe 6, which is provided inside the KEG 2 coaxial with the KEG axis and is open at its end opposite the bottom of the KEG 2. The opening 5 is designed as an annular opening that concentrically encloses the opening 4 or the riser pipe 5. Both openings 4 and 5 are closed by a self-closing KEG valve device, which can be opened to clean and/or fill the KEG 2.

To fill the KEG 2 with the liquid filling material, they are fed upright but turned, ie with their upper side, which has the KEG fitting 3, facing downwards, via a conveyor 7 to the filling machine 1 in the direction of the arrow. &Agr;_&Lgr; The KEGs are

■ · Φ « Φ · Φ » Φ*· ΦΦ·Φ

2 are transferred one after the other to filling stations 8, which are formed on the circumference of a rotor 9 of the filling machine 1 that rotates around a vertical machine axis VA. The filling machine 1 has a plurality of filling stations 8 on the rotor 9, which are each distributed at equal angular intervals around the axis VA.

The KEG 2 is transferred from the conveyor 7 to the respective filling station 8 by means of an insertion star 10 rotating around a vertical axis with pockets 11 for partially receiving a KEG 2 and with the help of a guide arch 12 assigned to the insertion star 10. In order to separate the KEG 2 requested via the conveyor 7 and to ensure that a KEG 2 is only ever moved into the insertion star 10 provided at the end of the conveyor 7 when a pocket 11 is available there to receive this KEG, a retaining device 13 is provided on the conveyor 7 in the transport direction A immediately in front of the insertion star 10, which in the embodiment shown has two lever-like retaining elements 14, each of which is pivotably mounted on one of the long sides of the conveyor 7 running in the transport direction A at one end about a vertical axis, namely by an angle outside the conveyor. 7. Each retaining element 14 can be pivoted between an active position in which its other end, which has a roller 15, extends into the path of movement of the KEG 2 on the conveyor 7, and an inactive position in which the retaining element 14 lies outside the path of movement of the KEG 2. The movement of the retaining elements 14 between the two aforementioned positions is pneumatic. The rollers 15, which can each be freely rotated about a vertical axis, rest against a KEG 2 in the active or blocking position of the retaining elements 14.

As shown in Fig. 1, the two retaining elements 14 are positioned in their effective position, i.e. the position in which they retain the KEG 2, such that the longitudinal axis of each retaining element 14,

i.e. the imaginary connecting line between the axis of rotation

the roller 15 and the pivot axis of the respective retaining element 14 runs radially or approximately radially with respect to the vertical axis of the KEG 2 held back by the retaining device 13 and forms an acute angle with the transport direction A of the conveyor 7, i.e. an angle less than 90°, which opens in the direction of the insertion star 10. In the embodiment shown, this angle is approximately 45°.

After a KEG 2 is transferred to a filling station 8, it is carried along by the rotor 9 rotating in the direction of arrow B and filled in the manner described in more detail below. The filled KEG 2 is removed from the filling stations by an ejection star 16, which also has pockets 17 and is assigned a guide arch 18. From the ejection star 16, the filled KEG 2 is transferred to a conveyor 19 for removal.

A drive or electric motor 20 is used to drive the rotor 9, the insertion star 10, the ejection star 16, the retaining device 13 and at least the conveyor 7, which drives the ejection star 16 directly via a gear 21. The insertion star 10 is connected to the ejection star 16 via a belt drive having a belt or toothed belt 22. The retaining device 13 and the conveyor 7 are connected to the insertion star via a further toothed belt (not shown).

A shaft 23 leads from the input shaft of the gear 21 to a gear 24, with which the rotor 9 is driven around the axis VA. For this purpose, the gear 24 has a pinion 25 on an output shaft, which engages in an external toothing or in a gear ring 26 of a ring 27 forming the underside of the rotor 9. All of the previously described, moving elements of the filling machine 1 are thus driven by the common drive motor 20, so that the movement of these elements is necessarily synchronized.

1 ^i · ·

— 12*·- ··

Each filling station 8 essentially consists of a filling head 28 suitable for the KEG fittings 3 and a KEG carrier 29, which can be moved up and down in the vertical direction relative to the filling head 28 by a lifting device. This KEG carrier 29 has two fork arms 30', which are arranged with their longitudinal extension horizontally and essentially radially to the axis VA and are connected to one another at their inner end, i.e. the end closer to the axis VA, on a cross member 31 that also runs in the horizontal direction, but perpendicular to the longitudinal extension of the fork arms 30'. A plate 30 is fastened to the fork arms 30' of each KEG carrier 29, which forms a base for the respective KEG 2 taken over from a filling station 8. The KEG fitting 3 is located above an opening 30'' in the plate 30 and is therefore freely accessible from below.

The KEG carrier 29 is clamped or otherwise secured to two horizontal rods 32 arranged parallel and spaced apart from one another by the cross member 31. The rods 32 are provided with their axes in a common vertical plane that is tangential to an imaginary circular cylindrical surface that concentrically encloses the axis VA. Each rod 32 can be moved at its lower end and at its upper end in a ball guide 33 in an axial direction by a stroke specified for the KEG carrier 29 in the vertical direction (double arrow C). The ball guides 33 for the lower ends of the rods 32 are attached to an annular rotor part 34 that concentrically encloses the axis VA, and the ball guides 33 for the upper ends of the rods 32 are attached to an upper annular rotor part 35 that also concentrically encloses the axis VA. The two rotor parts 34 and 35 are connected to one another by several connecting elements 36. The ring 27 is attached to the rotor part 34. For the lifting movement according to the double arrow C, each KEG carrier 29 is assigned a lifting or pneumatic cylinder 37, which is provided between the two rods 32 and engages the respective cross member 31 with a lifting rod 37'. The control of the lifting

cylinder 37 and other functional elements not necessarily controlled by the drive 20 or by the respective rotational position of the rotor 9, in particular also valves described in more detail below, are controlled by an electrical control device 38 which contains, for example, a programmed processor or computer.

The filling head 28 of each filling point 8 is attached to the rotor part 34 in such a way that in the raised position of the respective KEG carrier 29 the fitting 3 is arranged above the upper end of the filling head 28 and at a distance from this end, while in the lowered position of the KEG carrier 29 the relevant KEG fitting 3 is in a sealing position against the upper end of the filling head 28. It is understood that the KEG carriers 29 are each in their raised position when passing the insertion star 10 and the ejection star 16, the KEG carrier 29 is lowered when the relevant filling point 8 is occupied by a KEG 2 and has moved away from the insertion star 10, and the KEG carrier 29 is raised again before reaching the ejection star 16.

Due to the design described above, each KEG carrier 29 has a particularly stable design and allows a reliable lowering and lifting of the respective KEG 2. This reliable operation is due in particular to the relatively long rods 32, which are each guided at their ends in the ball guides 33, so that particularly favorable conditions are created, in particular with regard to the moments that occur.

Each filling head 28 has the known design with a gas and liquid path, the necessary seals for the respective KEG fitting 3, etc. To press a KEG 2 or the associated KEG fitting 3 against the filling head 28 during filling and during a preceding treatment, a pressing element 39 (e.g. pressing cross) that can be moved up and down in a vertical direction is provided at each filling _point 8 above the plate 30, to which a pneumatic or pressing cylinder 40 is assigned. With this pressing cylinder 40,

which is provided on the rotor part 35 and carries the pressure element 39 on its piston rod, the respective KEG 2 is pressed downwards against the filling head 28 at its upper base when the KEG carrier 29 is lowered. The pressure cylinder 40 is of course also controlled by the control device 38.

Each filling head 28 has a push-on sleeve 41, which in the activated state opens the KEG fitting 3 or the KEG valve device there in the manner described above, as well as a liquid valve 42 and a flushing valve 43. The push-on sleeve 41 is indicated in Fig. 2. The liquid valve 42 and the flushing valve 43 are shown in Fig. 4 as discrete valves outside the filling head 28, but they are actually part of the filling head 28 and, like the push-on element 41, are controlled by an actuating device integrated in the filling head 28, preferably by a pneumatic piston, at least partially dependent on control signals supplied by the control device 38.

According to Fig. 4, each filling point 8 or each filling head 28 is assigned a group of further valves in addition to the liquid valve 42 and the flush valve 43, namely the control valves 44 - 49, which can only assume an open and a closed state, as well as a proportional valve 50. In detail, Fig. 4 shows the following arrangement or connection for the various valves:

Fluid valve 42

This valve is arranged in a liquid channel 51 for the liquid filling material provided in the filling head 28 and forming part of the liquid path, which is connected with its end located in front of the liquid valve 42 in the flow direction to a product line 52 for the liquid filling material provided on the rotor 9 and with its other end to

an opening of the filling head 28 which, when the KEG 2 is attached, is connected to the opening 5 of the KEG fitting 3.

Flush valve 43

This valve is provided in a flushing channel 53 formed inside the filling head 28, which is connected at one end in the area of the aforementioned opening to the liquid path of the filling head 28, which, when the KEG 2 is connected, is also connected to the opening 5 of the KEG fitting 3. The other end of the flushing channel 53 is connected to a connection of one of the valves 44 and 45. The valve 44 is connected with its other connection to a water drain or a corresponding line 54 and the valve is connected with its other connection to a beer spray drain or a corresponding line 55. The valves 44 and 45 form a first section of the control valve arrangement comprising the valves 44 - 49.

Proportional valve 50

This valve is provided in a return gas channel 56, one end of which opens into the opening of the filling head 28, which, when the KEG 2 is attached, is connected to the opening 4 of the KEG fitting 3. When the KEG 2 is connected to the filling head 28 and the KEG fitting 3 is opened by the push-on element 41, this one end of the return gas channel 56 is also connected to the riser pipe 6.

Valves 46-49

The other end of the return gas channel 56 is connected to a connection of the valves 46 - 49, of which the valve 46 with its other connection to a line 57 for exhaust air, the valve 47 with its other connection to a line 58 for supplying C02~ gas under pressure, the valve 48 with its other connection to a line 59 for supplying a pressurized hot sterilization medium, i.e. for

supplying steam and the valve 49 with its other connection to a line 60 for supplying hot water.

In the embodiment shown, the valves 44 - 49 assigned to each filling point 8 are provided as a valve group on a rotary distributor 61, which establishes the connection to the lines 54, 55 and 57 - 60 and 67 provided outside the rotor 9, i.e. to the non-rotating lines 54, 55 and 57 - 60 and 67. The rotary distributor 61 essentially consists of a fixed ring body 62, which encloses a pipe section 63 arranged coaxially with the axis VA and, like this pipe section 63, does not rotate with the rotor 9. The rotary distributor also consists of a ring 64 that rotates with the rotor 9 and seals around the ring body 62, and a cover 64' that is connected to the ring 64 and thus also rotates with the rotor 9. The pipe section 63 forms a channel section 63' of the rotary distributor 61 for the liquid filling material, which does not rotate with the rotor 9 and which opens into a channel section 64'' formed in the cover 64'.

On the circumference of the ring body 62, several annular grooves 65 are provided one above the other in the vertical direction, concentrically enclosing the axis VA, namely one groove for each line 54, 55 and 57 - 60.

A plurality of through-holes 66 are formed in the ring 64, each of which is congruent with a groove 65. The holes 66 form a plurality of groups in which these holes 66 are provided one after the other in a line running parallel to the axis VA, namely one hole 66 for each groove 65. The number of these groups of holes 66 is at least equal to the number of filling points 8.

The product lines 52 provided on the rotor 9 are connected to the channel section 64'' of the cover 64' located at the top in Fig. 6. Accordingly, the channel section 63' formed by the pipe section 63 is also provided with a

V V VVV V VV VVVvVVV

Line 67 for supplying the liquid filling material to the rotary distributor 61. The holes 66 of each group of holes are each connected to a channel 69 provided in a valve housing 68. The valve housing in the embodiment shown is a cuboid or strip-shaped block that is provided jointly for the valves 44 - 49 of each filling point 8 and is screwed to the respective group of holes 66 using seals on the outside of the ring 64. A valve seat is formed in each channel 69, with which the valve body of the respective valve 44 - 49 interacts. The actuating elements 70 protrude beyond the radially outer side of the valve housing 68 with respect to the axis VA. The actuating elements 70 are preferably pneumatic actuating elements. The described design has the advantage that no additional connecting lines are required between the valves 44 - 49 and the rotary distributor 61 and, among other things, these valves can also be pre-assembled as a block and the corresponding valve block can be attached to the rotary distributor 61 or to the ring 64 there by means of screws in a particularly simple manner. The respective valve block can also be removed easily and without any problems for repair purposes. The rotary distributor 61 is designed, for example, so that it fits in terms of the number of groups of holes 66 or the possible valve blocks for a filling machine 1 with a relatively high number of filling points 8. In a filling machine with a smaller number of filling points 8, it is then possible to close the groups of holes 66 that are not required with a plate 71 (of course using seals) which (plate) is screwed onto the ring 64 of the rotary distributor 61. It is understood that such a plate 71, which is fastened to the ring 64 with its longitudinal extension parallel to the axis VA, can also be used for other reasons whenever a certain group of holes 66 is not required.

A pressure gauge 72, which serves to control the proportional valve 50, and a probe 73 which responds to the presence of liquid filling material are provided in the return gas channel 56 formed in the respective filling head 28. Both elements (pressure gauge 72 and probe 73) are located in the part of the return gas channel 56 which, when the KEG 2 is connected to the filling head 28, is directly connected to the KEG fitting 3. The probe 73 is preferably arranged in the sleeve-like push-up element 41 or in the area of this push-up element 41 and is therefore located in the immediate vicinity of the KEG fitting 3 when the KEG 2 is connected to the filling head 28. This makes it possible to keep the loss of liquid filling material to a minimum.

In the figures, 74 also designates a cover, which consists for example of a cut-out made of sheet steel and in the embodiment shown is provided separately and movably on the rotor 9 for each filling point 8 in such a way that this cover 74 is in a position in which the relevant filling head 28 is covered on its upper side by the cover 74, while the cover 74 is otherwise outside the area of the relevant filling head 28 during the loss angle of the rotor rotation formed between the ejection star 16 and the insertion star 10 when the rotor 9 rotates and also during the time in which a KEG 2 is pushed onto the KEG carrier 29 in the area of the insertion star 10 with the KEG carrier 29 raised.

In the embodiment shown, the proportional valve 50 and the pressure gauge 72 are designed as a structural unit 79. Furthermore, in the embodiment shown, a bore 80 is provided in each valve housing 68, which runs parallel to the axis VA and connects the two upper channels 69 of the valves 44 and 45 in Fig. 6, namely on the side of the respective valve seat facing away from the line 54 or 55. The line 53 is connected to the channel formed by the bore 80. In

Similarly, the channels 69 of the valves 46 - 49 are connected by a bore 81 parallel to the axis VA. The line is connected to the channel formed by this bore 81.

Each group of bores 66 also has a bore 66, which is the lowest in Fig. 6, to which a line 82 for control air is connected, which rotates with the rotor 9, in particular also for controlling the lifting cylinder 37 and the pressure cylinder 40. The groove 65 of the ring body 62, which is associated with this bore and is the lowest in Fig. 6, is connected to a line 83, which does not rotate with the rotor 9 and leads to a source of compressed air.

The rotary distributor 61 is attached to a stationary part of the filling machine by a plate 84 that supports the pipe section 63 and the ring body 62. In the embodiment shown, at least part of the control device 38 and at least the input and output parts 38' of this control device 38 for the filling point 8 are provided on the rotor part 35, to which the lifting cylinders 37 and the pressure cylinders 40 are also attached. A cross member 85 is also attached to the rotor part 35, which supports the electric rotary distributor 86 for the electric lines leading to the rotor 9.

The following mode of operation is possible, for example, with the described filling machine 1, whereby the following description essentially reproduces the process steps carried out at each filling point 8 and in particular also assumes that the valves 42 - 50 provided or formed on each filling head 28 are in the closed position, unless the open position of a specific valve is expressly stated in the described working phase.

1. Slide a KEG 2 onto the KEG carrier 29

The respective KEG 2 is pushed by the insertion star 10 onto the KEG carrier 29, which is in the upper lifting position. During this pushing on and during the preceding loss angle, the filling head 28 or the critical parts there that come into contact with the liquid filling material, in particular the seals, etc. that come into contact with the KEG fitting 3, are sterilized with a hot sterilization medium, namely steam.

For this purpose, the flush valve 43, the proportional valve 50 and also the valves 44 and 48 are opened. The steam flowing out through the opening of the return gas line 56 in the middle of the filling head is diverted radially outwards by the aperture 74 arranged a short distance above it, so that an optimal sterilization effect is achieved. The steam is mainly discharged via the flush valve 43 and the valve 44.

2. Lower the KEG 2 and press it against the filling head 28

With the help of the pressure cylinder 40, the pressure element 39 is moved downwards, whereby the KEG 2 is secured on the KEG carrier 29, namely between the pressure element 39 and the plate 30. The lifting cylinder 37 initially keeps the KEG carrier 29 in the raised position. If the KEG 2 is secured in the required manner by the pressure element 39, the lifting cylinder 37 is also actuated to lower the KEG carrier 29 while the pressure medium (compressed air) continues to be applied to the pressure cylinder 40, so that the KEG 2 is finally pressed against the filling head 28. The KEG 2 is secured on the KEG carrier 29 in such a way that when it is coupled to the filling head 28, it can still center itself in relation to the filling head 28 by sliding it on the KEG carrier 29.

During this lowering, the aperture 74 is moved out of the area of the filling head 28. The treatment with steam is maintained, i.e. the flushing valve 43, the proportional valve 50 and the valves 44 and 48 are still open.

3. Rinsing the filling head 28

When the KEG 2 or fitting 3 is pressed against the filling head 28 and the KEG fitting 3 is still closed, the filling head 28 or the filling head space is rinsed with hot water. "Filling head space" here refers to the areas of the liquid path and the gas path that are accessible from the top or through the opening of the filling head 28.

For this flushing, the flushing valve 43, the proportional valve 50 as well as the valves 44 and 49 are opened. Then the filling head 28 or the filling head chamber is blown out with CO2 gas. For this, the flushing valve 43, the proportional valve 50, the valve 44 and the valve are opened.

4. Coupling the interior of the KEG 2 to the filling head 28

For this purpose, the push-on sleeve 41 is moved upwards by appropriately controlling the actuating means provided in the filling head 28, thereby opening the KEG fitting 3 or the openings 4 and 5 therein.

5. Relief

The CO2 vapor atmosphere still present in KEG 2 from a previous treatment is relieved to ambient pressure. For this purpose, the proportional valve 50 and the valve 46 are opened.

••••-22* ··

6. Blowing out and pre-tensioning the KEG 2

Here, the entire interior of the KEG is first of all flowed through with carbon dioxide via the return gas path 56. For this purpose, the proportional valve 50 and the valve 47 are opened. The flushing valve 43 and the valve 44 are also open. During the flow, the wall of the KEG 2 is cooled and the condensate that accumulates is expelled via the line 53. In addition, the CO2 purity inside the KEG is increased. The blowing through with CO2 gas is limited to a specified period of time.

After this blowing through or flushing of the KEG 2 with CO2 gas has been completed, the pre-pressure with CO2 also takes place via the return gas channel 56. For this purpose, the flushing valve 43 and the valve 44 are closed again. The pre-pressure takes place via the open valve 47 and the proportional valve 50, which in this phase is now controlled by the control device 38 as a function of a setpoint and also as a function of the actual value measured by the pressure gauge 72. In this control or regulation, the actual pressure of the liquid filling material, which is present, for example, on the line 52 and is measured by a pressure gauge 76 provided there, is also taken into account, preferably in such a way that the pre-pressure achieved with the pressure regulation when pre-pressurizing the KEG 2 inside the KEG is a certain or preselected value below the pressure of the liquid filling material (filling material pressure).

With the aid of the proportional valve 50 and the control and regulating circuit including the pressure gauges 72 and 76, the preload pressure in the respective KEG 2 can be set very precisely to the specified value in a very short time.

7. Filling phase

After the preloading of the KEG 2 has ended, the valve 47 is closed. The liquid valve 42 is then opened by appropriately controlling the actuating means of the

Filling head 28 is opened. Due to the existing, albeit small, pressure difference between the pressure inside the KEG 2 and the filling material pressure, the liquid filling material slowly flows into the interior of the KEG, namely through the ring-shaped opening 5. The filling speed is determined by the cross section of the opening 5 and the pressure difference in the area of this opening. Since the cross section of the opening 5 is essentially determined by the design of the KEG or its fittings 3, the pressure difference is decisive for the speed of the inflow of the liquid filling material during this filling phase.

This filling speed can be changed when the valve 46 is open by changing the pressure difference using the proportional valve 50.

Filling is complete when the fitting 3 of the KEG 2 in the KEG interior is reliably flooded with the liquid filling material, so that filling below the layer is then possible.

The filling process can be terminated, for example, by specifying a fixed time for the filling phase in the program of the control device 38, after which the filling phase is inevitably terminated.

8. Quick fill

If the valve 46 remains open, an increased setpoint value for the pressure difference between the pressure of the liquid filling material and the pressure inside the KEG 2 is used, i.e. with the help of the proportional valve 50 and the signals measured by the pressure gauges 72 and 76, the pressure inside the KEG 2 is set to a reduced pressure corresponding to this new pressure difference, which increases the filling speed. This setting can also be made very precisely using the proportional valve 50 used and the associated control, so that

' i 24 -J '**'

This results in a particularly gentle filling of the KEG 2 with the liquid contents, without the release of carbon dioxide from the contents.

9. Completion of the filling phase

If the probe 73, which is provided in the filling head 28 in the return gas channel 56 there, detects liquid filling material, which has entered the riser pipe 6 via the open end of the riser pipe 6, which is located at the top during filling and is adjacent to the bottom of the KEG 2, and from there into the return gas channel 56, a signal supplied by the probe 73 causes the liquid valve 42 to close. The probe 73 is, for example, a conductivity measuring probe, i.e. one which has at least two exposed electrodes and which, when there is liquid contact in the area of these electrodes, supplies a probe signal.

10. Uncoupling the KEG 2 from the filling head 28

For this uncoupling, when the relevant filling point 8 has reached a certain angular position of the rotary movement of the rotor 9 before reaching the ejection star 16, all valves are forcibly closed and the push-on sleeve 41 is moved back to its inactive position by actuating the actuating means of the filling head 28. The filling head 28 can be designed in such a way that the liquid flow valve 42 is also necessarily closed by this return movement.

11. Relieving and blowing out the filling head 28

After the KEG has been uncoupled from the filling head 28, this filling head or the filling head chamber still closed by the KEG fitting 3 is connected to the line 55 via the flushing valve 43 and the valve 45. The pressure still prevailing in the filling head chamber (filling pressure) displaces any remaining filling material there. This is followed by

Blow out the filling head space with CC>2 gas. To do this, the proportional valve 50 and the valve are also opened.

12. Rinsing and blowing out the filling head 28

In this phase, hot water is blown into the filling head chamber. For this purpose, the flushing valve 43, the proportional valve 50 and the valves 44 and 49 are opened. During this flushing process, all remaining filling material residues are removed and the filling head 28 is cleaned, which also prevents the filling head from becoming contaminated.

The hot water used for rinsing is then displaced with CO2 gas, for which the valve 49 is closed and the valve 47 is opened. This CO2 gas is used in particular to blow dry the filling head space and the channels leading into this space, in particular the return gas channel 56.

13. Removing the KEG

Only after the above process step has been completed is the pressure of the KEG 2 against the filling head 28 released, i.e. the pressure cylinder 40 is deactivated by a corresponding control on the part of the control device 38 and the lifting cylinder 37 is activated to lift the KEG carrier 29 and thus to lift the KEG 2 from the filling head 28. The KEG fitting 3 is already flushed with steam during the final activation of the pressure cylinder 40. For this purpose, the flushing valve 42, the proportional valve 50 and the valves 44 and 48 are opened.

14. Hose down the KEG fitting 3

In the ejection area, for example in the area of the ejection star 16, spray nozzles are provided below the movement path of the KEG 2, with which the KEG fitting 3 of a KEG 2 is sprayed with a cleaning or disinfectant agent.

The use of the proportional valve 50 also has the advantage, among other things, that an optimal adaptation of the filling process to different filling parameters is possible in a particularly simple manner simply by changing the program used in the control device 38.

The innovation was described above using an example. It goes without saying that changes and modifications are possible without thereby abandoning the innovative idea underlying the innovation. For example, it is possible to dispense with the above method step "3. Rinsing the filling head 28". Furthermore, it is possible to use the machine described above or the valve control device for the filling head 28 explained above in connection with Fig. 4 for cleaning KEG 2, namely with certain modifications of the filling head 28. In a machine for cleaning the KEG 2, in which treatment stations are provided for cleaning instead of the filling points 8, the liquid valve 42 and the associated lines and channels for the liquid filling material are missing. The connections and/or the functions of the various valves are then at least partially different from what was described above.

For example, a station used for pre-cleaning has the following connections:

Valve 44 to line 54 which continues to serve as drain Valve 45 to line 55 for water

Valve 46 on line 57 for water

Valve 47 on line 58 for lye I

Valve 48 on line 59 for lye II and valve 49 on line 60 for sterile air.

At a station for a main cleaning, the following connections are preferably available:

e ·

Valve 44 on line 54 for draining Valve 45 on line 55 for draining the lye II Valve 46 on line 57 for water

Valve 47 on line 58 for sterile air Valve 48 on line 59 for C02~gas Valve 49 on line 60 for water vapor.

In addition, in this case a valve 75 is provided, which is also connected with one connection to the proportional valve 50 and with its other connection to a line 78 for lye III.

List of reference numbers used

1 Filling machine 2 KEG 3 KEG fitting 4, 5 opening 6 Riser pipe 7 carrier 8th Filling point 9 rotor 10 Insert star 11 Bag 12 Guide bow 13 Restraint device 14 Retainer 15 role 16 Ejection star 17 Bag 18 guide 19 carrier 20 Drive motor 21 transmission 22 Timing belt 23 Wave 24 transmission 25 pinion 26 Sprocket 27 ring 28 Filling head 29 KEG carrier 30 plate 30' Fork arm 30'' opening 31 traverse 32 pole 33 Ball guide 34, 35 Rotor part 36 Connecting rod

• · · -w Abi -» · *

37 - 49 81 stroke cylinder 37' 83 Lifting rod 38 Control device 38' Input and output: 39 54, 55 Pressure element 40 Pressure cylinder 41 - 60 Push-on element 42 Fluid valve 43 Flush valve 44 Valve 50 Proportional valve 51 Fluid channel 52 Product Management 53, 1 Line 56 Return gas channel 57 Line 61 Rotary distributor 62 Ring body 63 Pipe section 63' Canal section 64 ring 64' Lid 64' Canal section 65 Groove 66 drilling 67 Line 68 Valve housing 69 channel 70 Actuator 71 plate 72 Pressure gauge 73 probe 74 cover 75 Valve 76 Pressure gauge 78 Line 79 Unit 80, drilling 82, Line

84 Plate

85 Traverse

86 Electric rotary distributors

Claims (19)

Protection claims 1. Device for treating KEGs (2), in particular for filling or cleaning KEGs (2), each of which has a KEG fitting (3) with a first opening (4) connected to a riser pipe (6), with a second opening (5) directly connected to the interior of the KEG (2) and with an automatically closing KEG valve device for these openings (4, 5), with several treatment stations (8) provided on the circumference of a rotor (9) rotating around a vertical machine axis (VA), each of which has a treatment head (28) forming a liquid path and a gas path, against which the KEG (2) to be treated can be brought into a sealing position with its KEG fitting (3), and with external lines (54, 55, 57 - 60, 78, 67) that do not rotate with the rotor for supplying and/or removing treatment media, and lines connected to the gas path or the liquid path of the filling heads (28) and rotating with the rotor (9), which are connected to the non-rotating lines via a rotary distributor (61), at least partially via valves (44-49, 75) of a control valve arrangement assigned to each treatment station (8), characterized in that the control valves (44 - 49, 75) of each control valve arrangement are provided as a control valve block directly on the rotary distributor (61). 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the rotary distributor (61) has a plurality of groups of connection openings (66) on a part (64) rotating with the rotor (9), and that each valve block (68) is attached to a group of such connection openings (66). 3. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the connection openings (66) of each group are offset in an axial direction parallel to the vertical machine axis (VA). 4. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that in the control valve block or in a valve housing (68) forming the same, bores or channels (69) are provided for the individual valves (44 - 49), which form chambers in the region of valve seats, and that at least two chambers formed by channels (69) are connected to one another via at least one bore (80, 81) provided in the valve housing (68), which forms a common connection for these valves. 5. Device according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized by at least one plate (71) for closing the connection openings (66) of an unnecessary group of such connection openings. 6. Device according to one of claims 1-5, characterized in that the device for filling KEGs (2) has a KEG carrier (29) that can be moved in the vertical direction by a lifting device (37), with which the respective turned KEG fitting (3) with its downward-pointing KEG fitting can be brought into a sealing position with the filling head (28) by lowering the KEG carrier (29), in which, when the KEG valve device is open, the first opening (4) of the KEG fitting (3) or the riser pipe (6) is connected to the gas path (56) and the second opening (5) of the KEG fitting (3) is connected to the liquid path (51), whereby the KEG (2) is pre-tensioned to a predetermined pre-tension pressure via the gas path (56) in a pre-tensioning phase preceding a filling phase and is pre-tensioned via the opened Liquid valve (42) and the liquid path (51) connected to the second opening (5) are filled with the filling material under a filling material pressure and the return gas displaced from the KEG (2) is discharged via the gas path (56), that in the gas path (56) at least one control valve (44 - 49, 75) of the control valve arrangement is provided, which during the pre-tensioning phase depends on a gas path (56) provided first pressure measuring device (72) sets the pre-tension pressure and controls the outflowing quantity of the displaced return gas during the filling phase to achieve a pressure difference between the filling material pressure and the pressure prevailing in the KEG (2), and that in the gas path (56) a proportional valve (50) is also provided which controls the pre-tension pressure during the pre-tension phase and the pressure difference during the filling phase depending on an actual value derived from the first pressure measuring device (72) and a predetermined target value. 7. Device according to claim 6, characterized by a second pressure measuring device (76) which is arranged on the liquid path (51) of the filling head (28) or on a product line (52) is intended for supplying the liquid filling material and supplies the actual filling material pressure to form the target value of the pressure difference. 8. Device according to claim 6 or 7, characterized by an electrical control device (38) controlling the proportional valve (50), to which the signal of the first pressure measuring device (72) and - if the second pressure measuring device (76) is present - also the signal of this second pressure measuring device (76) is fed. 9. Device according to one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that in the control device (38) during the filling phase in order to increase the pressure difference, the target value after opening the liquid valve (42) is changed according to a predetermined program or according to a predetermined time function and is thereby at least temporarily reduced below the pre-tension pressure prevailing at the end of the pre-tension phase. 10. Device according to one of claims 6 to 9, characterized in that the filling head (28) has a drainage channel (53) which, in relation to the flow direction of the liquid filling material, is directed onto the liquid valve (42) following part of the liquid path (51), that the discharge channel (53) has a flushing valve (43), and that a control valve arrangement is provided which is connected to the discharge channel (53) having the flushing valve (43) by a first section having at least one control valve (44, 45) and to the discharge channel (53) having the flushing valve (43) and to a second section having at least one control valve (46 - 49, 75) and to the gas path (56) having the proportional valve (50). 11. Device according to claim 10, characterized in that the first section of the control valve arrangement is connected via the at least one control valve (44, 45) to a line serving as a water drain or as a spray beer drain (54, 55). 12. Device according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the at least one control valve (46 - 49, 75) of the second section of the control valve arrangement is connected to a line (57 - 60) for exhaust air or for supplying a pressurizing gas, preferably CO2 gas, or for supplying a sterilization medium, preferably for supplying steam, or for supplying a liquid rinsing or cleaning medium, preferably for supplying hot water. 13. Device according to one of claims 6 to 12, characterized in that the liquid valve (42) and the flushing valve (43) are part of the filling head (28), and that the filling head (28) has an actuating device, preferably a pneumatic actuating device for actuating the liquid valve (42) and the flushing valve (43). 14. Device according to one of claims 6 to 13, characterized by a probe (73) arranged in the gas path (56) and responding to the presence of liquid filling material for generating a control signal for closing the liquid valve (42). IT·* 15. Device according to claim 14, characterized in that the probe (73) or the active area of this probe (73) is provided in or on an impact element (41) of the filling head (28). 16. Device according to one of claims 1 to 15, characterized by a cover (74) which covers each filling head (28) in an angular range of the rotary movement of the rotor (9) which is formed between an ejection area (16) and an insertion area (10) of the machine. 17. Device according to one of claims 1 to 16, characterized by an insertion star (10) rotating synchronously with the rotor (9) on an insertion area of the machine and by a retaining device (13) which is provided on a conveyor (7) conveying the KEGs (2) to be filled to the insertion star (7) in front of the insertion star (10) in the transport direction (A) of this conveyor (7) and is controlled in such a way that it releases the conveyor (7) to the insertion star (10) for one KEG (2) at a time when a driving area of the insertion star (10), preferably formed by a pocket (11), is ready to receive this KEG (2). 18. Device according to claim 17, characterized in that the retaining device (13) is formed by two lever-like retaining elements (14), of which one retaining element (14) is provided in the area of each long side of the conveyor (7) and of which each can be pivoted at one end outside the conveyor (7) about a vertical axis between a blocking and a non-blocking position in such a way that each retaining element (14) in the blocking position extends with its other end (15) into the movement path of the KEG (2) on the conveyor (7) and in its non-blocking position lies outside this movement path, the connecting line of the two ends of each retaining element (7) in the locking position with the transport direction (A) of the conveyor (7) an angle
less than 90°, which opens in the transport direction (A). 19. Device according to claim 18, characterized in that each retaining element (14) at its other end
at least one roller (15) which is freely rotatable about an axis running parallel to the pivot axis.