EP0180828B1 - Method and device for filling bottles or the like with a liquid - Google Patents

Method and device for filling bottles or the like with a liquid Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0180828B1
EP0180828B1 EP85113195A EP85113195A EP0180828B1 EP 0180828 B1 EP0180828 B1 EP 0180828B1 EP 85113195 A EP85113195 A EP 85113195A EP 85113195 A EP85113195 A EP 85113195A EP 0180828 B1 EP0180828 B1 EP 0180828B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
bottle
filling
valve
liquid
pure
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired
Application number
EP85113195A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP0180828A1 (en
Inventor
Wilhelm Weiss
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Krones AG
Original Assignee
Krones AG Hermann Kronseder Maschinenfabrik
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Publication of EP0180828A1 publication Critical patent/EP0180828A1/en
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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
    • B67C—CLEANING, FILLING WITH LIQUIDS OR SEMILIQUIDS, OR EMPTYING, OF BOTTLES, JARS, CANS, CASKS, BARRELS, OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; FUNNELS
    • B67C3/00—Bottling liquids or semiliquids; Filling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus; Filling casks or barrels with liquids or semiliquids
    • B67C3/02—Bottling liquids or semiliquids; Filling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus
    • B67C3/22—Details
    • B67C3/26—Filling-heads; Means for engaging filling-heads with bottle necks
    • B67C3/2614—Filling-heads; Means for engaging filling-heads with bottle necks specially adapted for counter-pressure filling
    • B67C3/2617—Filling-heads; Means for engaging filling-heads with bottle necks specially adapted for counter-pressure filling the liquid valve being opened by mechanical or electrical actuation
    • B67C3/262—Filling-heads; Means for engaging filling-heads with bottle necks specially adapted for counter-pressure filling the liquid valve being opened by mechanical or electrical actuation and the filling operation stopping when the liquid rises to a level at which it closes a vent opening
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
    • B67C—CLEANING, FILLING WITH LIQUIDS OR SEMILIQUIDS, OR EMPTYING, OF BOTTLES, JARS, CANS, CASKS, BARRELS, OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; FUNNELS
    • B67C3/00—Bottling liquids or semiliquids; Filling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus; Filling casks or barrels with liquids or semiliquids
    • B67C3/02—Bottling liquids or semiliquids; Filling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus
    • B67C3/06—Bottling liquids or semiliquids; Filling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus using counterpressure, i.e. filling while the container is under pressure
    • B67C3/10—Bottling liquids or semiliquids; Filling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus using counterpressure, i.e. filling while the container is under pressure preliminary filling with inert gases, e.g. carbon dioxide
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
    • B67C—CLEANING, FILLING WITH LIQUIDS OR SEMILIQUIDS, OR EMPTYING, OF BOTTLES, JARS, CANS, CASKS, BARRELS, OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; FUNNELS
    • B67C7/00—Concurrent cleaning, filling, and closing of bottles; Processes or devices for at least two of these operations
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
    • B67C—CLEANING, FILLING WITH LIQUIDS OR SEMILIQUIDS, OR EMPTYING, OF BOTTLES, JARS, CANS, CASKS, BARRELS, OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; FUNNELS
    • B67C7/00—Concurrent cleaning, filling, and closing of bottles; Processes or devices for at least two of these operations
    • B67C7/0073—Sterilising, aseptic filling and closing
    • B67C7/0086—Sterilisation being restricted to the area of application of the closure

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a method according to the preamble of claim 1 and an apparatus for performing the method.
  • Such a method is known from GB-PS 690 636.
  • the bottle contains after filling level correction by pressing in pure C0 2 in the space above the liquid level practically pure C0 2 , so that a harmful influence of atmospheric oxygen in the time until a cap is largely prevented.
  • This is achieved without over-foaming between filling and closing by appropriately setting the excess pressure of the liquid or by injecting liquid or gas into the filled bottle, as is required in the filling processes for beer and other oxygen-sensitive foaming drinks which are customary today is.
  • the known method thus works without loss of liquid, since the liquid portion pressed out of the bottle during the filling level correction can be collected and refilled.
  • a filling device in which the bottles are pre-stressed after the pre-evacuation with the help of gas from the liquid kettle.
  • the gas mixture which is displaced from the bottles as they flow into the bottles is collected in a separate ring channel.
  • the gas is led out of the ring channel via a valve, a line, a pump and another line back into the liquid tank.
  • the further prestressing then takes place with this CO 2 / air mixture.
  • the bias gas is always contaminated with 10% air and more.
  • the degree of contamination depends on the vacuum that can be achieved when the bottles are pre-evacuated and the amount of CO 2 added to the liquid kettle.
  • the invention has for its object to further reduce the effect of atmospheric oxygen in a method of the type mentioned while maintaining the liquid loss-free mode of operation.
  • a device for performing this method is to be created.
  • all working phases, from preparation for the pretensioning, through the creation of the empty space in the bottles to the fitting of the closure cap, are included in an oxygen-free or oxygen-free mode of operation, as a result of which optimal protection of the liquid can be achieved.
  • the method according to the invention is thus ideal for oxygen-sensitive liquids, such as. B. suitable for beer.
  • the overpressure of the pure C0 2 used for prestressing can be equal to the overpressure under which the liquid is kept.
  • bottling is carried out using the pure constant pressure process, ie the liquid runs into the bottles solely due to a height difference.
  • the overpressure of the pure CO 2 can also be somewhat less than the overpressure of the liquid.
  • the filling is accelerated somewhat using the differential pressure method.
  • the size of the overpressure depends in the usual way on the peculiarities of the liquid, with CO 2 -containing beverages such as beer, mineral water or lemonade the overpressure is approx. 2 to 5 bar. It can be kept as low as is necessary for the C0 2 binding in the drink. since a targeted foaming or bubbling between filling and closing, as already mentioned, is not necessary.
  • the procedure specified in claim 2 is particularly advantageous. This ensures that no air or air-gas mixture, e.g. B. from the pressure vessel for the liquid can enter the bottle.
  • the CO 2 pressure during prestressing preferably corresponds to that during the filling level correction, so that the same CO 2 source can be used.
  • the device according to the invention is hardly more complex than the known filling devices. It can be implemented with a wide variety of designs with regard to the pressure vessel, the valves, the control device for the valves, the filling head, the return gas pipe, etc.
  • the device according to FIG. 1 is used for filling beer, that is to say a strongly foaming, oxygen-sensitive beverage, into bottles 1. It has a first pressure vessel 2, which is connected by a line 3 to an underpressure of, for. B. 4 bar standing beer source 4 is connected. In this line 3, a control valve 5 is switched on, which is controlled by a controller 6. A fill level probe 7 is connected to this, which sits inside the pressure vessel 2 and measures its fill level. The controller 6 is designed such that it keeps the liquid level in the pressure vessel 2 at the desired value by closing and opening the control valve 5.
  • a line 8 also leads into the first pressure vessel 2 and leads to the outside via a control valve 9. This control valve 9 is controlled by a controller 10, the function of which is explained below.
  • the device has a second pressure vessel 11 which is connected to a vacuum source 12, e.g. B. is connected to a vacuum pump. Through this, the second pressure vessel 11 to an absolute pressure of z. B. 0.1 bar evacuated.
  • the device is also equipped with a third pressure vessel 13, which is connected by a line 14 to a CO 2 source 15. This provides pure carbon dioxide with an overpressure of z. B. 5 bar.
  • a Reducing valve 16 turned on with a pressure regulator 17. Through this, the excess pressure of pure C0 2 in the third pressure vessel 13 is constant at z. B. 3.2 bar.
  • the controller 10 for the control valve 9 is designed as a differential pressure controller and on the one hand to the line 8 in the area between the control valve 9 and the first pressure vessel 2 or directly to its gas space and on the other hand to the line 14 between the reducing valve 16 and the third pressure vessel 13 or connected directly to it.
  • the controller 10 is set such that it opens the pressure in the line 8 or in the first pressure vessel 2 by z by opening and closing the control valve 9.
  • At least one filling element 18 is connected to the three pressure vessels 2, 11, 13 and has a filling head 19 which can be pressed onto the bottle mouth and has a conical centering opening and an elastic sealing ring (not shown).
  • a return gas tube 20 is fastened, which has an opening or a cut at the lower end and is connected to the gas space of the first pressure vessel 2 via a return gas line 21 and a return gas valve 22.
  • a liquid line 23 with a liquid valve 24 opens into the filling head 19 and is connected to the liquid space of the first pressure container 2, which is at a higher level than the filling head 19.
  • a gas channel 25 is connected to the filling head 19, which connects the second pressure container 11 via a vacuum valve 26 and the third pressure container 13 via a CO 2 valve 27. is bound and can also be connected to the free atmosphere by means of a relief valve 28.
  • the actuation of the valves 22, 24, 26, 27 and 28 is carried out by a control device, not shown, which, for. B. has several fixed cams and control blocks when the container 2, 11 and 13 with the filling elements 18 on one. Orbit circular path.
  • the filling element 18 is assigned a lifting cylinder 29 with a bottle plate 30 that can be raised and lowered, by means of which a bottle 1 can be pressed against the filling head 19.
  • a bottle 1 is sealed off from the ambient atmosphere and is connected in a gas-tight and liquid-tight manner to the filling head 19 or to the lines and channels opening into it.
  • a closure member 31 is provided, which is arranged such that it can be moved in height above a height-fixed bottle plate 32.
  • the closure member 31 has a closure cone 33 and a spring-loaded hold-down 34 and is set up for fastening crown caps 35 on the bottle mouth.
  • the crown caps 35 are held on the underside of the hold-down 34 by magnetic force before they are closed.
  • a plurality of blowing nozzles 36 are arranged to the side of the closure member 31 or the bottle 1, which are directed towards the space between the underside of the closure member 31 and the bottle mouth.
  • the blowing nozzles 36 are connected via a supply line 37 with a changeover valve 38 to the line 8 coming from the first pressure vessel 2. They are fed with the almost pure CO 2 gas that continuously flows out of the pressure vessel 2 during normal filling. Instead, it is also possible to connect the blowing nozzles 36 directly to the C0 2 -Q U elle 15.
  • the blow nozzles 36 are aligned in such a way that a predominantly C0 2- containing atmosphere is generated between the closing member 31 and the bottle mouth, which includes the crown cap 35 and the bottle mouth. An action of the blow nozzles 36 on the inside of the bottles 1, however, is not necessary.
  • a connecting line 39 is inserted with a check valve 40, so that the first pressure vessel 2 can, if necessary, be connected directly to the C0 2 source 15.
  • a cleaning line 41 with a check valve 42 is connected to line 3, through which the first pressure vessel 2 can be filled with water or the like.
  • the pressure vessel 2 is preferably completely filled with water via this cleaning line 41, which is then displaced by opening the shut-off valve 40 by means of CO 2 .
  • the pressure vessel 2 is then partially filled by the beer source 4 via the control valve 5 with the shut-off valves 40 and 42 closed, the excess CO 2 being blown off via the line 8 and the control valve 9. In this way, contact between the beer and the air is largely avoided from the start.
  • the valves and lines that may be required for this are not shown in FIG. 1. If the vacuum pump 12 is now put into operation, the device is ready for operation.
  • the method for filling beer into bottles carried out with the device prepared in this way proceeds as follows: First, with closed valves 22, 24, 26, 27, 28, a clean, empty bottle 1 is placed on the bottle plate 30 (phase A) and through the lifting cylinder 29 pressed firmly against the filling head 19. This bottle is 100% filled with air (indicated by small crosses).
  • the vacuum valve 26 is now opened for a certain period of time.
  • the bottle 1 is connected to the second pressure vessel 11 and evacuated to an absolute pressure of 0.1 bar (phase B).
  • the initial air is thus extracted to 90%, so that the air concentration in the bottle is now 10%.
  • the CO 2 valve 27 is opened for a certain period of time.
  • the bottle 1 is connected to the third pressure vessel 13, from which pure CO 2 (indicated by small circles) into the bottle flows in (phase C) until a pressure of 3.2 bar in the bottle 1 is reached. This further reduces the air concentration to approximately 2.5%.
  • the actual filling process is initiated by opening the liquid valve 24 and the return gas valve 22.
  • a small part of the gas flows from the bottle 1 via the return gas pipe 20 and the return gas line 21 into the first pressure vessel 2 until there is also an overpressure of 3 bar in the bottle 1. This prevents gas from flowing out of the pressure vessel 2 into the bottle 1 and possibly increasing the air concentration there.
  • the beer (indicated by short dashes) runs into the bottle 1 via the liquid line 23 due to the height difference between the first pressure vessel 2 and the bottles 1, the almost pure CO 2 via the return gas pipe 20 and the return gas line 21 in the first pressure vessel 2 is displaced (phase D).
  • the pressure vessel 2 therefore, after a while there is also an almost pure CO 2 atmosphere with an air concentration of approximately 2.5%, so that neither while in the pressure vessel nor while entering the bottle 1 via the filling element 18 noticeable influence of atmospheric oxygen on the beer can take place.
  • the beer level in the bottle 1 has reached the opening of the return gas tube 20, no more gas can escape through this.
  • the liquid valve 24 is now closed, while the return gas valve 22 remains open.
  • the CO 2 valve 27 is opened again for a short period of time. Pure CO 2 flows into the bottle 1 at a differential pressure of 0.2 bar and displaces as much beer from the bottle 1 through the return gas pipe 20 and the return gas line 21 until the liquid level has dropped to the level of the opening of the return gas pipe 20 or somewhat below .
  • the resulting empty space in bottle 1 is filled with pure C0 2 (phase F).
  • Bottle 1 now only contains beer and C0 2 .
  • the opening time for the CO 2 valve 13 is dimensioned such that sufficient CO 2 flows in to convey the beer completely out of the return gas line 21 back into the first pressure vessel 2 and to flush any air residues completely out of the bottle 1.
  • the inflowing pure CO 2 reduces the air concentration in the pressure vessel 2, so that values below 2.5% are obtained.
  • the beer and CO 2 overflow is extremely gentle due to the low pressure difference. This small pressure difference is possible because the return gas valve 12 is inevitably kept open and does not form a throttle point. After closing the C0 2 valve 27 or simultaneously with this, the return gas valve 22 is closed again. This completes the «Fill level correction with introduction of pure CO 2 » step and all valves are closed.
  • the relief valve 28 provided with a throttle point is opened for a specific short period of time.
  • the bottle plate 30 can be lowered and the filled bottle 1 can be removed from the filling head 19.
  • the empty space above the beer level in the bottle 1 is still completely filled with pure CO 2 , so that the atmospheric oxygen cannot act on the beer.
  • the bottle 1 can now without special protective measures such.
  • B. high-pressure injection for the purpose of foam generation on the bottle plate 32 under the closure member 31 are transported. There is therefore no loss of beer during this transfer. If there is little automatic foaming of the beer, this is no longer a problem since the foam can be absorbed by the empty space in the bottle 1.
  • the valve 38 is switched over, so that the air blown out of the first pressure vessel 2 via line 8 is almost clean CO 2 with an air concentration of 2.5% or less no longer flows directly outside, but is fed to the blowing nozzles 36 and only emerges there.
  • An almost pure CO 2 atmosphere including the crown cap 35 is built up between the underside of the closure member 31 and the bottle mouth (phase H). At the same time, any air pockets in the cavities, in particular on the underside of the crown cap 35, are removed and the bottle mouth is separated from the normal air atmosphere.
  • the CO 2 atmosphere is maintained at least until the crown cap 35 has been placed on the bottle 1 and flanged by the closing member 31 dropping over a control curve (not shown) or the like.
  • the valve 38 can then be switched over again (phase 1).
  • the pure CO 2 in the bottle cannot be “contaminated” with air, in particular not due to air pockets on the underside of the crown cap 35.
  • After closing the bottle 1 therefore only contains beer and pure C0 2 . It is usually sufficient if, as described, the almost pure CO 2 flowing out of the first pressure vessel 2 with an air concentration of approx. 2.5% is used. Any bother Influencing influences due to the extremely low air content could not be determined.
  • This CO 2 is also sufficient in terms of quantity, since almost four times the bottle volume of C0 2 at normal pressure is required to pretension the bottles to 3 bar, which is then removed from the bottle again when filling.
  • the C0 2 from the third pressure vessel 13 thus has multiple uses: building the back pressure, protecting the beer when it enters the bottle, protecting the beer in the pressure vessel 2 and building a CO 2 atmosphere when closing.
  • the CO 2 for the blowing nozzles 36 only requires a relatively low pressure, since no liquid has to be pressed out of the bottles 1.
  • the blowing nozzles 36 can of course also be supplied directly from the third pressure vessel 13 or through the CO 2 source 15. It is also possible to dispense with the valve 38 and to connect the line 8 directly to the line 37.

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  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Filling Of Jars Or Cans And Processes For Cleaning And Sealing Jars (AREA)

Description

Die Erfindung betrifft ein Verfahren gemäß dem Oberbegriff des Anspruchs 1 sowie eine Vorrichtung zur Durchführung des Verfahrens.The invention relates to a method according to the preamble of claim 1 and an apparatus for performing the method.

Ein derartiges Verfahren ist durch die GB-PS 690 636 bekannt. Bei diesem Verfahren enthält die Flasche nach der Füllhöhenkorrektur durch Eindrükken von reinem C02 im Raum über dem Flüssigkeitsspiegel praktisch reines C02, so daß ein schädlicher Einfluß des Luftsauerstoffs in der Zeit bis zum Aufsetzen einer Verschlußkappe weitgehend verhindert wird. Dies wird erreicht, ohne daß zwischen dem Einfüllen und dem Verschließen durch entsprechendes Einstellen des Überdrucks der Flüssigkeit oder durch Einspritzen von Flüssigkeit oder Gas in die gefüllte Flasche ein Überschäumen erzeugt wird, wie dies bei den heute üblichen Füllverfahren für Bier und andere sauerstoffempfindliche schäumende Getränke erforderlich ist. Das bekannte Verfahren arbeitet somit ohne Flüssigkeitsverlust, da der während der Füllhöhenkorrektur aus der Flasche gedrückte Flüssigkeitsanteil gesammelt und erneut abgefüllt werden kann. Es ist sowohl für schwach schäumende als auch stark schäumende Flüssigkeiten geeignet, genauso wie für nicht schäumende Flüssigkeiten. Ungünstig ist jedoch, daß beim Vorspannen ein Gemisch aus Luft und CO2 oder nur Luft verwendet wird und daß die Flaschen unmittelbar vor dem Vorspannen mit Luft gefüllt sind, so daß der Luftsauerstoff beim Einlaufen der Flüssigkeit voll auf diese einwirken kann. Auch sind keine Maßnahmen gegen ein Eindringen von Luft in die Flasche beim Verschließen, z. B. mittels Kronenkorken, getroffen. Die mit dem Hohlraum der Verschlußkappe beim Aufsetzen in die Flasche eingeführte Luft verunreinigt somit die zuvor in der Flasche befindliche reine COrAtmosphäre. Mit dem bekannten Verfahren kann somit die schädliche Einwirkung des Luftsauerstoffs auf die Flüssigkeit nicht vollständig verhindert werden.Such a method is known from GB-PS 690 636. In this method, the bottle contains after filling level correction by pressing in pure C0 2 in the space above the liquid level practically pure C0 2 , so that a harmful influence of atmospheric oxygen in the time until a cap is largely prevented. This is achieved without over-foaming between filling and closing by appropriately setting the excess pressure of the liquid or by injecting liquid or gas into the filled bottle, as is required in the filling processes for beer and other oxygen-sensitive foaming drinks which are customary today is. The known method thus works without loss of liquid, since the liquid portion pressed out of the bottle during the filling level correction can be collected and refilled. It is suitable for both low-foaming and high-foaming liquids, as well as for non-foaming liquids. It is disadvantageous, however, that a mixture of air and CO 2 or only air is used during the pretensioning and that the bottles are filled with air immediately before the pretensioning, so that the atmospheric oxygen can act fully on the liquid as it flows in. Also, no measures are taken to prevent air from entering the bottle when it is closed, e.g. B. by means of crown caps. The air that is introduced into the bottle with the cavity of the closure cap thus contaminates the pure CO atmosphere that was previously in the bottle. The known method cannot therefore completely prevent the harmful effects of atmospheric oxygen on the liquid.

Das gleiche gilt für ein anderes bekanntes Abfüllverfahren für luftempfindliche Flüssigkeiten, bei dem die Flaschen vor dem Vorspannen vorevakuiert werden, d. h. es wird der größte Teil der Luft abgesaugt (US-PS 3 212 537). Beim nachfolgenden Vorspannen wird dann ein Gemisch aus Luft und CO2 aus dem gemeinsamen Druckbehälter für die Flüssigkeit und das Spanngas in die Flaschen eingeleitet. Durch das Vorevakuieren läßt sich der Luftanteil zwar auf ca. 10 % reduzieren, dieser Anteil wird jedoch beim Vorspannen wieder erhöht, da auch das Spanngas mindestens 10% Luftanteil enthält. Auch durch Einleiten einer CO2-Menge in den Druckbehälter, die einem Mehrfachen der aus den Flaschen verdrängten Gasmenge entspricht, läßt sich erfahrungsqgemäß der Luftanteil im Spanngas nicht weiter als bis auf ca. 10% herabsetzen, da das Spanngas fortlaufend durch das aus den Flaschen verdrängte Rückgas verunreinigt wird. Das Einlaufen der Flüssigkeit in die Flasche erfolgt somit unter einen gewissen Sauerstoffeinwirkung und nach dem Füllen auf die vorbestimmte Füllhöhe verbleibt ein Gemisch aus Luft und C02 im Raum überhalb des Flüssigkeitsspiegels. Bei diesem bekannten Verfahren muß sich daher an den Füllvorgang unbedingt ein Überschäumen zwecks Verdrängen der schädlichen Luft aus der Flasche anschließen, bevor eine Verschlußkappe aufgesetzt werden kann.The same applies to another known filling method for air-sensitive liquids, in which the bottles are pre-evacuated prior to pretensioning, ie the major part of the air is extracted (US Pat. No. 3,212,537). In the subsequent prestressing, a mixture of air and CO 2 is then introduced into the bottles from the common pressure vessel for the liquid and the clamping gas. By pre-evacuating, the air portion can be reduced to approx. 10%, but this portion is increased again during pre-tensioning, since the prestressing gas also contains at least 10% air portion. Even by introducing a quantity of CO 2 into the pressure vessel, which corresponds to a multiple of the amount of gas displaced from the bottles, experience has shown that the air content in the span gas cannot be reduced further than approx. 10%, since the span gas is continuously reduced by that from the bottles displaced return gas is contaminated. The liquid enters the bottle with a certain amount of oxygen and after filling to the predetermined fill level, a mixture of air and CO 2 remains in the space above the liquid level. In this known method, therefore, the filling process must be followed by foaming in order to displace the harmful air from the bottle before a cap can be put on.

Aus der DE-OS 3 025 786 ist eine Füllvorrichtung bekannt, bei der die Flaschen nach dem Vorevakuieren mit Hilfe von Gas aus dem Flüssigkeitskessel vorgespannt werden. Das während des Einlaufens der Flüssigkeit in die Flaschen aus diesen verdrängte Gasgemisch wird in einem separaten Ringkanal gesammelt. Das Gas wird aus dem Ringkanal über ein Ventil, eine Leitung, eine Pumpe und eine weitere Leitung zurück in den Flüssigkeitskessel geleitet. Dort stellt sich somit ein Gemisch aus CO2 und Luft ein. Das weitere Vorspannen geschieht dann mit diesem CO2-Luft-Gemisch. Dadurch findet immer eine Verunreinigung des Vorspanngases mit 10 % Luft und mehr statt. Der Grad der Verunreinigung ist abhängig vom erzielbaren Vakuum beim Vorevakuieren der Flaschen sowie von der CO2-Zugabe in den Flüssigkeitskessel.From DE-OS 3 025 786 a filling device is known in which the bottles are pre-stressed after the pre-evacuation with the help of gas from the liquid kettle. The gas mixture which is displaced from the bottles as they flow into the bottles is collected in a separate ring channel. The gas is led out of the ring channel via a valve, a line, a pump and another line back into the liquid tank. There is therefore a mixture of CO 2 and air. The further prestressing then takes place with this CO 2 / air mixture. As a result, the bias gas is always contaminated with 10% air and more. The degree of contamination depends on the vacuum that can be achieved when the bottles are pre-evacuated and the amount of CO 2 added to the liquid kettle.

Zwar könnte auch das durch die Restluft in den Flaschen mit Luft verunreinigte Rückgas ins Freie abgeleitet werden, es verbliebe aber trotzdem ein nennenswerter Anteil dieses Rückgases in der Kammer des Füllorganes und in dessen Gasleitung. Da jedoch das Vorspannen mit Gas aus dem Füllerkessel durchgeführt wird, findet selbst dann, wenn dem Kessel reines CO2 zugeführt wird, eine Vermischung und damit eine Verunreinigung des C02's mit dem verunreinigten Rückgas beim Vorspannen der nächsten Flaschen statt. Außerdem sind keine weiteren Schritte zur Vermeidung der Sauerstoffaufnahme des Füllgutes, insbesondere beim Verschließen, offenbart.Although the return gas contaminated with air by the residual air in the bottles could also be discharged to the outside, a significant proportion of this return gas would nevertheless remain in the chamber of the filling element and in its gas line. However, since the biasing gas is conducted from the filler boiler, is even when the boiler pure CO 2 is fed, a mixing and hence contamination of the C0 2 's place with the contaminated gas return in biasing the next bottles. In addition, no further steps for avoiding the oxygen absorption of the filling material, in particular when closing, are disclosed.

Ferner ist noch ein Füllverfahren für schwach schäumende, luftempfindliche Flüssigkeiten bekannt, bei der die Flaschen randvoll gefüllt und dann unter die Verschließeinrichtung transportiert werden, wo C02 unter hohem Druck gegen das Verschließelement geblasen wird (DE-AS 1910 548). Durch das vom Verschließelement bzw. vom davor sitzenden Kronenkorken reflektierte C02 soll ein Teil der Flüssigkeit aus der Flaschenmündung verdrängt und durch C02 ersetzt werden. Mit diesem bekannten Verfahren ist kein exaktes Einhalten der Füllhöhe möglich. Auch kann die verdrängte Flüssigkeit nicht aufgefangen werden, so daß hohe Flüssigkeitsverluste entstehen. Überdies sind keine Maßnahmen getroffen, um eine schädliche Sauerstoffeinwirkung während des Einfüllens der Flüssigkeit in die Flasche zu vermeiden. Der Einsatzbereich dieses bekannten Verfahrens ist gering, da es allein für schwach schäumende Flüssigkeiten eingesetzt werden kann. Bei stark schäumenden Flüssigkeiten würde sich bereits beim Transport der randvoll gefüllten Flasche zur Verschließeinrichtung ein mehr oder weniger starkes, unkontrolliertes Überschäumen einstellen.Further, it is still a Füllver f Ahren known for low-foaming, air sensitive liquids, in which the bottles are filled to the brim, and then transported under the closing means, where it is blown C0 2 under high pressure against the closure element (DE-AS 1 910 548). By the light reflected from the closure or from sitting in front crown corks C0 2 to a part of the liquid expelled from the bottle mouth and replaced with C0. 2 With this known method it is not possible to maintain the filling level exactly. The displaced liquid cannot be collected either, so that high liquid losses occur. Furthermore, no measures have been taken to avoid the harmful effects of oxygen during the filling of the liquid into the bottle. The area of application of this known method is small, since it can be used only for weakly foaming liquids. With highly foaming liquid ten would already result in a more or less strong, uncontrolled foaming during the transport of the full bottle to the closing device.

Der Erfindung liegt die Aufgabe zugrunde, bei einem Verfahren der eingangs genannten Art unter Beibehaltung der flüssigkeitsverlustfreien Arbeitsweise die Einwirkung des Luftsauerstoffs weiter herabzusetzen. Außerdem soll eine Vorrichtung zur Durchführung dieses Verfahrens geschaffen werden.The invention has for its object to further reduce the effect of atmospheric oxygen in a method of the type mentioned while maintaining the liquid loss-free mode of operation. In addition, a device for performing this method is to be created.

Diese Aufgabe wird hinsichtlich des Verfahrens durch die im Kennzeichen des Anspruchs 1 angegebenen Merkmale gelöst.This object is achieved with regard to the method by the features specified in the characterizing part of claim 1.

Beim erfindungsgemäßen Verfahren werden sämtliche Arbeitsphasen, angefangen von der Vorbereitung auf das Vorspannen, über das Erzeugen des Leerraums in den Flaschen bis hin zum Aufsetzen der-Verschlußkappe mit in eine sauerstoffarme bzw. sauerstofffreie Arbeitsweise einbezogen, wodurch sich eine optimale Schonung der Flüssigkeit erzielen läßt. Es kann lediglich noch der nach dem Vorevakuieren in der Flasche verbleibende geringe Luftanteil, der sich beim Vorspannen mit reinem CO2 vermischt, während der relativ kurzen Einfüllphase auf die Flüssigkeit einwirken. Nach dem Füllen ist dieser Luftanteil weitestgehend aus der Flasche verdrängt und es kann praktisch nur noch reines C02 auf die Flüssigkeit einwirken. Auch nach dem Aufsetzen des Verschlusses befindet sich über der Flüssigkeit eine reine COZ-Atmosphäre. Das erfindungsgemäße Verfahren ist somit in idealer Weise für sauerstoffempfindliche Flüssigkeiten, wie z. B. Bier geeignet. Dabei tritt kein Flüssigkeitsverlust durch Überschäumen auf, da auf eine Schaumerzeugung in der Flasche zwischen dem Füllen und dem Verschliessen vollständig verzichtet werden kann. Für die Vorspannung mit reinem C02 wird zwar eine gewisse Menge C02 verbraucht, diese ist jedoch kaum höher als bei dem bekannten Verfahren, bei dem das CO2 dem gemeinsamen Kessel für die Flüssigkeit und das Spanngas zugesetzt wird, um die Sauerstoffkonzentration geringzuhalten. Der CO2-Verbrauch beim Verschließen ist relativ gering, da hier nur die Luft aus den Hohlräumen der Verschlußkappe und zwischen Verschlußkappe und Flaschenmündung verdrängt werden muß.In the method according to the invention, all working phases, from preparation for the pretensioning, through the creation of the empty space in the bottles to the fitting of the closure cap, are included in an oxygen-free or oxygen-free mode of operation, as a result of which optimal protection of the liquid can be achieved. Only the small amount of air remaining in the bottle after the pre-evacuation, which mixes with pure CO 2 during pre-tensioning, can act on the liquid during the relatively short filling phase. After filling, this portion of air is largely displaced from the bottle and practically only pure C0 2 can act on the liquid. Even after the closure has been put on, there is a pure CO Z atmosphere above the liquid. The method according to the invention is thus ideal for oxygen-sensitive liquids, such as. B. suitable for beer. There is no loss of liquid due to foaming, since foam generation in the bottle between filling and closing can be completely dispensed with. For the preload with pure C0 2 a certain amount of C0 2 is consumed, but this is hardly higher than in the known method in which the CO 2 is added to the common boiler for the liquid and the span gas in order to keep the oxygen concentration low. The CO 2 consumption when closing is relatively low, since only the air has to be displaced from the cavities of the cap and between the cap and the bottle mouth.

Der Überdruck des zum Vorspannen verwendeten reinen C02 kann gleich demjenigen Überdruck sein, unter dem die Flüssigkeit gehalten wird. In diesem Falle wird im reinen Gleichdruckverfahren abgefüllt, d. h. die Flüssigkeit läuft allein aufgrund eines Höhenunterschieds in die Flaschen. Auch kann der Überdruck des reinen CO2 etwas kleiner sein als der Überdruck der Flüssigkeit. In diesem Falle wird die Füllung nach dem Differenzdruckverfahren etwas beschleunigt. Die Größe des Überdrucks richtet sich dabei in üblicher Weise nach den Eigenheiten der Flüssigkeit, bei CO2-haltigen Getränken wie Bier, Mineralwasser oder Limonade liegt der Überdruck bei ca. 2 bis 5 bar. Er kann so gering gehalten werden, wie es für die C02-Bindung im Getränk erforderlich ist. da ein gezieltes Überschäumen oder Aufsprudeln zwischen dem Füllen und dem Verschließen, wie bereits gesagt, nicht erforderlich ist. Besonders vorteilhaft ist die im Anspruch 2 angegebene Verfahrensweise. Hierbei wird sichergestellt, daß bei Füllbeginn keinerlei Luft oder Luft-Gas-Gemisch, z. B. aus dem Druckbehälter für die Flüssigkeit, in die Flasche eintreten kann. Vorzugsweise entspricht gemäß dem Anspruch 3 der CO2-Druck beim Vorspannen demjenigen bei der Füllhöhenkorrektur, so daß die gleiche CO2-Quelle verwendet werden kann.The overpressure of the pure C0 2 used for prestressing can be equal to the overpressure under which the liquid is kept. In this case, bottling is carried out using the pure constant pressure process, ie the liquid runs into the bottles solely due to a height difference. The overpressure of the pure CO 2 can also be somewhat less than the overpressure of the liquid. In this case, the filling is accelerated somewhat using the differential pressure method. The size of the overpressure depends in the usual way on the peculiarities of the liquid, with CO 2 -containing beverages such as beer, mineral water or lemonade the overpressure is approx. 2 to 5 bar. It can be kept as low as is necessary for the C0 2 binding in the drink. since a targeted foaming or bubbling between filling and closing, as already mentioned, is not necessary. The procedure specified in claim 2 is particularly advantageous. This ensures that no air or air-gas mixture, e.g. B. from the pressure vessel for the liquid can enter the bottle. According to claim 3, the CO 2 pressure during prestressing preferably corresponds to that during the filling level correction, so that the same CO 2 source can be used.

Andere vorteilteilhafte Weiterbildungen des erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens sind in den Ansprüchen 4 bis 6 angegeben.Other advantageous developments of the method according to the invention are specified in claims 4 to 6.

Hinsichtlich des Verfahrens wird die der Erfindung zugrundeliegende Aufgabe durch die im Anspruch 7 angegebenen Merkmale gelöst.With regard to the method, the object on which the invention is based is achieved by the features specified in claim 7.

Die erfindungsgemäße Vorrichtung ist kaum aufwendiger aufgebaut als die bekannten Füllvorrichtungen. Sie kann mit den verschiedensten Bauweisen hinsichtlich der Druckbehälter, der Ventile, der Steuereinrichtung für die Ventile, des Füllkopfs, des Rückgasrohres usw. realisiert werden.The device according to the invention is hardly more complex than the known filling devices. It can be implemented with a wide variety of designs with regard to the pressure vessel, the valves, the control device for the valves, the filling head, the return gas pipe, etc.

Vorteilhafte Weiterbildungen der erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung sind in den Ansprüchen 8 bis 10 enthalten.Advantageous developments of the device according to the invention are contained in claims 8 to 10.

Im nachstehenden wird ein Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung anhand der Zeichnungen beschrieben. Es zeigen :

  • Fig. 1 die schematische Darstellung einer Vorrichtung zum Abfüllen von Bier mit den Phasen A und H des Abfüllverfahrens
  • Fig. 2 bis Fig. 8 die Phasen B bis G und des Abfüllverfahrens.
In the following an embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Show it :
  • Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of a device for filling beer with phases A and H of the filling process
  • Fig. 2 to Fig. 8, phases B to G and the filling process.

Die Vorrichtung nach Fig. 1 dient zum Einfüllen von Bier, also einem stark schäumenden, sauerstoffempfindlichen Getränkt, in Flaschen 1. Sie weist einen ersten Druckbehälter 2 auf, der durch eine Leitung 3 mit einer unter einem Überdruck von z. B. 4 bar stehenden Bierquelle 4 verbunden ist. In diese Leitung 3 ist ein Regelventil 5 eingeschaltet, das durch einen Regler 6 gesteuert wird. An diesen ist eine Füllstandssonde 7 angeschlossen, die im Inneren des Druckbehälters 2 sitzt und dessen Füllstand mißt. Der Regler 6 ist derart ausgebildet, daß er durch Schließen und Öffnen des Regelventils 5 die Flüssigkeitshöhe im Druckbehälter 2 auf dem gewünschten Wert hält. Weiter mündet in den ersten Druckbehälter 2 eine Leitung 8 ein, die über ein Regelventil 9 ins Freie führt. Dieses Regelventil 9 wird durch einen Regler 10 gesteuert, dessen Funktion weiter unten erläutert ist.The device according to FIG. 1 is used for filling beer, that is to say a strongly foaming, oxygen-sensitive beverage, into bottles 1. It has a first pressure vessel 2, which is connected by a line 3 to an underpressure of, for. B. 4 bar standing beer source 4 is connected. In this line 3, a control valve 5 is switched on, which is controlled by a controller 6. A fill level probe 7 is connected to this, which sits inside the pressure vessel 2 and measures its fill level. The controller 6 is designed such that it keeps the liquid level in the pressure vessel 2 at the desired value by closing and opening the control valve 5. A line 8 also leads into the first pressure vessel 2 and leads to the outside via a control valve 9. This control valve 9 is controlled by a controller 10, the function of which is explained below.

Weiter weist die Vorrichtung einen zweiten Druckbehälter 11 auf, der mit einer Vakuumquelle 12, z. B. einer Vakuumpumpe verbunden ist. Durch diese wird der zweite Druckbehälter 11 auf einen absoluten Druck von z. B. 0,1 bar evakuiert.Furthermore, the device has a second pressure vessel 11 which is connected to a vacuum source 12, e.g. B. is connected to a vacuum pump. Through this, the second pressure vessel 11 to an absolute pressure of z. B. 0.1 bar evacuated.

Die Vorrichtung ist ferner mit einem dritten Druckbehälter 13 ausgestattet, der durch eine Leitung 14 mit einer CO2-Quelle 15 verbunden ist. Diese liefert reines Kohlendioxyd mit einem Überdruck von z. B. 5 bar. In diese Leitung 14 ist ein Reduzierventil 16 mit einem Druckregler 17 eingeschaltet. Durch diesen wird der Überdruck des reinen C02 im dritten Druckbehälter 13 konstant auf z. B. 3,2 bar gehalten.The device is also equipped with a third pressure vessel 13, which is connected by a line 14 to a CO 2 source 15. This provides pure carbon dioxide with an overpressure of z. B. 5 bar. In this line 14 is a Reducing valve 16 turned on with a pressure regulator 17. Through this, the excess pressure of pure C0 2 in the third pressure vessel 13 is constant at z. B. 3.2 bar.

Der Regler 10 für das Regelventil 9 ist als Differenzdruckregler ausgebildet und einerseits an die Leitung 8 im Bereich zwischen dem Regelventil 9 und dem ersten Druckbehälter 2 bzw. direkt an dessen Gasraum und andererseits an die Leitung 14 zwischen dem Reduzierventil 16 und dem dritten Druckbehälter 13 oder direkt an diesen angeschlossen. Der Regler 10 ist derart eingestellt, daß er durch Öffnen und Schließen des Regelventils 9 den Druck in der Leitung 8 bzw. im ersten Druckbehälter 2 um z. B. 0,2 bar niedriger hält als in der Leitung 14 oder im dritten Druckbehälter 13. Das Bier und das Gas im ersten Druckbehälter 2 stehen somit unter einem konstanten Überdruck von 3 bar.The controller 10 for the control valve 9 is designed as a differential pressure controller and on the one hand to the line 8 in the area between the control valve 9 and the first pressure vessel 2 or directly to its gas space and on the other hand to the line 14 between the reducing valve 16 and the third pressure vessel 13 or connected directly to it. The controller 10 is set such that it opens the pressure in the line 8 or in the first pressure vessel 2 by z by opening and closing the control valve 9. B. 0.2 bar lower than in line 14 or in the third pressure vessel 13. The beer and gas in the first pressure vessel 2 are thus under a constant excess pressure of 3 bar.

An die drei Druckbehälter 2, 11, 13 ist mindestens ein Füllorgan 18 angeschlossen, das einen an die Flaschenmündung anpreßbaren Füllkopf 19 mit einer konischen Zentrieröffnung und einem nicht gezeigten elastischen Dichtring aufweist. In der Mitte des Füllkopfs 19 ist ein Rückgasrohr 20 befestigt, das am unteren Ende eine Öffnung bzw. einen Anschnitt aufweist und über eine Rückgasleitung 21 und ein Rückgasventil 22 mit dem Gasraum des ersten Druckbehälters 2 verbunden ist. Weiter mündet in den Füllkopf 19 eine Flüssigkeitsleitung 23 mit einem Flüssigkeitsventil 24 ein, die mit dem Flüssigkeitsraum des auf einem höheren Niveau als der Füllkopf 19 liegenden ersten Druckbehälters 2 verbunden ist. Schließlich ist an den Füllkopf 19 ein Gaskanal 25 angeschlossen, der über ein Vakuumventil 26 mit dem zweiten Druckbehälter 11 und über ein CO2-Ventil 27 mit dem dritten Druckbehälter 13 ver-. bunden ist und außerdem mittels eines Entlastungsventils 28 mit der freien Atmosphäre verbunden werden kann. Die Betätigung der Ventile 22, 24, 26, 27 und 28 erfolgt durch eine nicht gezeigte Steuereinrichtung, die z. B. mehrere feststehende Nocken und Steuerböcke aufweist, wenn die Behälter 2, 11 und 13 mit den Füllorganen 18 auf einer. Kreisbahn umlaufen.At least one filling element 18 is connected to the three pressure vessels 2, 11, 13 and has a filling head 19 which can be pressed onto the bottle mouth and has a conical centering opening and an elastic sealing ring (not shown). In the middle of the filling head 19, a return gas tube 20 is fastened, which has an opening or a cut at the lower end and is connected to the gas space of the first pressure vessel 2 via a return gas line 21 and a return gas valve 22. Furthermore, a liquid line 23 with a liquid valve 24 opens into the filling head 19 and is connected to the liquid space of the first pressure container 2, which is at a higher level than the filling head 19. Finally, a gas channel 25 is connected to the filling head 19, which connects the second pressure container 11 via a vacuum valve 26 and the third pressure container 13 via a CO 2 valve 27. is bound and can also be connected to the free atmosphere by means of a relief valve 28. The actuation of the valves 22, 24, 26, 27 and 28 is carried out by a control device, not shown, which, for. B. has several fixed cams and control blocks when the container 2, 11 and 13 with the filling elements 18 on one. Orbit circular path.

Dem Füllorgan 18 ist ein Hubzylinder 29 mit einem heb- und senkbaren Flaschenteller 30 zugeordnet, durch den jeweils eine Flasche 1 an den Füllkopf 19 angedrückt werden kann. Dadurch wird die Flasche 1 gegenüber der Umgebungsatsmosphäre abgeschlossen und gas- und flüssigkeitsdicht an den Füllkopf 19 bzw. an die in diesen einmündenden Leitungen und Kanäle angeschlossen.The filling element 18 is assigned a lifting cylinder 29 with a bottle plate 30 that can be raised and lowered, by means of which a bottle 1 can be pressed against the filling head 19. As a result, the bottle 1 is sealed off from the ambient atmosphere and is connected in a gas-tight and liquid-tight manner to the filling head 19 or to the lines and channels opening into it.

Schließlich ist noch ein Verschließorgan 31 vorgesehen, das höhenbeweglich über einem höhenfesten Flaschenteller 32 angeordnet ist. Das Verschließorgan 31 besitzt einen Verschließkonus 33 und einen gefederten Niederhalter 34 und ist zum Befestigen von Kronenkorken 35 auf der Flaschenmündung eingerichtet. Die Kronenkorken 35 werden vor dem Verschliessen an der Unterseite des Niederhalters 34 durch Magnetkraft gehalten.Finally, a closure member 31 is provided, which is arranged such that it can be moved in height above a height-fixed bottle plate 32. The closure member 31 has a closure cone 33 and a spring-loaded hold-down 34 and is set up for fastening crown caps 35 on the bottle mouth. The crown caps 35 are held on the underside of the hold-down 34 by magnetic force before they are closed.

Seitlich des Verschließorgans 31 bzw. der Flasche 1 sind mehrere Blasdüsen 36 angeordnet, die auf den Zwischenraum zwischen der Unterseite des Verschließorgans 31 und der Flaschenmündung gerichtet sind. Die Blasdüsen 36 sind über eine Versorgungsleitung 37 mit einem Umschaltventil 38 mit der vom ersten Druckbehälter 2 kommenden Leitung 8 verbunden. Sie werden so mit dem beim normalen Füllen aus dem Druckbehälter 2 fortwährend abströmenden nahezu reinen CO2-Gas gespeist. Statt dessen ist es auch möglich, die Blasdüsen 36 direkt an die C02-QUelle 15 anzuschließen. Die Blasdüsen 36 sind derart ausgerichtet, daß zwischen dem Verschließorgan 31 und der Flaschenmündung eine überwiegend C02 enthaltende Atmosphäre erzeugt wird, die den Kronenkorken 35 und die Flaschenmündung umfaßt. Eine Einwirkung der Blasdüsen 36 auf das Innere der Flaschen 1 dagegen ist nicht erforderlich.A plurality of blowing nozzles 36 are arranged to the side of the closure member 31 or the bottle 1, which are directed towards the space between the underside of the closure member 31 and the bottle mouth. The blowing nozzles 36 are connected via a supply line 37 with a changeover valve 38 to the line 8 coming from the first pressure vessel 2. They are fed with the almost pure CO 2 gas that continuously flows out of the pressure vessel 2 during normal filling. Instead, it is also possible to connect the blowing nozzles 36 directly to the C0 2 -Q U elle 15. The blow nozzles 36 are aligned in such a way that a predominantly C0 2- containing atmosphere is generated between the closing member 31 and the bottle mouth, which includes the crown cap 35 and the bottle mouth. An action of the blow nozzles 36 on the inside of the bottles 1, however, is not necessary.

Zwischen die Leitungen 8 und 14 ist eine Verbindungsleitung 39 mit einem Sperrventil 40 eingesetzt, so daß der erste Druckbehälter 2 erforderlichenfalls direkt mit der C02-Quelle 15 verbunden werden kann. Außerdem ist an die Leitung 3 eine Reinigungsleitung 41 mit einem Sperrventil 42 angeschlossen, durch welche der erste Druckbehälter 2 mit Wasser oder dgl. gefüllt werden kann. Vorzugsweise wird vor Abfüllbeginn über diese Reinigungsleitung 41 der Druckbehälter 2 vollständig mit Wasser gefüllt, das dann durch Öffnen des Sperrventils 40 mittels C02 verdrängt wird. Daraufhin wird über das Regelventil 5 bei geschlossenen Sperrventilen 40 und 42 der Druckbehälter 2 von der Bierquelle 4 teilweise gefüllt, wobei das überschüssige CO2 über die Leitung 8 und das Regelventil 9 abgeblasen wird. Auf diese Weise wird von Anfang an der Kontakt zwischen dem Bier und der Luft weitestgehend vermieden. Die hierzu eventuell noch erforderlichen Ventile und Leitungen sind in Fig. 1 nicht dargestellt. Wird nun noch die Vakuumpumpe 12 in Betrieb gesetzt, so ist die Vorrichtung betriebsbereit.Between the lines 8 and 14, a connecting line 39 is inserted with a check valve 40, so that the first pressure vessel 2 can, if necessary, be connected directly to the C0 2 source 15. In addition, a cleaning line 41 with a check valve 42 is connected to line 3, through which the first pressure vessel 2 can be filled with water or the like. Before the start of filling, the pressure vessel 2 is preferably completely filled with water via this cleaning line 41, which is then displaced by opening the shut-off valve 40 by means of CO 2 . The pressure vessel 2 is then partially filled by the beer source 4 via the control valve 5 with the shut-off valves 40 and 42 closed, the excess CO 2 being blown off via the line 8 and the control valve 9. In this way, contact between the beer and the air is largely avoided from the start. The valves and lines that may be required for this are not shown in FIG. 1. If the vacuum pump 12 is now put into operation, the device is ready for operation.

Das mit der solchermaßen vorbereiteten Vorrichtung durchgeführte Verfahren zum Abfüllen von Bier in Flaschen läuft folgendermaßen ab : Als erstes wird bei geschlossenen Ventilen 22, 24, 26, 27, 28 eine saubere, leere Flasche 1 auf den Flaschenteller 30 gestellt (Phase A) und durch den Hubzylinder 29 fest an den Füllkopf 19 gedrückt. Diese Flasche ist zu 100% mit Luft (angedeutet durch kleine Kreuze) gefüllt. Nunmehr wird das Vakuumventil 26 für eine bestimmte Zeitspanne geöffnet. Dadurch wird die Flasche 1 an den zweiten Druckbehälter 11 angeschlossen und bis auf einen absoluten Druck von 0,1 bar evakuiert (Phase B). Die Anfangsluft wird somit zu 90 % abgesaugt, so daß die Luftkonzentration in der Flasche nunmehr 10 % beträgt. Nach dem Schließen des Vakuumventils 26 wird das CO2-Ventil 27 für eine bestimmte Zeitspanne geöffnet. Dadurch wird die Flasche 1 mit dem dritten Druckbehälter 13 verbunden, aus dem reines CO2 (angedeutet durch kleine Kreise) in die Flasche einströmt (Phase C) bis ein Druck von 3,2 bar in der Flasche 1 erreicht ist. Dadurch verringert sich die Luftkonzentration weiter auf ca. 2,5 %. Nachdem so in der Flasche eine nahezu reine CO2-Atmosphäre geschaffen worden ist, wird durch Öffnen des Flüssigkeitsventils 24 und des Rückgasventils 22 der eingentliche Füllvorgang eingeleitet. Dabei strömt als erstes ein kleiner Teil des Gases aus der Flasche 1 über das Rückgasrohr 20 und die Rückgasleitung 21 in den ersten Druckbehälter 2, bis auch in der Flasche 1 ein Überdruck von 3 bar herrscht. Hierdurch wird verhindert, daß Gas aus dem Druckbehälter 2 in die Flasche 1 strömt und dort möglicherweise die Luftkonzentration erhöht. Nach dem Druckausgleich läuft das Bier (angedeutet durch kurze Striche) infolge der Höhendifferenz zwischen dem ersten Druckbehälter 2 und den Flaschen 1 über die Flüssigkeitsleitung 23 in die Flasche 1 ein, wobei das nahezu reine C02 über das Rückgasrohr 20 und die Rückgasleitung 21 in den ersten Druckbehälter 2 verdrängt wird (Phase D). Im Druckbehälter 2 stellt sich daher nach einiger Zeit gleichfalls eine nahezu reine CO2-Atmosphäre mit einer Luftkonzentration von ca. 2,5 % ein, so daß weder während des Verweilens im Druckbehälter noch während des Einlaufens in die Flasche 1 über das Füllorgan 18 eine spürbare Einwirkung des Luftsauerstoffs auf das Bier stattfinden kann. Wenn der Bierspiegel in der Flasche 1 die Öffnung des Rückgasrohres 20 erreicht hat, so kann durch dieses kein Gas mehr entweichen. Der Zulauf von Bier geht jedoch weiter, da das Gas nunmehr durch die ohne Gassperre ausgeführte Flüssigkeitsleitung 23 nach oben in den Druckbehälter 2 strömen kann, so daß die Flasche 1 am Ende überfüllt oder sogar randvoll gefüllt ist (Phase E). Damit sind die Verfahrensschritte « Vorevakuieren », « Vorspannen mit reinem C02 » und « Überfüllen abgeschossen.The method for filling beer into bottles carried out with the device prepared in this way proceeds as follows: First, with closed valves 22, 24, 26, 27, 28, a clean, empty bottle 1 is placed on the bottle plate 30 (phase A) and through the lifting cylinder 29 pressed firmly against the filling head 19. This bottle is 100% filled with air (indicated by small crosses). The vacuum valve 26 is now opened for a certain period of time. As a result, the bottle 1 is connected to the second pressure vessel 11 and evacuated to an absolute pressure of 0.1 bar (phase B). The initial air is thus extracted to 90%, so that the air concentration in the bottle is now 10%. After closing the vacuum valve 26, the CO 2 valve 27 is opened for a certain period of time. As a result, the bottle 1 is connected to the third pressure vessel 13, from which pure CO 2 (indicated by small circles) into the bottle flows in (phase C) until a pressure of 3.2 bar in the bottle 1 is reached. This further reduces the air concentration to approximately 2.5%. After an almost pure CO 2 atmosphere has been created in the bottle, the actual filling process is initiated by opening the liquid valve 24 and the return gas valve 22. First of all, a small part of the gas flows from the bottle 1 via the return gas pipe 20 and the return gas line 21 into the first pressure vessel 2 until there is also an overpressure of 3 bar in the bottle 1. This prevents gas from flowing out of the pressure vessel 2 into the bottle 1 and possibly increasing the air concentration there. After the pressure equalization, the beer (indicated by short dashes) runs into the bottle 1 via the liquid line 23 due to the height difference between the first pressure vessel 2 and the bottles 1, the almost pure CO 2 via the return gas pipe 20 and the return gas line 21 in the first pressure vessel 2 is displaced (phase D). In the pressure vessel 2, therefore, after a while there is also an almost pure CO 2 atmosphere with an air concentration of approximately 2.5%, so that neither while in the pressure vessel nor while entering the bottle 1 via the filling element 18 noticeable influence of atmospheric oxygen on the beer can take place. When the beer level in the bottle 1 has reached the opening of the return gas tube 20, no more gas can escape through this. However, the inflow of beer continues, since the gas can now flow upward through the liquid line 23, which is designed without a gas barrier, into the pressure vessel 2, so that the bottle 1 is overfilled or even filled to the brim (phase E). This completes the process steps "pre-evacuation", "pre-stressing with pure C02" and "overfilling".

Nunmehr wird das Flüssigkeitsventil 24 geschlossen, während das Rückgasventil 22 weiter geöffnet bleibt. Zusätzlich wird das CO2-Ventil 27 erneut für eine kurze Zeitspanne geöffnet. Dabei strömt reines CO2 mit einem Differenzdruck von 0,2 bar in die Flasche 1 ein und verdrängt durch das Rückgasrohr 20 und die Rückgasleitung 21 soviel Bier aus der Flasche 1, bis der Flüssigkeitsspiegel auf Höhe der Öffnung des Rückgasrohres 20 oder etwas darunter abgesunken ist. Gleichzeitig wird der dadurch entstehende Leerraum in der Flasche 1 mit reinem C02 aufgefüllt (Phase F). Die Flasche 1 enthält jetzt nur Bier und C02. Die Öffnungsdauer für das CO2-ventil 13 ist derart bemessen, daß ausreichend CO2 einströmt, um das Bier vollständig aus der Rückgasleitung 21 zurück in den ersten Druckbehälter 2 zu fördern und evtl. Luftreste vollständig aus der Flasche 1 herauszuspülen. Außerdem wird durch die nachströmende reine CO2 die Luftkonznetration im Druckbehälter 2 herabgesetzt, so daß sich Werte unterhalb 2,5 % einstellen. Das Überströmen des Biers und des CO2 erfolgt wegen der geringen Druckdifferenz äußerst sanft. Diese geringe Druckdifferenz ist möglich, da das Rückgasventil 12 zwangsläufig offen gehalten wird und keine Drosselstelle bildet. Nach dem Schließen des C02-Ventils 27 oder gleichzeitig mit diesem wird auch das Rückgasventil 22 wieder geschlossen. Der Verfahrensschritt « Füllhöhenkorrektur mit Einleiten von reinem CO2 » ist damit beendet und es sind alle Ventile geschlossen.The liquid valve 24 is now closed, while the return gas valve 22 remains open. In addition, the CO 2 valve 27 is opened again for a short period of time. Pure CO 2 flows into the bottle 1 at a differential pressure of 0.2 bar and displaces as much beer from the bottle 1 through the return gas pipe 20 and the return gas line 21 until the liquid level has dropped to the level of the opening of the return gas pipe 20 or somewhat below . At the same time, the resulting empty space in bottle 1 is filled with pure C0 2 (phase F). Bottle 1 now only contains beer and C0 2 . The opening time for the CO 2 valve 13 is dimensioned such that sufficient CO 2 flows in to convey the beer completely out of the return gas line 21 back into the first pressure vessel 2 and to flush any air residues completely out of the bottle 1. In addition, the inflowing pure CO 2 reduces the air concentration in the pressure vessel 2, so that values below 2.5% are obtained. The beer and CO 2 overflow is extremely gentle due to the low pressure difference. This small pressure difference is possible because the return gas valve 12 is inevitably kept open and does not form a throttle point. After closing the C0 2 valve 27 or simultaneously with this, the return gas valve 22 is closed again. This completes the «Fill level correction with introduction of pure CO 2 » step and all valves are closed.

Nunmehr folgt der Verfahrensschritt « Entlasten •. Hierzu wird das mit einer Drosselstelle versehene Entlastungsventil 28 für eine bestimmte kurze Zeitspanne geöffnet. Dabei strömt soviel CO2 aus der Flasche 1 allmählich ins Freie, bis in der Flasche 1 der normale Atmosphärendruck herrscht (Phase G). Nunmehr kann der Flaschenteller 30 abgesenkt und die gefüllte Flasche 1 vom Füllkopf 19 abgezogen werden. Der Leerraum überhalb des Bierspiegels in der Flasche 1 ist nach wie vor vollständig mit reinem CO2 gefüllt, so daß der Luftsauerstoff nicht auf das Bier einwirken kann. Die Flasche 1 kann nun ohne besondere Schutzvorkehrungen wie z. B. Hochdruckeinspritzung zwecks Schaumerzeugung auf den Flaschenteller 32 unter dem Verschließorgan 31 transportiert werden. Es entstehen daher während dieser Überführung keinerlei Bierverluste. Sollte ein geringes selbsttätiges Aufschäumen des Biers auftreten, so ist dies nicht weiter störend, da der Schaum von Leerraum in der Flasche 1 aufgenommen werden kann.Now follows the step "Relieve •. For this purpose, the relief valve 28 provided with a throttle point is opened for a specific short period of time. As much CO 2 flows from the bottle 1 gradually into the open air until the normal atmospheric pressure prevails in the bottle 1 (phase G). Now the bottle plate 30 can be lowered and the filled bottle 1 can be removed from the filling head 19. The empty space above the beer level in the bottle 1 is still completely filled with pure CO 2 , so that the atmospheric oxygen cannot act on the beer. The bottle 1 can now without special protective measures such. B. high-pressure injection for the purpose of foam generation on the bottle plate 32 under the closure member 31 are transported. There is therefore no loss of beer during this transfer. If there is little automatic foaming of the beer, this is no longer a problem since the foam can be absorbed by the empty space in the bottle 1.

Sobald die Flasche 1 unterhalb dem in seiner oberen Endlage stehenden Verschließorgan 31, das vorher bereits einen Kronenkorken 35 aufgenommen hat, angekommen ist oder auch vorher wird das Ventil 38 umgeschaltet, so daß das aus dem ersten Druckbehälter 2 über die Leitung 8 abgeblasene, nahezu reine CO2 mit einer Luftkonzentration von 2,5 % oder weniger nicht mehr unmittelbar ins Freie strömt, sondern den Blasdüsen 36 zugeführt wird und erst dort ins Freie austritt. Dabei wird zwischen der Unterseite des Verschließorgans 31 und der Flaschenmündung eine den Kronenkorken 35 einschließende, nahezu reine CO2-Atmosphäre aufgebaut (Phase H). Gleichzeitig werden eventuelle Lufteinschlüsse in den Hohlräumen, insbesondere an der Unterseite des Kronenkorkens 35 entfernt und die Flaschenmündung von der normalen Luftatmosphäre getrennt. Die CO2-Atmosphäre bleibt mindestens solange aufrechterhalten, bis der Kronenkorken 35 durch Absinken des Verschließorgans 31 über eine nicht gezeigte Steuerkurve oder dgl. auf die Flasche 1 aufgesetzt und umgebördelt worden ist. Danach kann das Ventil 38 wieder umgeschaltet werden (Phase 1). Auch während des damit abgeschlossenen Verfahrensschrittes « Verschließen unter CO2-Atmosphäre kann somit das reine CO2 in der Flasche nicht mit Luft « verunreinigt » werden, insbesondere nicht durch Lufteinschlüsse an der Unterseite des Kronenkorkens 35. Die Flasche 1 enthält nach dem Verschließen somit nur Bier und reines C02. Dabei ist normalerweise ausreichend, wenn, wie beschrieben, das aus dem ersten Druckbehälter 2 ausströmende nahezu reine CO2 mit einer Luftkonzentration von ca. 2,5 % verwendet wird. Irgendwelche störende Einflüsse durch den äußerst geringen Luftanteil konnten nicht festgestellt werden. Auch mengenmäßig ist dieses CO2 ohne weiteres ausreichend, da zum Vorspannen der Flaschen auf 3 bar nahezu das Vierfache des Flaschenvolumens an C02 bei Normaldruck benötigt wird, das dann beim Füllen wieder aus der Flasche entfernt wird. Das C02 aus dem dritten Druckbehälter 13 hat somit einen vielfachen Nutzen : Aufbau des Gegendrucks, Schutz des Biers beim Einlaufen in die Flasche, Schutz des Biers im Druckbehälter 2 und Aufbau einer CO2-Atmosphäre beim Verschließen. Hinzu kommt, daß das CO2 für die Blasdüsen 36 nur einen relativ geringen Druck erfordert, da keine Flüssigkeit aus den Flaschen 1 herausgedrückt werden muß. Bei extremen Qualitätsansprüchen kann selbstverständlich die Versorgung der Blasdüsen 36 auch direkt aus dem dritten Druckbehälter 13 bzw. durch die CO2-Quelle 15 erfolgen. Auch ist es möglich, auf das Ventil 38 zu verzichten, und die Leitung 8 direkt mit der Leitung 37 zu verbinden.As soon as the bottle 1 has arrived below the closing member 31 in its upper end position, which has already received a crown cap 35, or even before, the valve 38 is switched over, so that the air blown out of the first pressure vessel 2 via line 8 is almost clean CO 2 with an air concentration of 2.5% or less no longer flows directly outside, but is fed to the blowing nozzles 36 and only emerges there. An almost pure CO 2 atmosphere including the crown cap 35 is built up between the underside of the closure member 31 and the bottle mouth (phase H). At the same time, any air pockets in the cavities, in particular on the underside of the crown cap 35, are removed and the bottle mouth is separated from the normal air atmosphere. The CO 2 atmosphere is maintained at least until the crown cap 35 has been placed on the bottle 1 and flanged by the closing member 31 dropping over a control curve (not shown) or the like. The valve 38 can then be switched over again (phase 1). Even during the process step “closing under a CO2 atmosphere”, the pure CO 2 in the bottle cannot be “contaminated” with air, in particular not due to air pockets on the underside of the crown cap 35. After closing the bottle 1 therefore only contains beer and pure C0 2 . It is usually sufficient if, as described, the almost pure CO 2 flowing out of the first pressure vessel 2 with an air concentration of approx. 2.5% is used. Any bother Influencing influences due to the extremely low air content could not be determined. This CO 2 is also sufficient in terms of quantity, since almost four times the bottle volume of C0 2 at normal pressure is required to pretension the bottles to 3 bar, which is then removed from the bottle again when filling. The C0 2 from the third pressure vessel 13 thus has multiple uses: building the back pressure, protecting the beer when it enters the bottle, protecting the beer in the pressure vessel 2 and building a CO 2 atmosphere when closing. In addition, the CO 2 for the blowing nozzles 36 only requires a relatively low pressure, since no liquid has to be pressed out of the bottles 1. In the case of extreme quality requirements, the blowing nozzles 36 can of course also be supplied directly from the third pressure vessel 13 or through the CO 2 source 15. It is also possible to dispense with the valve 38 and to connect the line 8 directly to the line 37.

Claims (10)

1. Method of filling bottles (1) or the like with an oxygen-sensitive liquid such as beer, wherein an excess pressure is produced in each bottle (1) after connection to a filling member (19) by pressing in a stressed gas, the liquid which is maintained at excess pressure is then introduced into the bottles (1) until they are over-filled, some of the liquid is subsequently displaced from the bottle (1) until the desired level of filling is reached by introducing pure C02 maintained at a greater excess pressure and is replaced by pure C02 whereupon the bottle is removed from the filling member (19), is conveyed to the sealing station (H) and is sealed there by having a sealing cap (35) put on, characterised in that, before introduction of the stressed gas composed of pure CO2, the majority of the air is aspirated from the bottle (1), in that the excess pressure in the bottle (1) is reduced to atmospheric pressure after correction of the level of filling and before removal from the filling member (19) by throttled extraction of CO2 and in that an atmosphere containing mainly C02 is produced at least in the region between sealing cap (35) and bottle opening by the blowing in of gas containing mainly CO2 before the sealing cap (35) is put on, in the sealing station (H), without displacing liquid from the bottle (1).
2. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that, as the pure CO2 is pressed in, after aspiration of the air in the bottle (1), an excess pressure which is slightly greater than the excess pressure at which the liquid. is maintained is initially produced, and in that, just before or when beginning introduction of the liquid into the bottle (1), the excess pressure in the bottle (1) is reduced to the excess pressure thereof.
3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the pure C02 is introduced into the bottle (1) at the same excess pressure during prestressing and during correction of level of filling respectively.
4. Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the liquid to be poured in is maintained at such and excess pressure that it foams only slightly in the filled bottle (1) until the sealing cap (3) is put on, but does not overflow.
5. Method according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that, during introduction of the liquid into the bottle (1), CO2 which may contain a small amount of air and issues from the bottle (1) is collected and is used when putting on the sealing cap (35) for producing the atmosphere containing mainly CO2.
6. Method according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that, when correcting the level of filling, more C02 than the amount corresponding to the empty space above the desired level of filling is introduced into the bottle (1.).
7. Device for carrying out the method according to claim 1, with a first pressure vessel (2) for the liquid to be poured in and the return gas, with a second pressure vessel (13) for pure CO2, with at least one filling member (19) which is connected to the pressure vessel and comprises a filling head (19) capable of being connected in gas-tight manner to a bottle (1), a filling pipe (20) and/or return gas pipe capable of being introduced into the bottle, the cut face of which defines the level of filling, a liquid valve (24), a return gas valve (22) and a C02 valve (27), and with a control device for the valves of the filling member, characterised in that the control device for the valves is designed such that the CO2 valve (27) can be opened and closed for prestressing purposes, in that each filling member (18) is additionally connected to a vacuum source (12) and is provided with a vacuum valve (26), in that at least one sealing member (31) is provided for putting a sealing cap on a bottle and in that at least one blast nozzle (36) for gas containing mainly C02 or pure C02 is directed into the chamber beneath the sealing member (31) or a sealing cap carried by it.
8. Device according to claim 7, characterised in that the control device for the valves (22, 24, 26, 27, 28) of each filling member (18) is designed such that, after connection of a bottle to the filling head (19), the vacuum valve (26) is firstly opened and is closed again after a certain time period, the CO2 valve (27) is then opened and is closed again after a certain time period, the return gas valve (22) is then opened and the liquid valve (24) is opened or cleared for automatic opening when the pressure between the bottle and the first pressure vessel (2) is balanced, the liquid valve (24) is then closed again and the CO2 valve (27) re-opened and closed again after a certain time period, the return gas valve (22) remaining open and being closed again only when or after the C02 valve (27) is closed.
9. Device according to claim 7 or 8, characterised in that the filling member (18) is provided with a release valve (28) leading into the open and the control device for the valves (22, 24, 26, 27, 28) is constructed such that the release valve (28) is opened briefly after closure of the return gas valve (22) and before removal of the bottle from the filling head (19).
10. Device according to one of claims 7 to 9, characterised in that each blast nozzle (36) is connected via a supply line (37) and possibly a control valve (38) to the first pressure vessel (2) for the liquid and the return gas.
EP85113195A 1984-10-31 1985-10-17 Method and device for filling bottles or the like with a liquid Expired EP0180828B1 (en)

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DE19843439736 DE3439736A1 (en) 1984-10-31 1984-10-31 METHOD AND DEVICE FOR FILLING A LIQUID IN BOTTLES OR THE LIKE.
DE3439736 1984-10-31

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EP0180828A1 EP0180828A1 (en) 1986-05-14
EP0180828B1 true EP0180828B1 (en) 1989-05-17

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EP (1) EP0180828B1 (en)
JP (1) JPS61115879A (en)
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DE (2) DE3439736A1 (en)

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US4655029A (en) 1987-04-07
DE3439736A1 (en) 1986-04-30
JPS61115879A (en) 1986-06-03
DE3570231D1 (en) 1989-06-22
BR8505409A (en) 1986-08-05
EP0180828A1 (en) 1986-05-14

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