EP0331137A1 - Method and device for the counter-pressure filling of containers with carbonated liquids, especially with beverages - Google Patents

Abstract

For the counter-pressure filling of containers with carbonated liquids, especially with beverages, during a filling phase following the container prestressing the liquid under a filling pressure runs into the particular container which is sealed by a filling element and from which at least temporarily the return gas displaced by the liquid running in is carried away via a return-gas path of the filling element. On completion of the filling phase and with the container still being sealed by the filling element, firstly in a pre-relieving phase a pre-relieving of the container to a pre-relieving pressure is carried out, and subsequently a relieving of the container to atmospheric pressure is carried out. To permit in particular optimum filling, in a method of the abovementioned type and in a corresponding device, the pre-relieving pressure is set at a pressure lying between atmospheric pressure and the saturation pressure of the liquid, and to be precise in such a way that during the pre-relieving phase it is still just possible for liberated carbon dioxide to rise in the filled liquid without the undesired escape during the relieving to atmospheric pressure of liquid from the filled container due to the liquid frothing up. <IMAGE>

Description

The invention relates to a method for filling carbonated liquids, in particular beverages under counterpressure in vessels or the like. According to the preamble of claim 1 and to a device for carrying out the method according to the preamble of claim 14.

When filling carbonated liquids and in particular also when filling drinks under counterpressure in vessels or bottles, a vessel relief to atmospheric pressure is necessary after the liquid inflow or filling phase has ended. In the case of liquids, such as sparkling wine or soft drinks, which, due to their relatively high CO₂ content, do not have ideal filling properties, especially when these liquids are to be filled with food from an economic point of view at relatively high temperatures, gentle and or expansion of the liquid filled with food to avoid relaxation. To this end, it is known to carry out the relief to atmospheric pressure in stages so that the actual relief to atmospheric pressure is preceded by a preliminary relief phase.

In a known method of this type (DE-AS 11 27 241), the gas space present in the filled vessel is briefly released to the atmosphere after the filling phase, namely in that a relief valve provided on the filling element is briefly opened by a control curve of the filling machine and is then immediately closed again, so that by the relief of the gas space of the vessel which occurs at a lower pressure value, the carbonic acid which is not firmly bound in the food-filled liquid can escape and the food-filled liquid can calm down before the final relaxation to atmospheric pressure and the pulling of the Vessel done by the associated filler. Disadvantages of this known method include that a pre-relief to a defined and always equally large pre-relief pressure is not achievable, as would be necessary for an economical filling with the greatest possible output. Since, in the known method, the relief valve of the filling elements is opened briefly by means of a control curve, adaptation of the pre-relief to liquids having different filling properties is fundamentally not possible there.

Also known is a method for the filling of carbonated liquids under counterpressure into vessels using a single-chamber counterpressure filler (DE-OS 36 22 807), in which the (method) the filling phase is ended by closing the liquid valve of the filling element in question when a liquid level has been reached in the vessel to be filled, at which the lower end of a return gas tube is immersed in the liquid filled with food. After the filling phase, i.e. after closing the liquid valve, the return gas tube is connected to an annular chamber which has a pressure which is less than the pressure prevailing in the liquid container, so that the liquid present above the lower end of the return gas tube passes through the return gas tube from the bottle into the annular chamber is passed. The aim of this measure is to correct the level obtained after the filling phase has been completed to a predetermined target level and not to relieve the pressure on the respective vessel.

It is an aim of the invention to show a method or a device with which liquids with very different filling properties can be optimally filled, with optimal adaptation of the pre-relief pressure to the filling properties of the respective liquid to be filled Way that you can work with the lowest possible pre-relief pressure, but with the relief Atmospheric pressure, foaming of the ate-filled liquid and escape of this liquid from the vessel to the outside via channels of the filling element is avoided.

A method according to the characterizing part of patent claim 1 and a device according to the characterizing part of patent claim 14 are designed to solve these charges.

The method according to the invention is suitable for filling vessels with counter-pressure filling machines in a single or multi-chamber design and enables an optimal adaptation of the pre-relief pressure to the often very different filling properties of the liquids to be filled with a machine simply by adjusting the pressure regulated in the chamber. This ensures, above all, that the same pre-relief pressure is effective again with each pre-relief, that is, the same conditions are set again and again with each pre-relief.

With the method according to the invention, even with regard to their filling properties, very problematic liquids, such as sparkling wine or soft drinks, can be cleaned at relatively high temperatures with high filling capacities, i.e. aß filled without foaming or escaping from the vessel or bottle, for example sparkling wine with a CO₂ content of approx. 9.5 g CO₂ / Ltr. and at a filling temperature of 15 ° C.

When aßfüll sparkling wine, whose CO₂ saturation pressure is about 3.0 bar, a filling pressure of 6.5 bar is used, the pre-relief pressure can be reduced to 0.8 bar with a pre-relief time of about 1.5 seconds without there is foaming or escaping of sparkling wine in or out of the respective bottle, despite the relatively high filling temperature of 15 ° C.

The saturation pressure or CO₂ saturation pressure in the sense of the invention is that pressure at which there is still no rise in carbon dioxide bubbles in a liquid at a certain CO₂ content and a certain temperature.

If, in the method according to the invention, the return gas displaced when the vessel is filled is fed into the chamber with a pressure drop via a connection provided with a throttle device, then if the filling properties of the liquid to be filled allow, the pressure conditions are preferably regulated so that the pressure set in the chamber or regulated pre-relief pressure continues to be between the atmospheric pressure and the saturation pressure and that it is preferably below the saturation pressure, at the same time also between the filling pressure and a critical pressure of the throttle device. This also makes it possible to optimize the filling speed with respect to the filling properties of the liquid to be filled without changing the throttle device.

The critical pressure is that pressure in the chamber at which the volume flow of the return gas flowing through the throttle device during the filling phase has a pressure-dependent profile.

Advantageous developments of the method according to the invention and the device according to the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

• Fig. 1 ein Schema einer Gegendruck-Füllmaschine in Mehrkam­merbauweise mit gesteuerten Füllelementen;
• Fig. 2 ein Schema eines Füllelementes der Gegendruck-Füllma­schine nach Fig. 1;
• Fig. 3 und 4 Einzelheiten der aßsperrbaren Verbindung des Füllelementes bei zwei gegenüber der Fig. 2 modifi­zierten Ausführungsformen;
• Fig. 5 ein Diagramm, in welchem für die Gegendruck-Füllma­schine nach den Fig. 1-4 die aßhängigkeit des Volumen­stromes des über die Drosseleinrichtung in die Rückgaskammer fließenden Rückgases von dem Rückgas­druck in der Rückgaskammer bei zwei unterschiedlichen Fülldrucken wiedergegeben ist;
• Fig. 6 in vereinfachter Darstellung ein Schema einer Gegen­druck-Füllmaschine in Einkammerbauweise, zusammen mit einem der gesteuerten Füllelementen dieser Füll­maschine;
• Fig. 7 und 8 in einer vergrößerten Detaildarstellung ähnlich Fig. 2 eine aßgewandelte Ausführungsform eines Füllelementes der Gegendruck-Füllmaschine nach Fig. 1, und zwar in zwei unterschiedlichen Betriebsstellungen einer Spanngasventil-Anordnung.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the figures using exemplary embodiments. Show it:

• Figure 1 is a schematic of a back pressure filling machine in a multi-chamber design with controlled filling elements.
• FIG. 2 shows a diagram of a filling element of the counterpressure filling machine according to FIG. 1;
• Figures 3 and 4 details of the aßsperrbaren connection of the filling element in two compared to Figure 2 modified embodiments.
• 5 shows a diagram in which for the counterpressure filling machine according to FIGS. 1-4 the dependence of the volume flow of the return gas flowing into the return gas chamber via the throttle device is represented by the return gas pressure in the return gas chamber at two different filling pressures;
• 6 shows a simplified representation of a diagram of a counter-pressure filling machine in a single-chamber design, together with one of the controlled filling elements of this filling machine;
• 7 and 8 in an enlarged detail view similar to FIG. 2, a custom-made embodiment of a filling element of the counter-pressure filling machine according to FIG. 1, namely in two different operating positions of a tensioning gas valve arrangement.

1 shows a schematic representation of a counter-pressure filling machine, for example a three-chamber counter-pressure filling machine 10 in a rotating design for carbonated liquids, in particular drinks, with an annular liquid container 11, on the outer circumference of which around a large number of filling elements 12 with a uniform mutual level is scheduled. Each filling element 12 is equipped with a substantially vertically arranged filling tube 13 and a vertically displaceably arranged centering and sealing seal 14. Each filling element 12 is associated with a lifting and lowering device 15 with a lifting cylinder 16 and a support plate 17 for each vessel 18 to be filled, for example a bottle. The lowering and lifting can take place in such a way that the lifting cylinders 16 are constantly pressurized in the sense of lifting and a lifting cylinder control curve 19 is located in the area of the vessel insertion and vessel extension, not shown is attached to the control rollers 20 provided on the lifting cylinders 16 in order to lower each support plate 17 with a filled vessel 18 standing thereon prior to the extension and each support plate 17 in this lowered state at the insert to have a container 18 to be filled, which can then be taken up by the Carrier plate 17 is raised to the respective filler 12.

At the bottom of the annular liquid container 11, an annular distribution chamber 25 for tension gas and an annular return gas chamber 26 for return gas are attached. Via a central distributor 27 of the filling machine 10, the liquid container 11 is connected to a liquid line 28 and the ring distribution chamber 25 to a tension gas line 29. The outlet 30 of the return gas chamber 26 or a line 31 which extends this outlet 30 and also leads via the distributor 27 is connected to a control valve 32 to which a pressure sensor 33, for example a pressure regulator, is inserted upstream into the extending line 31 or into the return gas chamber 26 is at which the pressure in the return gas chamber 26 is adjustable or adjustable. A further pressure regulator or pressure sensor 34 is provided in the liquid line 28, which controls a further control valve 35 interposed upstream in the liquid line 28. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the control valves 32 and 35 can be controlled separately or independently by the pressure sensors 33 and 34 respectively assigned to them. Basically, it is also possible to provide a linkage in such a way that the pressure set with the pressure sensor 33 in the return gas chamber 26 in dependence on the pressure measured by the pressure sensor 35 in the liquid line 28 and thus in dependence on the filling pressure prevailing in the liquid container 11 stands, as is indicated in Fig. 1 with the interrupted signal line 34 '. In this case, the control or regulating circuits including the pressure sensors 33 and 34 are designed, for example, in such a way that the pressure sensor 33 opens the control valve 32 by a signal, taking into account the pressure measured by the pressure sensor 34, when the pressure difference between the filling pressure measured by the pressure sensor 34 and the return gas pressure in the return gas chamber 26 measured by the pressure sensor 33 exceeds a desired, preferably adjustable differential pressure, that is to say, for example, given the filling pressure in the liquid container 11, the return gas pressure in the return gas chamber 26 is below the critical pressure below Throttle device of the filling elements 12 described in more detail. In this way, when the return gas pressure is regulated in the return gas chamber 26 and lies between the filling pressure and the critical pressure of the throttle device, the filling speed (amount of liquid flowing into the vessel 18 to be filled per unit time) is controlled by the return gas pressure in the return gas chamber 26 an optimal value adjustable.

The pressure in the ring distribution chamber 25 is regulated in dependence on the filling pressure in the liquid container 11 or in the liquid line 28. For this purpose, a control valve 36 is interposed in the tensioning gas line 29, to which a pressure regulator or pressure sensor 37 used in the tensioning gas line 29 is assigned. This pressure sensor 37 is connected to the pressure sensor 34 via a control line 34 'in terms of control technology in such a way that the pressure sensor 37 sets such a clamping gas pressure by actuating the control valve 36 in the clamping gas line 29 that the pressure difference between the filling pressure in the liquid line 28 and the clamping gas pressure in the clamping gas line 29 corresponds to a predetermined, preferably preselectable value, ie the span gas pressure in the span gas line 29 lies by this value below the filling pressure in the liquid line 28.

2 shows, in the filling position, one of the filling elements 12 attached to the annular liquid container 11, which are known in their essential structure and each have a valve seat 41 in a valve chamber 38 of the filling element housing 40 and a valve body raised by means of an opening spring 42 from this valve seat 41 43 have. The valve chamber 38 is connected to the liquid chamber 45 of the liquid container 11 via a liquid channel 44 connected and on the filling element housing 40 an electrical or electro-pneumatic actuating device 46 is arranged, which is connected by means of a control line a to a central control device 47 of the filling machine 10. In the activated state, the actuating device 46 presses the valve body 43 against the action of the opening spring 42 on the valve seat 41 and thereby closes the liquid valve 48 of the filling element 12 formed by the valve seat 41 and the valve body 43.

The filling tube 13, which is provided in a known manner with an electrical switching element 49 (electrode arrangement), is inserted into the filling element housing 40 from below. The switching element 49 is connected to the control device 47 via a signal line, not shown. A clamping gas valve arrangement 50 in the manner of a flat slide valve is attached to the side of the filler element housing 40, in whose housing 51 a flat valve disk 52 is rotatably mounted by means of a carrier 53. The carrier 53 has at its free end protruding from the housing 51 an actuating lever 54 which cooperates with the valve disk 52 with control elements 56, for example control cams or control cams, attached to a stationary control ring 55 of the filling machine 10 and in different planes when the machine is rotating to pivot into the required operating position. A spring 57 presses the valve disk 52 in a gastight manner against a base plate 58, in the surface of which faces the valve disk 52 and which comes from the annular distribution chamber 25, through the lower leg of the liquid container 11 and through the filler element housing 40, leads to a tensioning gas supply channel 59. Furthermore, on the surface of the base plate 58 facing the valve disk 52, an equalizing channel 60 leads into an equalizing chamber 61 formed between the liquid valve 48 and the filler pipe 13, as well as a clamping gas which can be connected to the tensioning gas supply channel 59 via a groove in the valve disk 52, not shown -Inlet channel 62, which opens at the lower end of the filling element housing 40 or opens into an annular clamping gas chamber opening at the lower end.

From the lower end of the filler housing 40, a connection 64 provided with a throttle device 63 leads through the filler housing 40 to the return gas chamber 26. This connection consists on the one hand of a supply line 68 which leads from an inlet 79 located at the lower end of the filler housing 40 to an upward one Stretch into a wiring harness 69 and a further wiring harness 70, and on the other hand from an ace-conducting wiring harness 71 connected to the return gas chamber 26, in which the wiring harness 69 and the further wiring harness 70 are reunited after a sufficient length extension. A nozzle 65 is provided in the pipeline 69 for filling at a reduced filling speed, this nozzle having an effective cross section of 0.64 mm in the embodiment shown. In the further pipeline 70, a nozzle 67 is used, which in the embodiment shown has an effective cross section of 0.81 mm and is effective together with the nozzle 65 when filling at a high filling speed. The nozzles 65 and 67 essentially form the throttle device 63 of the connection 64. In the direction of flow in front of the nozzle 65, the wiring harness 69 is designed to be cut off. For this purpose, the valve disk 52 is provided with a control groove 72, via which, in a specific operating position of the valve disk 52, the ends of the branch 69 opening out on the surface of the base plate 58 facing the valve disk 52 can be connected in order to guide the return gas displaced during the filling process. Downstream of the nozzle 67 is an electrically or electropneumatically actuated aassventil 66 located in the further line 70, which is connected to the control device 47 via a control line b and interrupts the line 70 with its valve body 76 in the closed position.

As shown in FIG. 3, the wiring harness 69 can also be designed such that it can be shut off by means of a check valve 77 inserted in the wiring harness 69, which allows unhindered return gas intake, but the return flow of return gas Bottle breakage or automatically prevented during the vascular discharge to atmospheric pressure. The use of such a check valve 77, for example a ball check valve, eliminates the switching steps otherwise required for opening or blocking the line run 69 for the valve disk 42 and also the control groove 72 necessary in the valve disk 52.

In the tensioning gas valve arrangement 50, which also includes the connection 64 including throttle device 63, a vessel relief 73 is formed, which serves to finally relieve the filled vessel to atmospheric pressure. This vessel relief 73 has a relief channel 75 provided with a throttle element 74, which leads from the surface of the base plate 58 facing the valve disk 52 and is guided downward into the base plate 58 for opening at the outer peripheral surface thereof. A channel, not shown, formed in the valve disk 52 connects the compensation channel 60, the clamping gas inlet channel 62 and the relief channel 75 in the relief position of the valve disk 52.

In Fig. 5 are a diagram of the influence of the throttle device 63 on the volume flow VS (volume per unit time) of the return gas, which is displaced in the filling phase, ie during the filling of a vessel 18 by the liquid flowing into the vessel 18 and via the Throttle device 63 aßflows in the return gas channel 26, and thus also the influence of the throttle device 63 on the filling speed (amount of liquid flowing into the respective vessel 18 per unit time) in dependence on the return gas pressure in the return gas chamber 26 in normalized form, with solid lines for filling with high Speed, ie a return gas flow through both nozzles 65 and 66 and with broken lines with an assumed return gas flow only through the nozzle 65 for the reduced filling speed. The volume flow VS with a return gas flow through both nozzles 65 and 67 and with a very low return gas pressure in the return gas chamber 26 is assumed to be 100%. The course of the volume current VS as a function of the return gas pressure in the return gas chamber 26 is shown in FIG. 5 for two different filling pressures of 2.5 bar and 4 bar in the liquid container 11 and in the liquid line 28, respectively. As shown in FIG. 5, the volume flow VS at a return gas pressure in the return gas chamber 26, which is below a critical pressure KD, is independent of this return gas pressure and is determined exclusively by the throttle device 63 or by the effective cross section of the nozzles 65 and 67. In the exemplary embodiment described, the critical pressure KD is approximately 0.8 bar at a filling pressure of 2.5 bar and approximately 1.6 bar at a filling pressure of 4 bar. If the return gas pressure in the return gas chamber 26 is greater than the respective critical pressure KD which is dependent on the filling pressure, ie if the return gas pressure in the return gas chamber 26 lies between the filling pressure and the critical pressure KD of the throttle device 63, then the volume flow VS and thus also the filling speed with a predetermined design of the throttle device 63 (in particular effective cross section of the nozzles 65 and 67) depending on the return gas pressure set or regulated in the return gas chamber 26 with the aid of the pressure sensor 33 and the locking valve 32. In this case or in this mode of operation of the filling machine 10, the respective filling speed can be optimally adapted to the filling properties of the liquid to be filled by adjusting the return gas pressure in the return gas chamber 26 without changing the throttle device 63, and in particular also in such a way that no excessive amounts are produced during the filling Amount of carbon dioxide released and thus no undesirable foaming of the filled liquid in the vessel 18 occurs.

Irrespective of this, in the embodiment described, the return gas pressure in the return gas chamber 26 is set or regulated to a pressure value with the aid of the pressure sensor 33 and the control valve 32, which in a pre-relief phase of the respective vessel 18 following the filling phase and with the liquid valve already closed again 48 forms a pre-relief pressure that is to be filled between the atmospheric pressure and the saturation pressure the carbonated liquid lying is chosen such that the liquid filled in the vessel 18 in question can calm down at this pre-relief pressure during the pre-relief phase and just ascent of carbon dioxide from the liquid filled with food is possible without causing the foam to foam up or over Liquid comes and without this liquid relieving pressure from the outside or into the return gas channel 26 or the connection 64.

As far as the liquid to be filled (especially its ability to bind carbonic acid, the amount of carbonic acid present in the liquid, the filling temperature and the filling and saturation pressure dependent on this), the return gas pressure in the return gas chamber 26 is preferably set so that it both optimally relieves the pressure each filled vessel 18 ensures, as well as between the critical pressure KD and the respective filling pressure in such a way that a filling speed which is optimally matched to the properties of the liquid to be filled in each case is achieved by the return gas pressure in the return gas chamber 26 during the filling phase.

When filling champagne with 9.5 g CO₂ / Ltr. and a temperature of 15 ° C at a filling pressure of 6.5 bar and a CO₂ saturation pressure of 3.0 bar, the return gas pressure in the return gas chamber 26 to a value of about 0.8 bar, so that then after In the filling phase, the vessel 18 or the bottle can already be relieved to a pre-relief pressure of 0.8 bar, without foam formation or the liquid to be filled (sparkling wine) escaping to the outside or into the return gas channel 26 or into the connection 64 reached.

After setting the filling machine to the required filling pressure, the span gas pressure and the return gas pressure required for the pre-relief, the actual filling begins when the machine is in circulation. That is, as FIG. 2 shows, each vessel 18 to be filled, one in the example Bottle, with the interposition of a sealing element 78 of the centering tulip 14 in the sealing position with the lower end of the filling element housing 40 of the filling element 12, and it is then carried out after the usual pretensioning with air or an inert gas, which (pretensioning) may also be preceded by a prewashing in special cases can, with clearances of the liquid valve 48 by a control signal supplied by the control device 47 via the signal line a to the actuating device 46, so that the action of the opening spring 42 brings the liquid valve 48 into the opening position shown in FIG. 2. At this time, for filling at a reduced filling speed, the valve disk 52, after the actuating lever 54 has started up, assumes a position in which the cable harness 69 is continuously free via the control groove 72, so that during the now-starting liquid inlet, that of the Returned gas displaced from the lower end of the filling pipe 13, which represents, for example, a gas mixture of prestressing gas and the air brought in from the vessel 18 to be filled, enters the supply line 68 of the connection via the mouth of the vessel and the sealing element 78 and then via the line 69 and the nozzle 65 arranged therein as well as the pipeline 71 leading the connection 64 are fed into the return gas chamber 26 under the set return gas pressure. It turns out that regardless of the cross section of the nozzle 65 and the return gas pressure regulated in the return gas chamber 26 in the vessel 18 to be filled, a pressure drop to the filling pressure occurs, at which the liquid slowly emerges from the lower end of the filling tube 13 at a low flow rate. If, as the filler element 12 continues to circulate, the liquid rising in the vessel 18 reaches the lower end of the filler tube 13, then the aasslaßventil 66 is opened on the basis of a control signal supplied by the control device 47 via the control line b, whereby the return gas now also additionally via the further nozzle 47 can be performed. That occurs in the vessel 18 to be filled a pressure gradient to the filling pressure, which at least depends on the effective cross section of the nozzles 65 and 67 and in the event of a return gas pressure in the return gas chamber 26, which may be between the critical pressure KD and the filling pressure, is also dependent on this return gas pressure and in which the further liquid inlet is continued at an increased flow or filling speed. This filling with a higher filling speed ends when the liquid rises into the narrowing part of the vessel 18 in that the aasslaßventil 66 is closed by a control signal given by the control device 47 via the control line b to the aßlaßventil 66.

As the filler element 12 continues to circulate and the nozzle 65 is only effective, the liquid flow continues at a reduced flow or filling speed, namely until the switching element 69 responds at a predetermined rise, whereupon the control device 47 outputs a control signal which, via the control line a, the actuating device 46 activated and to close the liquid valve 48 presses the valve body 43 against the action of the opening spring 42 on the valve seat 41. This completes the filling phase.

Then, as the filling element 12 continues to circulate, the ate-filled liquid calms down during the pre-relief phase for a predetermined time, specifically in that the return gas pressure regulated or set in the return gas chamber 26 is greater than the line line 69 that is still effective or open from the filling phase of compound 64 is effective in the filled vessel, so that bubbles of carbonic acid which hated in the ate-filled liquid can rise without causing the liquid to foam or overflow. Only after the pre-unloading phase has run out does the actuating lever 54 run against a control element 56 as the filler element 12 continues to rotate. When the valve disk 52 is pivoted thereby, the same is interrupted by removing the control groove 72 from the operative connection with the wiring harness 69. Shortly thereafter, the valve disk 52 receives the final relief of the vessel Atmospheric pressure an operating position in which the channel, not shown, connects the span gas inlet channel 62 and the equalization channel 60 to the relief channel 75, so that the pre-relief pressure then still present in the filled vessel 18 is relieved to atmospheric pressure via this and the throttling element 74 arranged therein. Daßei also the mutual balancing of the liquid levels in the filling tube interior and in the vessel 18 takes place. As the filling element 12 continues to circulate, the relieved vessel 18 is removed from the filling element 12 by lowering by means of the lifting cylinder 16 and removed from the machine in the region of the vessel extension.

In the operation described above, a different filling behavior of the liquid to be filled is to be determined because, for example, the temperature and / or the CO₂ content of the liquid to be filled has different values or the bottle type has been changed, and this causes the liquid to foam up during the pre-relief phase comes, then by changing the previous pressure setting on the pressure sensor 33, the return gas pressure to be locked must be adjusted to the changed filling behavior in order to achieve an optimal pre-relief adapted to this filling behavior, possibly again with simultaneous optimization of the flow or filling speed by the set return gas pressure, if this allows the liquid to be filled.

A corresponding procedure is to be followed if the filling machine 10 is supplied with a liquid to be filled due to a change of type which has a different filling behavior compared to the previously filled liquid in order to achieve the most effective pre-relief and thus also the best possible performance for the filling machine 10 (number of units per time unit filled vessels or bottles), care must be taken to ensure that the return gas pressure and thus also the pre-relief pressure to be regulated are as far as possible below the saturation pressure of the liquid to be processed, but sufficiently above atmospheric pressure lies in such a way that, in the manner already mentioned, the food filled with liquid calms down, but does not cause this liquid to foam up or foam over in the pre-relief phase, and accordingly the final relief to atmospheric pressure in a relatively short time and without or foaming of the liquid can take place. Since each filling element 12 of the filling machine 10 is connected via its connection 64, which is provided with the throttle device 63, to the return gas chamber 26 common to all filling elements 12, each change in the pressure setting made on the pressure sensor 33 simultaneously affects all filling elements 12, so that for all filling elements 12 the optimum pre-relief pressure for the pre-relief phase can be set jointly and it is also possible for all filling elements 12 by a common setting to adjust the return gas pressure in the return gas chamber 26 for a flow or filling speed that is optimally adapted to the filling behavior of the liquid to be filled, if this is the case given the properties of the liquid to be filled and taking into account the pre-relief pressure required for the prestressing phase, the return gas pressure in the return gas chamber 26 is set to a value between the critical pressure KD of the throttle device 63 and the filling pressure can be put.

In a further embodiment of the invention, provision is also made to use at least a subset of the return gas which is fed via the connection 64 into the return gas chamber 26 for the vessel preload and / or for a pre-purge preceding the vessel preload. This is of economic importance especially when the liquid inflow (filling phase) is to be accelerated or largely with exclusion of air with low CO₂ consumption. However, this presupposes that for prestressing and, if necessary, the prestressing, which is preceded by prestressing, is used in inert gas, for example CO₂. In such a case, it is advisable to provide a line leading from the connection 64 in each filling element 12 for the further utilization of the return gas, which line then flows downstream of the nozzle 65 to the line branch 69 connects and opens out on the surface of the base plate 58 facing the valve disk 52. In addition, the valve disc 52 is to be provided with a connecting channel, so that in an operating position preceding the actual preload position for pre-rinsing and / or partial preloading, the compensation channel 60 can be connected to the ate-carrying line. In this operating position to be provided for the valve disk 52, the pre-rinsing takes place when the vessel 18 is not yet in the sealing position with the filling element 12, and when the vessel 18 is in the sealing position with the filling element 12, the partial prestressing to the pressure to be locked in, after which the filling element 12 continues to circulate actual prestressing is carried out in the intended operating position of the valve disk 52. When the operating position for pre-purging and partial pretensioning is reached, the return gas under the pressure to be regulated passes from the return gas chamber 26 via the supply line, not shown, and the connecting channel, also not shown, into the compensation channel 60 and from there via the compensation chamber 61 and the inside of the filling tube 13 the vessel 18. It then flows upward and displaces dassei the air brought from the vessel 18 out through the as yet unset-sealed vessel mouth until the vessel 18 continues to circulate with the filling element 12 and the upward stroke of the lifting cylinder 16 has been brought into the sealing position shown in FIG. 2. With the sealing layer in place, the partial prestressing of the vessel then begins at the pressure to be regulated. If there is a risk that so much return gas is removed from the return gas chamber 26 for the purge and partial preloading that the return gas required for the preliminary relief phase cannot be maintained by means of the return gas to be supplied to the return gas chamber 26, then tension gas in corresponding amounts of the return gas chamber 26 must be maintained to be supplied, for example via a stub line, not shown, which connects the return gas chamber 26 or the extending line 31 to the ring distribution chamber 25 or the tensioning gas line 29, which are controlled by the pressure sensor 33 and also to act on the return gas Chamber 26 can be used with the return gas pressure to be regulated when establishing the operational readiness of the filling machine 10.

The preceding statements apply not only to the previously described filling machine 10, which has filling elements 12, each with a controlled liquid valve 48, which is brought into the closed position on the basis of a signal given by the switching element 49 when the liquid in the vessel 18 rises to a predetermined filling level. It is also possible, without departing from the inventive concept that bears the invention, to close the respective liquid valve 48 on the basis of a signal that a quantity of liquid that has actually flowed into the vessel 18 is output by the control device 47 after the run-in has taken place. The liquid valve can also be brought mechanically into the closed position in the usual way after the further rise in the liquid in the vessel has been interrupted by means of an inlet determining the fill level. In the latter case, as shown in FIG. 4, instead of the switching element 49, the input 79 of the connection 64 is moved in the usual way into the vessel 18 to be filled for determining the fill level, and a ball check valve 80 for interrupting the liquid supply in the known manner above it in the supply line 68 been assigned to the vessel 18. In this variant, it may also be expedient to mechanically control the outlet valve 66 and to transfer its function to the valve disk 52.

6 shows a schematic representation of a single-chamber counter-pressure filling machine 10a in a rotating design. This filling machine 10a, which is also intended for the filling of carbonated liquids, has an annular liquid container 81, on the underside of which a plurality of filling elements 82 are provided with a uniform mutual spacing, each of which has a valve body 84 provided with a return gas tube 83 and also the filling filling channel have filler neck 85. The filler neck 85 is on its inner surface delimiting the aßfüllkanal designed as a valve seat, which forms the liquid valve 86 together with the valve body 84 and against which the valve body 84 can be brought to bear in order to close this liquid valve 86. The valve body 84 with gas valve 87 'is actuated to open and close the liquid valve 86 via a control lever 87 which cooperates with control cams or control cams on a stationary control ring, not shown, of the filling machine 10a.

Each filling element 82 is assigned a lifting and lowering device, of which only the associated support plate 88 is shown in FIG. 6. The filling machine 10a furthermore has an annular chamber 89 which is common to all the filling elements 82 and is attached to the outer circumference of the liquid container 81 and is subjected to an adjustable or adjustable pressure which corresponds to the pre-relief pressure required in the pre-relief phase. This pressure in the chamber 89 is set or regulated, for example, by means of a pressure sensor which corresponds to the pressure sensor 33 of the filling machine 10 and to which a control valve corresponding to the control valve 32 is assigned in an outlet of the chamber 89 leading to the atmosphere. Below the chamber 89 and partly also below the liquid container 81, a control valve arrangement 90 is provided which interacts via an actuating element 91 'with control cams or control cams of a stationary control ring (not shown) of the filling machine 10a, or else in another suitable manner, for example electrically or electronically. is pneumatically controlled. The input of the control valve arrangement 90 is connected, at least when the liquid valve 86 is in the closed position, via a connecting channel 91 to the aß filling channel downstream of the liquid valve 86. An outlet of the control valve assembly 90 of each filler 82 is connected to the chamber 89. Another output of the control valve arrangement 90 is connected to a vessel relief 92 corresponding to the vessel relief 73, which has a relief channel 93 with an associated throttle element that is open to the environment.

The control valve arrangement 90 has three operating positions, namely a first operating position in which there is no connection between the input and the outputs of the control valve arrangement 90, a second operating position in which the input and the first output of the control valve arrangement 90 are connected to one another and thus a fluid connection there is between the connecting channel 91 and the chamber 89, and a third operating position in which the inlet and the second outlet of the control valve arrangement 90 are connected to one another and thus there is a fluid connection between the connecting channel 91 and the vessel relief 92 or its relief channel 93.

To fill the vessel 18, it is pressed against the filler element 82 from below by means of the lifting and lowering device or by means of the support plate 88, so that the vessel 18 lies tightly against the filler neck 85 with the interposition of a sealing element (not shown). To initiate the filling phase, the gas valve 87 'is opened by lifting the control lever 87 into the position shown in FIG. 6, thereby releasing the liquid valve 86, so that when the pressure equalization between the vessel 18 and the liquid container 81 occurs, the liquid valve 86 opens and the liquid can flow into the vessel 18 to be filled. The filling of the vessel 18 is closed as soon as the liquid rising in the vessel 18 has reached the lower end of the return gas tube 83. The filling valve 84 is then closed, whereby the filling phase is finally ended. The control valve arrangement 90, which was previously in its first operating position, is then brought into the second operating position for the subsequent pre-relief of the filled vessel 18, whereby the pressure in the filled vessel 18 relaxes via the connecting channel 91 to the pre-relief pressure prevailing in the chamber 89 or regulated there can. In this embodiment too, the pre-relief pressure is in turn set such that undissolved carbon dioxide, that is to say any carbon dioxide bubbles which may be present, can rise from the ate-filled liquid, but not to an up or over foaming of the liquid or the liquid escaping from the vessel 18 during the subsequent unloading to atmospheric pressure. Only after this pre-unloading phase, to the pre-unloading pressure present in chamber 89 and above atmospheric pressure, which is maintained for a certain time in order to calm the ate-filled liquid, is the control valve arrangement 90 then brought into its third operating position, in which over the with the connecting channel 91 connected vessel relief 92 the vessel 18 is relieved of the pre-relief pressure to atmospheric pressure. As the filling element 82 continues to circulate, the relieved vessel 18 is removed from the filling element 82 by lowering it by means of the support plate 88 or the lifting and lowering device and can then be removed from the filling machine 10a in the region of the vessel extension.

7 and 8 show similar to Fig. 2, but in an enlarged detail, a filling element 12 ', which together with other, similar filling elements 12' can be used instead of the filling elements 12 in the three-chamber counter-pressure filling machine 10 and which of the filling element 12 only differs in that the nozzle 65 of the throttle device 63 is moved from the wiring harness 69 into the wiring harness 68, in that part of the wiring harness 68 which lies between the branching to the wiring harness 70 and the valve disk 52.

In this preferred embodiment of the invention, the control of the three-chamber counter-pressure filling machine 10 or its filling elements 12 'with the likewise long filling tube 13 takes place in such a way that after the filling phase has ended, that is to say after the liquid valve 48 has been closed, a pre-discharge of the respectively filled Vessel 18 to the return gas pressure set in the return gas chamber 26 takes place, again via the line branch 68 with the nozzle 65 and the line branch 69. In this embodiment of the invention, it takes place approximately when the return gas or preliminary relief pressure is reached and thus during the preliminary relief. respectively. Calming phase a compensation of the liquid levels in the interior of the filling tube 13 and in the vessel 18 at pre-relief pressure. For this purpose, after the closing of the liquid valve 48, the valve disk 52 is moved into an operating position, which is shown in FIG. 7, by appropriately switching the tensioning gas valve arrangement 50, which (switching) takes place in turn by a control element 56 which interacts with the actuating lever 54 in which a connection between the compensating channel 60, the clamping gas channel 62 and the wiring harness 69 is established via the control groove 72 provided in the valve disk 52. This connection then makes it possible to compensate for the liquid level at the pre-relief pressure in the pre-relief phase, and in particular any carbon dioxide that may be released in the filling tube 13 can flow from this filling tube into the return gas chamber 26 via the equalization channel 60.

After the sedation or pre-relief phase has finished, the respective vessel 18 is finally relieved to atmospheric pressure in this embodiment as well. For this purpose, the valve disk 52 of the tensioning gas valve arrangement 50 is brought into an operating position in which the tensioning gas inlet channel 62 and the equalization channel 60 are connected to the relief channel 75 via the control groove 72, which is the only one for all operating positions, but a connection between the line strands 68 and 69 is interrupted.

The above-described compensation of the liquid level during the calming or pre-relief phase, for example when the pre-relief pressure is reached, has considerable advantages. Since during the pre-discharge any carbon dioxide released in the filling pipe 13 can flow into the return gas chamber 26 via the equalization channel 60 and the line 69 not having the nozzle 65, any gas cushion in the filling pipe 13 and a gas surge associated therewith are avoided during the pre-relief . Such a gas surge, which would occur in particular when the pressure is relieved to atmospheric pressure, would cause considerable disturbance to the liquid, in particular also in the vessel 18 and thus lead to an additional release of carbon dioxide with considerable foaming. The equalization of the liquid level, for example when the pre-relief pressure is reached, thus contributes significantly to better behavior of the ate-filled liquid in the relief phase.

Since, in this embodiment of the invention, the leveling of the liquid levels has already taken place before the respective vessel 18 is finally relieved to atmospheric pressure, it is also possible to initiate the final relieving of the vessel to atmospheric pressure or immediately afterwards by drawing the filled vessel from the associated filling element 12 'to begin, with careful emptying of the filling tube 13 while avoiding any disturbance of the liquid, which (disturbance) could lead to an unnecessary release of carbonic acid or to foam formation in the vessel 18. Since, in particular, unnecessary foam formation in the filling tube 13 or in other channels of the respective filling element 12 'is prevented, this embodiment results in low drip losses and thus also a cleaner working method for the counterpressure filling machine 10.

The above-described compensation of the liquid level at pre-relief pressure can basically be applied to all counterpressure filling machines with a long filling tube with the aforementioned advantages.

In a further embodiment, the control of, for example, the three-chamber counter-pressure filling machine 10, which, for example, in turn has the filling elements 12 ', takes place in such a way that after the pre-relief or calming phase, the relief is initially reduced to approximately 0.1-0. 6 bar low overpressure or relief pressure is made. Then, when this low overpressure of, for example, 0.5 bar is reached, the corresponding vessel 18 is drawn from the associated filling element 12 ', so that the discharge to atmospheric pressure then takes place via the mouth of the vessel. To achieve the relief on the low overpressure, is followed by 8, the valve disc 52 is brought into an operating position in which the compensating channel 60, the span gas inlet channel 62 and the relief channel 75 are connected to one another by the control groove 72 when the line strands 68 and 69 are interrupted. In addition, the aasslaßventil 66 is opened. Taking into account the return gas pressure in the return gas chamber 26, the nozzle 67 and the throttle element 74 are selected with regard to their respective diameters such that the desired low overpressure or relief pressure is established in the vessel 18. The advantage of this method is a particularly gentle treatment, in particular also of liquids or beverages that tend to release more carbon dioxide or to increase foaming. The relief to a low overpressure can in principle be used in all counterpressure filling machines in a filling pipe-less design or with a filling pipe, and in particular with the advantage that loosened or released carbonic acid and air bubbles are gently carried to the atmosphere.

In the exemplary embodiment described above, it was assumed that the return gas pressure in the return gas chamber 26 is used to generate the low excess pressure. In principle, it is also possible to provide a separate or additional chamber for this purpose, which has a pressure medium. This embodiment would have the advantage that the pre-relief pressure in the return gas chamber 26 can be varied without changing the low overpressure or relief pressure.

It should also be added that the process according to the invention not only increases the filling capacity, but also reduces the oxygen uptake during the filling process, because both the filling pressure can be reduced and there is the possibility that during the pre-unloading of the filling process air-filled drink can rise existing air bubbles under the pre-relief pressure. This is particularly advantageous when filling beer with beer.

Claims (26)

1. A method for filling carbonated liquids, in particular beverages, under counterpressure in vessels or the like, in which, during a filling phase following the vessel pre-charge, the liquid under a filling pressure is run into and out of a respective vessel in a sealing position with a filling element the same, at least at times, the return gas displaced by the incoming liquid is fed through a return gas path of the filling element, and in which after the end of the filling phase and with the container still in sealing position with the filling element, first a preliminary relief of the vessel to a preliminary relief pressure and then a relief in a preliminary relief phase of the vessel take place at atmospheric pressure, characterized in that the pre-relief pressure is adjusted to a pressure lying between the atmospheric pressure and the saturation pressure of the liquid in such a way that during the pre-relief phase just barely an escalation of released carbonic acid in the food-filled liquid is possible without an undesired escape of liquid from the filled vessel caused by foaming of the liquid when relieved to atmospheric pressure. 2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that at least during the pre-relief phase, the filled vessel is in communication with a chamber in which the pre-relief pressure is adjusted. 3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that the respective vessel is connected after the filling phase via a control valve arrangement with the chamber regulated to the pre-relief pressure. 4. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that during the filling phase, the displaced return gas with pressure drop is aß out in a provided with a throttle device and the return gas path connection in the regulated to the pre-relief pressure chamber. 5. The method according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that the pressure regulated in the chamber is less than the saturation pressure of the liquid to be filled. 6. The method according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that the pressure regulated in the chamber corresponds to the saturation pressure of the liquid to be filled or is a pressure approximating the saturation pressure. 7. The method according to any one of claims 4-6, characterized in that the pressure regulated in the chamber is between the filling pressure and a critical pressure of the throttle device. 8. The method according to any one of claims 1-7, characterized in that the pressure regulated in the chamber is adjusted in dependence on the filling pressure of the liquid to be filled, preferably continuously in dependence on the filling pressure of the liquid to be filled. 9. The method according to any one of claims 4-8, characterized in that at least a partial amount of the return gas displaced via the connection into the chamber is used for the vessel preload and / or for a pre-purge preceding the vessel preload. 10. The method according to any one of claims 1-9, characterized in that during the pre-relief phase, preferably when the pre-relief pressure is reached in the vessel, a compensation of the liquid levels in the vessel and in the filling tube of the filling element takes place. 11. The method according to any one of claims 1-10, characterized in that after pre-relief and before the final relief of the vessel to atmospheric pressure, a relief to a low, about between 0.1 - 0.6 bar adjustable pressure takes place. 12. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that when the low overpressure is reached, the vessel is taken from the filling element and the final discharge to atmospheric pressure takes place via the vessel mouth. 13. The method according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the respective vessel is in communication with the atmosphere during the discharge to the low overpressure via at least one nozzle or at least one throttle element. 14. An apparatus for performing the method according to any one of claims 1-13, with a liquid container for the liquid to be filled, with at least one filling element with which the respective vessel to be filled at least during the vessel preload, the filling phase and which has a pre-relief to a pre-relief pressure Relief of the filled vessel is brought to the atmospheric pressure in the sealing position, with an aßfüllkanal provided on the filling element, which is connected via a controlled liquid valve to the liquid container, with a return gas path formed on the filling element for the displaced from the respective vessel during the filling phase and / or during return gas flowing to the vessel relaxation and a chamber provided with an outlet to the atmosphere, which is connected to the return gas path at least during the pre-relief phase following the filling phase, characterized in that at the outlet (30) of the chamber (26, 89) or a control valve (32) is connected to a line (31) extending this output (30) which is opened when the pressure in the chamber (26, 89) exceeds the pre-relief pressure to be regulated. 15. The apparatus according to claim 14, characterized in that the control valve (32) in the chamber (26, 89) or in the outlet (30) extending line (31) inserted, the pressure-regulating pressure sensor (33) is assigned which controls the control valve (32) to an open position when the pressure in the chamber exceeds the pre-relief pressure to be regulated. 16. The apparatus according to claim 15, characterized in that the pressure sensor (33) receiving the pre-relief pressure to be regulated is assigned a further pressure sensor (34) inserted in a line (28) supplying the liquid container (11) to the liquid to be filled in such a way that the Control valve (32) is then brought into an open position when the pressure difference between the pressure received by the pressure sensor (33) and the pressure received by the further pressure sensor (34) exceeds a predetermined value. 17. The device according to one of claims 14-16, characterized in that provided with a with a long filling tube (13) and a controlled gas valve arrangement (50) and also connected to a biasing chamber (25) for biasing filling element (12, 12th ') The chamber provided with the exit to the atmosphere is a return gas chamber (26) which is connected to the return gas path, which is formed by a with a throttle device (63) and through the tension gas valve arrangement (50) aßsperrbaren connection (64). 18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the at least one filler element has an aßsperrbare connection, which has in a line with a nozzle acting as a throttle line, an aasslaßventil, which for filling with increased filling speed in a Opening position can be controlled, characterized in that the ace-lockable connection (64) provided with the throttle device (63) in addition to the line section (70) provided with the nozzle (67) and the outlet valve (66) also has a further line (65) and has an aßsperrventil (52, 67) provided further wiring harness (69) for filling with reduced filling speed. 19. The apparatus according to claim 18, characterized in that the aßsperrventil is designed as a check valve (77). 20. The apparatus according to claim 18, characterized in that the aßsperrventil designed in the manner of a flat slide valve and is provided with a valve disc (52) arranged for several operating positions, which during machine circulation by means of control elements (56) in the operating positions, e.g. for "preloading", "filling and subsequent preloading" and "relieving to atmospheric pressure" is pivotable. 21. Device according to one of claims 15-20, characterized in that when the at least one filling element (12, 12 ') is formed with a mechanical control for the controllable liquid valve (48), the vessel-side entrance of the ace-lockable connection (64) forming the return gas path trained for filling level determination and is assigned to the filling tube (13) of the filling element (12, 12 ') for insertion into the vessel (18) to be filled. 22. Device according to one of claims 15-20, characterized in that when the at least one filling element (12, 12 ') is equipped with an electrically controllable liquid valve (48) and a signal transmitter which, when a response level is reached, a signal for controlling the liquid valve (48) in the closed position, the signal transmitter is an electrical switching element (49) attached to the outside of the filling tube (13). 23. The device according to any one of claims 14-22, characterized in that an aßsperrbare, return gas ace-carrying line is connected to the return gas chamber (26) or to the with the throttle device (63) provided aßsperrbare connection (64) downstream of the throttle device (63) , which is designed for pre-flushing and / or pre-stressing a vessel (18) to be filled with return gas to a compensation channel (60) formed in the filling element and connected to the filling tube (13). 24. Device according to one of claims 14-23, characterized in that when the device is designed as a single-chamber counter-pressure filling machine (10a), a control valve arrangement (90) is provided which can be switched into an operating position for the preliminary relief phase in which the control valve arrangement (90) connects the return gas path to the chamber (89) provided in addition to the liquid container (81) and having the regulated pre-relief pressure. 25. The device according to any one of claims 14-24, characterized in that when the at least one filling element (12, 12 ') with a filling tube (13) is formed, a control valve arrangement (50) is provided which is used to compensate for the inside of the filling tube ( 13) and the existing liquid level in the vessel at pre-relief pressure can be switched into an operating position in which the inside of the filling tube (13) is connected to the space of the vessel above the liquid level and to a channel (69) which in turn connects to the outlet is connected to the atmosphere or to the return gas chamber (26), the channel leading to the return gas chamber (26) preferably being a conduit (69) of the return gas path which does not have the throttle device (63). 26. The device according to any one of claims 14-25, characterized by a provided on the filling element (12, 12 '), via at least one throttle member (74) to the atmosphere open relief channel (75) for relieving the vessel (18) to the Above the liquid level space of the vessel and possibly also to the inside of a filling tube (13) and to a line (70) provided with a nozzle (67), which can be shut off and leads to the return gas chamber (26), and that the throttle element (74) and the nozzle (67) are selected in such a way that when the line string (70) is open there is a relief pressure slightly above atmospheric pressure, preferably a relief pressure between 0.1 and 0.6 bar, preferably with the nozzle (67 ) provided wiring harness (70) is part of the throttle device (63).

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