EP0365867B1 - Method and device for filling cans with drinks - Google Patents

Method and device for filling cans with drinks Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0365867B1
EP0365867B1 EP89118158A EP89118158A EP0365867B1 EP 0365867 B1 EP0365867 B1 EP 0365867B1 EP 89118158 A EP89118158 A EP 89118158A EP 89118158 A EP89118158 A EP 89118158A EP 0365867 B1 EP0365867 B1 EP 0365867B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
interior
gas
tank
valve
filling
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 - Lifetime
Application number
EP89118158A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0365867A1 (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
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Krones AG Hermann Kronseder Maschinenfabrik filed Critical Krones AG Hermann Kronseder Maschinenfabrik
Publication of EP0365867A1 publication Critical patent/EP0365867A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0365867B1 publication Critical patent/EP0365867B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

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
    • B67C3/06—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
    • 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
    • B67C2003/2651—The liquid valve being carried by the vent tube

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a method for filling beverage cans, in which the can is biased with an inert gas to a pressure slightly below the kettle pressure before filling the beverage from a kettle, the interior of the can being connected to a reservoir and at which is then done by establishing a connection between the interior of the boiler and the interior of the can, the can is pretensioned to the internal pressure of the boiler, after which the beverage is then filled into the can while simultaneously displacing the interior of the can into the interior of the boiler.
  • the invention also relates to an apparatus for performing the method.
  • This device has a boiler, at least one filling element connected to it, a filling valve, a return gas pipe with a biasing valve extending from the boiler into the filling element and a differential pressure chamber which is connected to the inside of the can during the filling process and to a relief valve which opens into the open.
  • the disadvantage of this method is that when the can is pre-stressed with the CO2 gas, the air previously in the can remains. It is therefore not possible with the method to achieve a low air concentration inside the can.
  • the proportion of air in the can atmosphere is even higher than that in the boiler atmosphere. Since the gas mixture is fed from the inside of the can to the interior of the boiler when the can is being filled, the atmosphere in the interior of the boiler also deteriorates to an increasing extent.
  • This object is achieved with regard to the method in that the can is flushed out prior to the pretensioning, that the inert gas is introduced directly into the can interior during the pretensioning and that the gas mixture present is at least partially displaced into the storage and is blown off into the open after the filling process has ended .
  • the device provided for carrying out the method is characterized in that the can interior is connected to a flushing channel via a flushing valve, and in that the return gas pipe is connected to an inert gas line via an inert gas valve.
  • the solution according to the invention has the advantage that air concentrations in the interior of the can of less than 5% can be achieved.
  • the method according to the invention is incredibly simple. In addition to flushing the interior of the can upstream, the method takes advantage of the fact that the gas mixture present in the interior of the can after flushing is displaced into the store, that is to say the differential pressure chamber. This means that there is a much lower air concentration inside the can than in the differential pressure chamber. Since the air concentration in the interior of the can is now also lower than the air concentration in the interior of the boiler, each time a beverage can is filled, the atmosphere inside the boiler is improved, since when the can is filled, a gas mixture with a higher CO2 content flows from the interior of the can into the interior of the boiler.
  • the interior of the can is biased by the inert gas to a pressure which is approximately 0.2 to 0.5 bar below the internal pressure of the boiler.
  • the inert gas valve can be arranged between the preload valve and the filler element in a particularly simple construction.
  • the purge channel can be connected to a vacuum pump, but care must be taken here that only a very low vacuum is applied to the can in order to avoid deformation of the can .
  • a device 1 for filling beverage cans 2 is shown. Similar devices have long been known from practice. They comprise a ring bowl 3, which is partly filled with a carbonated beverage 4. There is a CO2-air mixture with a high CO2 content above the beverage level. At the bottom of the ring bowl 3, a filler channel 5 extends downward to a filler member 6, which can be lowered onto the top of the can and sealed against it.
  • a return gas pipe 7 leads concentrically through the filler channel 5 and through the filler member 6 from the ring bowl 3 into the interior of the can.
  • the lowest gate of the return gas pipe 7 determines the highest filling level within the beverage can.
  • a channel 10 leads from the differential pressure chamber 9 to a flushing valve 11 and to a relief valve 12 which can establish a connection to the atmosphere.
  • the flushing valve 11 controls the connection to a flushing channel 13, which can be connected either to the atmosphere or to a vacuum pump 14.
  • a bias valve 15 is arranged, with which the inflow of the CO2-air mixture from the ring bowl 3 into the beverage can 2 is controlled.
  • an inert gas line 16 is connected to the return gas pipe 7 via an inert gas valve 17.
  • the inert gas line 16 is in an inert gas container 18 in Connection.
  • the pressure P c in the inert gas container is 0.2 to 0.5 bar lower than the pressure P k in the ring bowl 3.
  • the pressure P k is about 2 bar higher than the atmospheric pressure P at .
  • a spring-assisted filling valve 19 is arranged in the filling channel 5 and opens automatically when the same pressure prevails in the interior of the can 2 and in the ring bowl 3.
  • a plurality are arranged on the outer circumference of the ring bowl 3 in a filling system, so that several cans can be filled at the same time.
  • the lowerable part 8 of the filling element is lowered. This increases the differential pressure chamber 9. Then the interior of the can 2 is flushed with the CO2-air mixture located in the ring bowl 3, the flushing valve 11 and the biasing valve 15 being open (see FIG. 2).
  • the CO2-air mixture thus passes through the return gas pipe 7 into the interior of the can and flows from there via the differential pressure chamber 9, the channel 10, the flushing valve 11 and the flushing channel 13 into the open air or to a vacuum pump 14.
  • the air in the beverage can 2 becomes so washed out and at least partially replaced by the CO2-air mixture located in the boiler 3.
  • the CO2 concentration in the ring bowl is about 95%.
  • the CO2 concentration in can 2 is about 85% at the end of the rinse cycle.
  • the inert gas valve 17 is opened (see FIG. 3). Pure flows from the inert gas container 18 CO2 gas through line 16, the inert gas valve 17 and the lower part of the return gas tube 7 into the interior of the can.
  • the CO2-air mixture located in the beverage can 2 is compressed and largely displaced into the differential pressure chamber 9, so that the atmosphere in the beverage can 2 has a very high CO2 content.
  • the pressure P c now prevails in the can.
  • the bias valve 15 is opened again, so that a pressure equalization between the ring bowl 3 and the interior of the beverage can 2 is now established (see. Fig. 4).
  • the filling of the beverage 4 into the can now begins automatically when the preload valve 15 is open.
  • the highly concentrated CO2 atmosphere from the inside of the beverage can 2 now escapes via the return gas pipe 7 into the ring bowl 3 and there leads to a constant improvement in the CO2 content.
  • the relief valve 12 is now opened so that the excess pressure can escape from the can and the differential pressure chamber 9 into the open.
  • the "worse" CO2-air mixture is replaced by the "good” CO2-air mixture from the can and blown off into the open.
  • the can 2 can now be removed and closed with a lid.
  • CO2 concentrations in the beverage can 2 of over 95% can be achieved with the above-described method, if even higher concentrations are desired, the flushing process described with reference to FIG. 2 can also be carried out with CO2 gas.

Description

Die Erfindung bezieht sich auf ein Verfahren zum Befüllen von Getränkedosen, bei dem die Dose vor dem Einfüllen des Getränks aus einem Kessel mit einem Inertgas auf einen Druck vorgespannt wird, der geringfügig unter dem Kesseldruck liegt, wobei der Doseninnenraum mit einem Speicher verbunden ist und bei dem dann durch Herstellen einer Verbindung zwischen der Kesselinnenatmosphäre und dem Doseninnenraum das Vorspannen der Dose auf Kesselinnendruck erfolgt, wonach dann das Einfüllen des Getränks in die Dose unter gleichzeitiger Verdrängung der Doseninnenatmosphäre in den Kesselinnenraum erfolgt.The invention relates to a method for filling beverage cans, in which the can is biased with an inert gas to a pressure slightly below the kettle pressure before filling the beverage from a kettle, the interior of the can being connected to a reservoir and at which is then done by establishing a connection between the interior of the boiler and the interior of the can, the can is pretensioned to the internal pressure of the boiler, after which the beverage is then filled into the can while simultaneously displacing the interior of the can into the interior of the boiler.

Die Erfindung bezieht sich darüberhinaus auf eine Vorrichtung zum Durchführen des Verfahrens. Diese Vorrichtung weist auf einen Kessel, mindestens ein damit verbundenes, ein Füllventil aufweisendes Füllorgan, ein sich aus dem Kessel in das Füllorgan erstreckendes Rückgasrohr mit einem Vorspannventil und eine Differenzdruckkammer, die beim Füllvorgang mit dem Doseninneren und mit einem ins Freie mündenden Entlastungsventil verbunden ist.The invention also relates to an apparatus for performing the method. This device has a boiler, at least one filling element connected to it, a filling valve, a return gas pipe with a biasing valve extending from the boiler into the filling element and a differential pressure chamber which is connected to the inside of the can during the filling process and to a relief valve which opens into the open.

Beim Befüllen von Getränkebehältnissen allgemein kommt es darauf an, daß der Luftanteil der Innenatmosphäre im Behältnis möglichst gering ist, um ein vorzeitiges Verderben und geschmackliches Verändern des Getränks zu vermeiden. Beim Befüllen von Getränkeflaschen ist es daher bekannt, die Flasche zu evakuieren und dann mit einem Inertgas vorzuspannen (DE-OS 36 06 977). Bei Getränkedosen läßt sich ein solches Verfahren jedoch nicht ohne weiteres anwenden, da die Dosen verhältnismäßig dünnwandig sind und beim Evakuieren dem Außendruck nicht standhalten würden.When filling beverage containers in general, it is important that the proportion of air in the interior atmosphere in the container is as low as possible in order to prevent the beverage from spoiling prematurely and changing its taste. When filling beverage bottles, it is therefore known to evacuate the bottle and then to prestress it with an inert gas (DE-OS 36 06 977). However, such a method cannot be readily applied to beverage cans, since the cans are relatively thin-walled and would not withstand the external pressure during evacuation.

Ein Verfahren der eingangs genannten Art und eine zugehörige Füllvorrichtung ist aus dem Prospekt "Hansacan" der Fa. Ortmann & Herbst GmbH aus dem Jahre 1987 bekannt. Das auf den Seiten 4 und 5 des Prospektes beschriebene Verfahren sieht vor, daß über eine Differenzdruckkammer CO₂-Gas in das Innere der Dose eingeleitet wird, wobei die Dose auf einen Druck unterhalb des Kesseldrucks vorgespannt wird. Das endgültige Vorspannen erfolgt über eine durch das Rückgasrohr hergestellte Verbindung mit der Kesselinnenatmosphäre, die aus einem CO₂-Luftgemisch besteht.A method of the type mentioned at the outset and an associated filling device are known from the "Hansacan" brochure from Ortmann & Herbst GmbH from 1987. The method described on pages 4 and 5 of the prospectus provides that CO₂ gas is introduced into the interior of the can via a differential pressure chamber, the can being pretensioned to a pressure below the boiler pressure. The final prestressing takes place via a connection made through the return gas pipe with the boiler interior atmosphere, which consists of a CO₂-air mixture.

Nachteilig an diesem Verfahren ist, daß beim Vorspannen der Dose mit dem CO₂-Gas die zuvor in der Dose befindliche Luft verbleibt. Es ist daher mit dem Verfahren nicht möglich, auf eine geringe Luftkonzentration im Doseninneren zu kommen. Der Luftanteil in der Dosenatmosphäre ist sogar höher als der in der Kesselinnenatmosphäre. Da beim Befüllen der Dose das Gasgemisch aus dem Doseninneren in den Kesselinnenraum geleitet wird, verschlechtert sich auf diese Weise in zunehmendem Maße auch die Kesselinnenatmosphäre.The disadvantage of this method is that when the can is pre-stressed with the CO₂ gas, the air previously in the can remains. It is therefore not possible with the method to achieve a low air concentration inside the can. The proportion of air in the can atmosphere is even higher than that in the boiler atmosphere. Since the gas mixture is fed from the inside of the can to the interior of the boiler when the can is being filled, the atmosphere in the interior of the boiler also deteriorates to an increasing extent.

Der Prospekt "Delta D" der Fa. Holstein und Kappert GmbH aus dem Jahre 1983 beschreibt eine Dosenfüllmaschine, bei der das Doseninnere vor dem Befüllen mit dem Gasgemisch aus der Kesselinnenatmosphäre durchspült wird. Anschließend erfolgt ein Vorspannen der Dose mit diesem Gasgemisch. Auch bei sehr hohen CO₂-Konzentrationen im Kesselinneren ist es kaum möglich, in der Doseninnenatmosphäre eine CO₂-Konzentration von mehr als 80% zu erreichen.The "Delta D" brochure from Holstein und Kappert GmbH from 1983 describes a can filling machine in which the inside of the can is flushed out of the interior of the boiler before being filled with the gas mixture. The can is then preloaded with this gas mixture. Even with very high CO₂ concentrations inside the boiler, it is hardly possible to reach a CO₂ concentration of more than 80% in the can atmosphere.

Es ist daher Aufgabe der vorliegenden Erfindung, ein Verfahren und eine Vorrichtung der eingangs genannten Art so zu verbessern, daß unter Berücksichtigung eines geringen Verbrauchs an Inertgas der Luftanteil der Doseninnenatmosphäre vor dem Einfüllen des Getränks möglichst gering ist.It is therefore an object of the present invention to improve a method and a device of the type mentioned at the outset so that, taking into account a low consumption of inert gas, the air content of the interior of the can before the filling of the beverage is as low as possible.

Diese Aufgabe wird hinsichtlich des Verfahrens dadurch gelöst, daß die Dose vor dem Vorspannen durchgespült wird, daß das Inertgas beim Vorspannen direkt in den Doseninnenraum eingeleitet wird und daß dabei das vorhandene Gasgemisch zumindest teilweise in den Speicher verdrängt und nach Beendigung des Füllvorganges ins Freie abgeblasen wird.This object is achieved with regard to the method in that the can is flushed out prior to the pretensioning, that the inert gas is introduced directly into the can interior during the pretensioning and that the gas mixture present is at least partially displaced into the storage and is blown off into the open after the filling process has ended .

Die zur Durchführung des Verfahrens vorgesehene Vorrichtung zeichnet sich dadurch aus, daß der Doseninnenraum über ein Spülventil mit einem Spülkanal verbunden ist, und daß das Rückgasrohr über ein Inertgasventil mit einer Inertgasleitung verbunden ist.The device provided for carrying out the method is characterized in that the can interior is connected to a flushing channel via a flushing valve, and in that the return gas pipe is connected to an inert gas line via an inert gas valve.

Die erfindungsgemäße Lösung hat den Vorteil, daß sich Luftkonzentrationen im Doseninnenraum von weniger als 5% erreichen lassen. Dabei ist das erfindungsgemäße Verfahren verblüffend einfach. Neben dem vorgeschalteten Durchspülen des Doseninnenraumes macht sich das Verfahren vor allen Dingen den Umstand zunutzte, daß das nach dem Durchspülen in dem Doseninnenraum vorhandene Gasgemisch in den Speicher, sprich Differenzdruckkammer, verdrängt wird. Damit herrscht im Doseninneren eine weit geringere Luftkonzentration als in der Differenzdruckkammer. Da die Luftkonzentration im Doseninnenraum nun auch niedriger ist als die Luftkonzentration im Kesselinneren, wird mit jedem Füllvorgang einer Getränkedose die Kesselinnenatmosphäre verbessert, da beim Befüllen der Dose ein Gasgemisch mit einem höheren CO₂-Gehalt aus dem Doseninnenraum in den Kesselinnenraum einströmt. Dieser Effekt wird im wesentlichen dadurch erreicht, daß das Inertgas, nicht wie beim Stand der Technik durch die Differenzdruckkammer, sondern direkt - in bevorzugter Weise durch das Rückgasrohr - in das Doseninnere eingeleitet wird, wodurch dem Gasgemisch im Doseninneren gestattet wird, in die Differenzdruckkammer auszuweichen.The solution according to the invention has the advantage that air concentrations in the interior of the can of less than 5% can be achieved. The method according to the invention is amazingly simple. In addition to flushing the interior of the can upstream, the method takes advantage of the fact that the gas mixture present in the interior of the can after flushing is displaced into the store, that is to say the differential pressure chamber. This means that there is a much lower air concentration inside the can than in the differential pressure chamber. Since the air concentration in the interior of the can is now also lower than the air concentration in the interior of the boiler, each time a beverage can is filled, the atmosphere inside the boiler is improved, since when the can is filled, a gas mixture with a higher CO₂ content flows from the interior of the can into the interior of the boiler. This effect is essentially achieved in that the inert gas, not as in the prior art through the differential pressure chamber, but directly - preferably through the return gas pipe - is introduced into the interior of the can, thereby allowing the gas mixture inside the can to escape into the differential pressure chamber .

Da bei dem erfindungsgemäßen Verfahren der Luftanteil der Kesselinnenatmosphäre stetig abnimmt, wird im Sinne einer Einsparung von Inertgas bevorzugt, daß der Doseninnenraum mit Gas aus dem Kesselinnenraum durchspült wird, bevor die Dose mit dem Inertgas vorgespannt wird.Since, in the method according to the invention, the air portion of the boiler interior atmosphere decreases steadily, in the sense of Saving of inert gas preferred that the interior of the can is flushed with gas from the interior of the boiler before the can is prestressed with the inert gas.

Will man hingegen einen besonders niedrigen Luftanteil im Doseninnenraum erreichen, kann es auch günstig sein, wenn der Doseninnenraum mit Inertgas durchgespült wird.If, on the other hand, you want to achieve a particularly low proportion of air in the interior of the can, it can also be advantageous if the interior of the can is purged with inert gas.

Es hat sich als günstig herausgestellt, wenn der Doseninnenraum durch das Inertgas auf einen Druck vorgespannt wird, der etwa 0,2 bis 0,5 bar unter dem Kesselinnendruck liegt.It has proven to be advantageous if the interior of the can is biased by the inert gas to a pressure which is approximately 0.2 to 0.5 bar below the internal pressure of the boiler.

Baulich besonders einfach läßt sich das Inertgasventil zwischen dem Vorspannventil und dem Einfüllorgan anordnen. Um die Durchspülung des Doseninnenraumes vor dem Vorspannen mit Inertgas noch zu verbessern, kann der Spülkanal an eine Vakuumpumpe angeschlossen sein, wobei hier jedoch darauf zu achten ist, daß nur ein sehr geringes Vakuum an die Dose angelegt wird, um eine Deformierung der Dose zu vermeiden.The inert gas valve can be arranged between the preload valve and the filler element in a particularly simple construction. In order to improve the purging of the interior of the can before the prestressing with inert gas, the purge channel can be connected to a vacuum pump, but care must be taken here that only a very low vacuum is applied to the can in order to avoid deformation of the can .

Im folgenden wird ein Aüsfuhrungsbeispiel der Erfindung anhand einer Zeichnung näher erläutert. Es zeigen:

  • Fig. 1 in einer schematischen Schnittdarstellung eine Ansicht auf eine erfindungsgemäße Vorrichtung,
  • Fig. 2 die Vorrichtung aus Fig. 1 beim Spülen der Getränkedose,
  • Fig. 3 die Vorrichtung aus Fig. 1 beim Vorspannen der Getränkedose,
  • Fig. 4 die Vorrichtung aus Fig. 1 beim weiteren Vorspannen,
  • Fig. 5 die Vorrichtung aus Fig. 1 beim Befüllen der Getränkedose mit einem Getränk, und
  • Fig. 6 die Vorrichtung aus Fig. 1 beim Druckentlasten der Getränkedose.
An exemplary embodiment of the invention is explained in more detail below with reference to a drawing. Show it:
  • 1 is a schematic sectional view of a device according to the invention,
  • 2 shows the device from FIG. 1 when washing the beverage can,
  • 3 shows the device from FIG. 1 during pretensioning of the beverage can,
  • 4 shows the device from FIG. 1 during further pretensioning,
  • Fig. 5 shows the device of Fig. 1 when filling the beverage can with a drink, and
  • FIG. 6 shows the device from FIG. 1 when the beverage can is relieved of pressure.

In der Zeichnung ist eine Vorrichtung 1 zum Befüllen von Getränkedosen 2 dargestellt. Ähnliche Vorrichtungen sind aus der Praxis bereits seit längerem bekannt. Sie umfassen einen Ringkessel 3, der zum Teil mit einem kohlesäurehaltigen Getränk 4 befüllt ist. Oberhalb des Getränkespiegels befindet sich ein CO₂-Luftgemisch mit einem hohen CO₂-Anteil. Am Boden des Ringkessels 3 erstreckt sich ein Einfüllkanal 5 nach unten zu einem Einfüllorgan 6, das auf die Oberseite der Dose abgesenkt und gegenüber dieser abgedichtet werden kann.In the drawing, a device 1 for filling beverage cans 2 is shown. Similar devices have long been known from practice. They comprise a ring bowl 3, which is partly filled with a carbonated beverage 4. There is a CO₂-air mixture with a high CO₂ content above the beverage level. At the bottom of the ring bowl 3, a filler channel 5 extends downward to a filler member 6, which can be lowered onto the top of the can and sealed against it.

Aus dem Raum oberhalb des Getränkespiegels führt von dem Ringskessel 3 ein Rückgasrohr 7 konzentrisch durch den Einfüllkanal 5 und durch das Einfüllorgan 6 bis ins Doseninnere. Der unterste Anschnitt des Rückgasrohres 7 bestimmt den höchsten Füllstand innerhalb der Getränkedose. Zwischen dem absenkbaren Teil 8 und dem feststehenden Teil des Einfüllorganes 6 ist eine Differenzdruckkammer 9 gebildet, die mit der Atmosphäre in der Getränkedose 2 in Verbindung steht. Von der Differenzdruckkammer 9 aus führt ein Kanal 10 zu einem Spülventil 11 und zu einem Entlastungsventil 12, das eine Verbindung zur Atmosphäre herstellen kann. Das Spülventil 11 steuert hingegen die Verbindung zu einem Spülkanal 13, der entweder mit der Atmosphäre oder mit einer Vakuumpumpe 14 in Verbindung stehen kann.From the space above the beverage level, a return gas pipe 7 leads concentrically through the filler channel 5 and through the filler member 6 from the ring bowl 3 into the interior of the can. The lowest gate of the return gas pipe 7 determines the highest filling level within the beverage can. Between the lowerable part 8 and the fixed part of the filling element 6, a differential pressure chamber 9 is formed, which is connected to the atmosphere in the beverage can 2. A channel 10 leads from the differential pressure chamber 9 to a flushing valve 11 and to a relief valve 12 which can establish a connection to the atmosphere. The flushing valve 11, on the other hand, controls the connection to a flushing channel 13, which can be connected either to the atmosphere or to a vacuum pump 14.

Im Rückgasrohr 7 ist ein Vorspannventil 15 angeordnet, mit dem das Einströmen des CO₂-Luftgemisches aus dem Ringkessel 3 in die Getränkedose 2 gesteuert wird. Unterhalb des Vorspannventiles 15 ist an das Rückgasrohr 7 eine Inertgasleitung 16 über ein Inertgasventil 17 angeschlossen. Die Inertgasleitung 16 steht mit einem Inertgasbehälter 18 in Verbindung. In dem Inertgasbehälter befindet sich reines CO₂-Gas. Der Druck Pc in dem Inertgasbehälter ist um 0,2 bis 0,5 bar geringer als der Druck Pk in dem Ringkessel 3. Der Druck Pk liegt hingegen um etwa 2 bar höher als der Atmosphärendurck Pat.In the return gas pipe 7, a bias valve 15 is arranged, with which the inflow of the CO₂-air mixture from the ring bowl 3 into the beverage can 2 is controlled. Below the bias valve 15, an inert gas line 16 is connected to the return gas pipe 7 via an inert gas valve 17. The inert gas line 16 is in an inert gas container 18 in Connection. There is pure CO₂ gas in the inert gas container. The pressure P c in the inert gas container is 0.2 to 0.5 bar lower than the pressure P k in the ring bowl 3. The pressure P k , however, is about 2 bar higher than the atmospheric pressure P at .

In dem Einfüllkanal 5 ist ein federgestütztes Einfüllventil 19 angeordnet, das automatisch öffnet, wenn im Inneren der Dose 2 und im Ringkessel 3 der gleiche Druck herrscht.A spring-assisted filling valve 19 is arranged in the filling channel 5 and opens automatically when the same pressure prevails in the interior of the can 2 and in the ring bowl 3.

Von den oben beschriebenen Vorrichtungen sind bei einer Einfüllanlage eine Vielzahl an den Außenumfang des Ringkessels 3 angeordnet, so daß mehrere Dosen gleichzeitig befüllt werden können.Of the devices described above, a plurality are arranged on the outer circumference of the ring bowl 3 in a filling system, so that several cans can be filled at the same time.

Im folgenden wird nun das Verfahren unter Zuhilfenahme der dargestellten Vorrichtung näher beschrieben.The method will now be described in more detail with the aid of the device shown.

Nachdem die Getränkedose 2 unter das Einfüllorgan 6 gelangt ist, wird der absenkbare Teil 8 des Einfüllorganes abgesenkt. Hierbei vergrößert sich die Differenzdruckkammer 9. Sodann wird das Innere der Dose 2 mit dem in dem Ringkessel 3 befindlichen CO₂-Luftgemisch durchgespült, wobei das Spülventil 11 und das Vorspannventil 15 geöffnet sind (vgl. Fig. 2). Das CO₂-Luftgemisch gelangt somit durch das Rückgasrohr 7 in das Doseninnere und strömt von dort über die Differenzdruckkammer 9, den Kanal 10, das Spülventil 11 und den Spülkanal 13 ins Freie oder zu einer Vakuumpumpe 14. Die in der Getränkedose 2 befindliche Luft wird so herausgespült und zumindest teilweise durch das in dem Kessel 3 befindlichen CO₂-Luftgemisch ersetzt. Die CO₂-Konzentration in dem Ringkessel beträgt etwa 95%. Die CO₂-Konzentration in der Dose 2 beträgt nach Ende des Spülganges etwa 85%.After the beverage can 2 has come under the filling element 6, the lowerable part 8 of the filling element is lowered. This increases the differential pressure chamber 9. Then the interior of the can 2 is flushed with the CO₂-air mixture located in the ring bowl 3, the flushing valve 11 and the biasing valve 15 being open (see FIG. 2). The CO₂-air mixture thus passes through the return gas pipe 7 into the interior of the can and flows from there via the differential pressure chamber 9, the channel 10, the flushing valve 11 and the flushing channel 13 into the open air or to a vacuum pump 14. The air in the beverage can 2 becomes so washed out and at least partially replaced by the CO₂-air mixture located in the boiler 3. The CO₂ concentration in the ring bowl is about 95%. The CO₂ concentration in can 2 is about 85% at the end of the rinse cycle.

Nachdem das Vorspannventil 15 und das Spülventil 11 geschlossen sind, wird das Inertgasventil 17 geöffnet (vgl. Fig. 3). Aus dem Inertgasbehälter 18 strömt nun reines CO₂-Gas durch die Leitung 16, das Inertgasventil 17 und den unteren Teil des Rückgasrohres 7 in das Doseninnere. Das in der Getränkedose 2 befindliche CO₂-Luftgemisch wird komprimiert und zum größten Teil in die Differenzdruckkammer 9 verdrängt, so daß die Atmosphäre in der Getränkedose 2 einen sehr hohen CO₂-Anteil aufweist. In der Dose herrscht nun der Druck Pc. Nach dem Schließen des Inertgasventiles 17 wird erneut das Vorspannventil 15 geöffnet, so daß nun ein Druckausgleich zwischen dem Ringkessel 3 und dem Inneren der Getränkedose 2 hergestellt wird (vgl. Fig. 4).After the bias valve 15 and the purge valve 11 are closed, the inert gas valve 17 is opened (see FIG. 3). Pure flows from the inert gas container 18 CO₂ gas through line 16, the inert gas valve 17 and the lower part of the return gas tube 7 into the interior of the can. The CO₂-air mixture located in the beverage can 2 is compressed and largely displaced into the differential pressure chamber 9, so that the atmosphere in the beverage can 2 has a very high CO₂ content. The pressure P c now prevails in the can. After closing the inert gas valve 17, the bias valve 15 is opened again, so that a pressure equalization between the ring bowl 3 and the interior of the beverage can 2 is now established (see. Fig. 4).

Da der Unterschied zwischen dem Druck Pk in dem Ringkessel 3 und dem Druck Pc, der zuvor im Inneren der Getränkedose 2 geherrscht hat, nur sehr gering ist, strömt auch nur sehr wenig von dem CO₂-Luftgemisch aus dem Ringkessel 3 in das Innere der Getränkedose 2. Der CO₂-Anteil in der Dosenatmosphäre verschlechtert sich daher nicht. In der Dose selbst liegt nun nach dem endgültigen Vorspannen eine Atmosphäre mit einer CO₂-Konzentration von über 95% vor.Since the difference between the pressure P k in the ring bowl 3 and the pressure P c , which previously existed inside the beverage can 2, is only very small, very little of the CO₂-air mixture flows out of the ring bowl 3 into the interior the beverage can 2. The CO₂ content in the can atmosphere therefore does not deteriorate. After the final tempering, the can itself has an atmosphere with a CO₂ concentration of over 95%.

Wie in Fig. 5 dargestellt ist, beginnt nun bei geöffnetem Vorspannventil 15 automatisch das Einfüllen des Getränks 4 in die Dose. Die hochkonzentrierte CO₂-Atmosphäre aus dem Inneren der Getränkedose 2 entweicht nun über das Rückgasrohr 7 in den Ringskessel 3 und führt dort zu einer stetigen Verbesserung des CO₂-Anteiles.As shown in FIG. 5, the filling of the beverage 4 into the can now begins automatically when the preload valve 15 is open. The highly concentrated CO₂ atmosphere from the inside of the beverage can 2 now escapes via the return gas pipe 7 into the ring bowl 3 and there leads to a constant improvement in the CO₂ content.

Nach dem Füllen der Getränkedose 2 werden das Einfüllventil 19 und das Vorspannventil 15 geschlossen.After filling the beverage can 2, the filling valve 19 and the bias valve 15 are closed.

Wie in Fig. 6 ersichtlich ist, wird nun das Entlastungsventil 12 geöffnet, so daß der Überdruck aus der Dose und der Differenzdruckkammer 9 ins Freie entweichen kann. Dabei wird das "schlechtere" CO₂-Luftgemisch durch das "gute" CO₂-Luftgemisch aus der Dose verdrängt und in das Freie abgeblasen. Die Dose 2 kann nun entnommen und mit einem Deckel verschlossen werden.As can be seen in Fig. 6, the relief valve 12 is now opened so that the excess pressure can escape from the can and the differential pressure chamber 9 into the open. The "worse" CO₂-air mixture is replaced by the "good" CO₂-air mixture from the can and blown off into the open. The can 2 can now be removed and closed with a lid.

Aus der obigen Beschreibung wird deutlich, daß mit der erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung und dem erfindungsgemäßen Verfahren dort die höchste CO₂-Konzentration erreicht wird, wo sie auch gebraucht wird, nämlich in der Getränkedose 2. Ins Freie abgeblasen wird im wesentlichen lediglich das CO₂-Luftgemisch mit einem verhältnismäßig niedrigen CO₂-Anteil. Durch das erfindungsgemäße Verfahren wird daher nicht nur der Luftanteil in der Dose verringert, es wird gleichzeitig CO₂ eingespart.From the above description it is clear that with the device according to the invention and the method according to the invention the highest CO₂ concentration is achieved where it is also needed, namely in the beverage can 2. Blown into the open essentially only the CO₂-air mixture with a relatively low CO₂ content. The process according to the invention therefore not only reduces the proportion of air in the can, it also saves CO₂.

Obgleich sich mit dem vorbeschriebenen Verfahren CO₂-Konzentrationen in der Getränkedose 2 von über 95% erreichen lassen, kann man, wenn noch höhere Konzentrationen erwünscht sind, den anhand der Fig. 2 beschriebenen Spülvorgang auch mit CO₂-Gas durchführen.Although CO₂ concentrations in the beverage can 2 of over 95% can be achieved with the above-described method, if even higher concentrations are desired, the flushing process described with reference to FIG. 2 can also be carried out with CO₂ gas.

Claims (8)

1. Method of filling drink-cans, in which the can (2), prior to the filling of the drink (4) from a tank (3), is pre-pressurised with an inert gas to a pressure (Pc) which is slightly less than the tank pressure (Pk), the interior of the can being connected to a reservoir (9), and in which the pre-pressurisation of the can (2) to the internal pressure of the tank (Pk) is then effected through the creation of a connection between the internal atmosphere of the tank and the interior of the can, after which the filling of the drink (4) into the can is then effected, with the internal atmosphere of the can being simultaneously forced into the interior of the tank, characterised in that the can (2) is scavenged prior to the pre-pressurisation and in that the inert gas, in the pre-pressurisation, is introduced directly into the interior of the can and the gas mixture present is forced at least partially into the reservoir (9) and blown away into the open air following completion of the filling process.
2. Method according to Claim 1, in which the forcing of the internal atmosphere of the can into the interior of the tank is effected via a central return-gas pipe, characterised in that the inert gas, in the pre-pressurisation, is introduced through the return-gas pipe into the interior of the can.
3. Method according to Claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the interior of the can is scavenged with gas from the interior of the tank.
4. Method according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the interior of the can is scavenged with inert gas.
5. Method according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the interior of the can is pre-pressurised by the inert gas to a pressure (Pc) which is around 0.2 to 0.5 bar below the internal pressure of the tank (Pk).
6. Device for carrying out the method according to one of the preceding claims, having a tank (3), at least one filling element (6) connected thereto and exhibiting a filler valve (19), a return-gas pipe (7) extending from the tank (3) into the filling element (6) and having a pressurising valve (15), and with a differential-pressure chamber (9) which, during the filling process, is connected to the interior of the can and to a relief valve (12) opening out into the open air, characterised in that the interior of the can is connected via a scavenging valve (11) to a scavenging duct (13) and in that the return-gas pipe (7) is connected via an inert-gas valve (17) to an inert-gas conduit (16).
7. Device according to Claim 6, characterised in that the inert-gas valve (17) is disposed between the pressurising valve (15) and the filling element (6).
8. Device according to Claim 6 or 7, characterised in that the scavenging duct (13) is connected to a vacuum pump (14).
EP89118158A 1988-10-26 1989-09-30 Method and device for filling cans with drinks Expired - Lifetime EP0365867B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE3836489 1988-10-26
DE3836489A DE3836489A1 (en) 1988-10-26 1988-10-26 METHOD AND DEVICE FOR FILLING BEVERAGE CAN

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0365867A1 EP0365867A1 (en) 1990-05-02
EP0365867B1 true EP0365867B1 (en) 1992-03-04

Family

ID=6365967

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP89118158A Expired - Lifetime EP0365867B1 (en) 1988-10-26 1989-09-30 Method and device for filling cans with drinks

Country Status (6)

Country Link
US (2) US5000234A (en)
EP (1) EP0365867B1 (en)
JP (1) JP2615218B2 (en)
CA (1) CA2001334C (en)
DE (2) DE3836489A1 (en)
ES (1) ES2030955T3 (en)

Families Citing this family (38)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5119853A (en) * 1988-08-08 1992-06-09 H&K Inc. Apparatus for filling cans with a liquid
DE69100519T2 (en) * 1990-04-19 1994-02-17 Mitsubishi Heavy Ind Ltd Filling device.
DE4036290A1 (en) * 1990-06-06 1991-12-12 Kronseder Maschf Krones METHOD AND DEVICE FOR STERILY FILLING BEVERAGE LIQUIDS
GB2260315B (en) * 1991-10-08 1995-08-02 Guinness Brewing Worldwide A method of and apparatus for packaging a beverage in a container
DE4201698A1 (en) * 1992-01-23 1993-07-29 Seitz Enzinger Noll Masch METHOD FOR FILLING BOTTLES OR THE LIKE CONTAINER WITH A LIQUID FILLING MATERIAL AND DEVICE FOR CARRYING OUT THIS METHOD
EP0614850A1 (en) * 1993-03-10 1994-09-14 KHS Maschinen- und Anlagenbau Aktiengesellschaft Filling head for filling machines for filling bottles or similar containers with a liquid
DE4307521C2 (en) * 1993-03-10 1999-01-07 Khs Masch & Anlagenbau Ag Filling element for filling machines for filling a liquid filling material into bottles or similar containers
DE29510860U1 (en) * 1995-07-05 1995-10-12 Khs Masch & Anlagenbau Ag Filling element
DE19642987A1 (en) * 1996-10-18 1998-04-23 Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance Method and device for sterilizing and filling packaging containers
DE59706667D1 (en) * 1996-11-19 2002-04-25 Kramer & Co Oeg St Veit Process for the production and filling of liquids and beverages enriched with oxygen or an oxygen-gas mixture
IT1293960B1 (en) * 1997-06-20 1999-03-11 Mbf Spa ROTARY FILLING MACHINE FOR FILLING CONTAINERS WITH LIQUIDS
EP0900761B1 (en) * 1997-09-04 2003-11-12 Kramer & Co. OEG Method for preparing and filling of oxygen-enriched or oxygen containing gas enriched liquids and beverage prepared by such a method
DE19855975C1 (en) 1998-12-04 2000-03-30 Crown Simplimatic Inc N D Ges Pressurized beverage bottle filler has telescopic gas return tube with magnet to adjust height
US6076567A (en) * 1999-01-20 2000-06-20 Crown Simplimatic Incorporated Filling machine assembly
US6155314A (en) * 1999-01-20 2000-12-05 Crown Simplimatic Incorporated Filling machine assembly having an adjustable vent tube
US6109483A (en) * 1999-01-20 2000-08-29 Crown Simplimatic Incorporated Filling machine assembly having a moveable vent tube
DE19939521B4 (en) * 1999-03-04 2005-10-20 Khs Masch & Anlagenbau Ag Process for the low-oxygen filling of beverages
JP4352192B2 (en) 1999-11-16 2009-10-28 澁谷工業株式会社 Gas filling machine
JP4701542B2 (en) * 2001-05-31 2011-06-15 澁谷工業株式会社 Filling apparatus and filling method thereof
ITVI20010097A1 (en) 2001-06-03 2002-11-03 Mbf Spa EQUIPMENT FOR THE TRANSFER OF CONTAINERS IN PARTICULAR BOTTLES OR SIMILAR
ES2216665B1 (en) * 2002-01-30 2006-02-16 Irundin, S.L. FILLING SPOUT WITH NITROGEN APPLICATION SYSTEM AND AUTOMATIC CLEANING DEVICE FOR BOTTLING MACHINES.
WO2007016960A1 (en) * 2005-07-28 2007-02-15 Sidel Filling valve having a liquid chamber, a gas chamber and a medium chamber, and filling machine comprising the same
ATE546408T1 (en) * 2005-07-28 2012-03-15 Sidel Participations FILLING VALVE EQUIPPED WITH ERROR SENSOR
ITMO20050229A1 (en) * 2005-09-12 2007-03-13 Sig Simonazzi Spa APPARATUS
DE102006051237B4 (en) 2006-10-31 2015-09-10 Khs Gmbh Purging gas introduction in beverage cans
JP4959810B2 (en) * 2007-01-23 2012-06-27 シデル ホールディングス アンド テクノロジー エス． エー． Filling equipment
JP5198803B2 (en) * 2007-06-15 2013-05-15 ダブリュー・アール・グレイス・アンド・カンパニー−コネチカット How to seal the can
DE102008011109A1 (en) * 2008-02-26 2009-09-03 Khs Ag Filling element for filling containers with a liquid filling material, as well as filling machine
CN102351139A (en) * 2011-07-13 2012-02-15 中国轻工业机械总公司南京轻工业机械厂 Novel pop can filling valve unit
DE102013102547A1 (en) 2013-03-13 2014-09-18 Khs Gmbh Method and filling machine for filling cans or the like. Containers with a liquid product
DE102013107260A1 (en) * 2013-07-09 2015-01-15 Khs Gmbh filling system
DE102013113070B3 (en) * 2013-11-26 2015-03-19 Khs Gmbh Filling element and filling machine
DE102014104872A1 (en) * 2014-04-04 2015-10-08 Krones Ag Method and device for filling a container to be filled with a filling product
GB2535982A (en) * 2015-02-13 2016-09-07 Nerudia Ltd System and apparatus
US10464796B2 (en) 2016-05-03 2019-11-05 Codi Manufacturing, Inc. Modulated pressure control of beer fill flow
US11274023B2 (en) 2016-05-03 2022-03-15 Codi Manufacturing, Inc. Modulated pressure control of beverage fill flow
CN106395713B (en) * 2016-11-17 2019-02-05 广州达意隆包装机械股份有限公司 A kind of liquid-filling machine
DE102018131077A1 (en) * 2018-12-05 2020-06-10 Krones Ag Device and method for filling a filling product into a container to be filled in a beverage filling system

Family Cites Families (15)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
NL86661C (en) * 1950-07-13 1900-01-01
US2794453A (en) * 1955-11-14 1957-06-04 F Wenge Ets Filling heads for bottling machine
NL289225A (en) * 1962-02-24
DE1482619C3 (en) * 1965-03-31 1975-02-20 Enzinger-Union-Werke Ag, 6800 Mannheim Counter pressure filling device for filling carbonated drinking liquids into vessels
DE2202292C3 (en) * 1972-01-19 1979-05-10 Holstein Und Kappert Gmbh, 4600 Dortmund FüUorgan for counter pressure filling machines
DE2234120C3 (en) * 1972-07-12 1979-08-09 Seitz-Werke Gmbh, 6550 Bad Kreuznach Filling element with long downpipe for multi-chamber counter pressure filling machines
ZA747323B (en) * 1973-11-22 1976-07-28 L Wilksch Bottle filling means and method
DE3429314C2 (en) * 1984-08-09 1986-08-28 Krones Ag Hermann Kronseder Maschinenfabrik, 8402 Neutraubling Method and device for removing tension gas and liquid from vessels
DE3431107A1 (en) * 1984-08-24 1986-03-06 Krones Ag Hermann Kronseder Maschinenfabrik, 8402 Neutraubling METHOD AND DEVICE FOR FILLING BOTTLES OR THE LIKE
DE3439736A1 (en) * 1984-10-31 1986-04-30 Krones Ag Hermann Kronseder Maschinenfabrik, 8402 Neutraubling METHOD AND DEVICE FOR FILLING A LIQUID IN BOTTLES OR THE LIKE.
DE3606977A1 (en) * 1986-03-04 1987-09-10 Holstein & Kappert Maschf Filling valve for filling liquids such as beer, wine and the like
US4688608A (en) * 1986-04-21 1987-08-25 Figgie International, Inc. Filling valves for cans and like containers
FR2601665B1 (en) * 1986-07-21 1988-10-21 Seva SEPARATE AIR RETURN FILLING DEVICE
JPH0678088B2 (en) * 1986-09-06 1994-10-05 渋谷工業株式会社 Gas filling device
JPS6374599U (en) * 1986-11-04 1988-05-18

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CA2001334C (en) 1996-02-06
DE3836489A1 (en) 1990-05-03
JPH02242784A (en) 1990-09-27
CA2001334A1 (en) 1990-04-26
US5000234A (en) 1991-03-19
EP0365867A1 (en) 1990-05-02
JP2615218B2 (en) 1997-05-28
US5065799A (en) 1991-11-19
DE58900921D1 (en) 1992-04-09
ES2030955T3 (en) 1992-11-16

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
EP0365867B1 (en) Method and device for filling cans with drinks
DE3825093C2 (en) Method and device for filling bottles or the like in counterpressure filling machines
EP0697369B1 (en) Method for filling bottles or the like with a liquid
EP1162167B1 (en) Method and device for filling bottles, cans and similar containers with a liquid product
EP2417051B1 (en) Filling system
EP0582190B1 (en) Filling device for bottles or similar containers
EP3038971B1 (en) Method and filling system for filling containers
WO2005056464A1 (en) Filling element for a filling machine and filling machine provided with filling elements of this type
EP0953541A1 (en) Filling system and filling element
DE2518487A1 (en) METHOD AND DEVICE FOR FILLING CONTAINERS
EP1216952B1 (en) Filling machine
DE19538023A1 (en) Bottle filling and capping machine
DE102005003222A1 (en) Device for filling containers has filler pipe with standpipe with valve body on outside and gas pipe on inside which are vertically movable independent of one another to form ring chamber opening downwards
DE3431107A1 (en) METHOD AND DEVICE FOR FILLING BOTTLES OR THE LIKE
EP0953542A2 (en) Filling valve for a filling machine
DE3446501C2 (en)
DE102008030948A1 (en) Filling system for filling bottles or similar containers and filling machine
DE2454888A1 (en) BOTTLE FILLING MACHINE
DE3606977C2 (en)
EP0705788B1 (en) Method for filling bottles or similar containers with a liquid product
DE4201698A1 (en) METHOD FOR FILLING BOTTLES OR THE LIKE CONTAINER WITH A LIQUID FILLING MATERIAL AND DEVICE FOR CARRYING OUT THIS METHOD
DE2634481C3 (en) Switchable device for cleaning and degassing of containers
DE3742433A1 (en) Method and device for pouring oxygen-sensitive liquids into bottles
DE3819349C2 (en) Method and device for bottling gaseous beverages
DE102020110899A1 (en) Method for filling containers

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 19900306

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): BE DE ES FR GB IT NL

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 19910819

GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: B1

Designated state(s): BE DE ES FR GB IT NL

ET Fr: translation filed
REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 58900921

Country of ref document: DE

Date of ref document: 19920409

GBT Gb: translation of ep patent filed (gb section 77(6)(a)/1977)
ITF It: translation for a ep patent filed

Owner name: SOCIETA' ITALIANA BREVETTI S.P.A.

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: ES

Ref legal event code: FG2A

Ref document number: 2030955

Country of ref document: ES

Kind code of ref document: T3

PLBE No opposition filed within time limit

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009261

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: NO OPPOSITION FILED WITHIN TIME LIMIT

26N No opposition filed
PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: BE

Payment date: 20000920

Year of fee payment: 12

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: ES

Payment date: 20000929

Year of fee payment: 12

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: BE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20010930

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: ES

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20011001

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: IF02

BERE Be: lapsed

Owner name: KRONES A.G. HERMANN KRONSEDER MASCHINENFABRIK

Effective date: 20010930

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: ES

Ref legal event code: FD2A

Effective date: 20021011

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Payment date: 20040908

Year of fee payment: 16

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: NL

Payment date: 20040930

Year of fee payment: 16

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Payment date: 20050831

Year of fee payment: 17

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Payment date: 20050920

Year of fee payment: 17

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: NL

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20060401

Ref country code: DE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20060401

NLV4 Nl: lapsed or anulled due to non-payment of the annual fee

Effective date: 20060401

GBPC Gb: european patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 20060930

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: ST

Effective date: 20070531

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20060930

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20061002

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: IT

Payment date: 20080926

Year of fee payment: 20