EP0539791B1 - Method and apparatus for filling bottles or similar containers with a liquid product - Google Patents

Abstract

In a method and/or an apparatus for filling bottles or similar containers, the containers are rinsed out and preloaded with an inert gas in a preloading phase which precedes the filling phase. The return gas from a return gas channel is used for rinsing and the at least partial preloading. In order to keep the return gas as germ-free as possible, the containers are treated with a sterilising agent in a pretreatment phase which precedes the preloading phase. Furthermore, air and/or sterilising medium which has been forced out in the sterilising phase and/or in the preloading phase is carried off into the atmosphere or into a channel separate from the return gas channel.

Description

The invention relates to a method according to the preamble of claim 1 and to a device according to the preamble of claim 11.

Such a method and an associated device for filling a liquid, in particular carbonated product under counterpressure in bottles or similar containers are known (EP-A-0 331 137). It was also proposed to use return gas from the return gas duct of the filling machine to reduce the consumption of inert gas or CO₂ gas in the pretensioning phase for a purging and partial pretensioning of the respective container. In this known method or in this known device, however, when using the return gas, the desired quality and shelf life, in particular in the case of a sensitive or perishable filling material, cannot be achieved with sufficient certainty because of possible germs in the return gas of the return gas channel.

It is also known in principle (DE-OS 38 09 852) to treat the respective container with a sterilization medium before the pretensioning phase, this treatment, however, only serving aseptic or sterile filling of the liquid filling material and the respective container for this purpose without a sealing layer with the filling element is accommodated in a closable bell, the interior of which is initially acted upon with the sterilization medium and then, when filled, with the pressure of an inert gas or with sterile air. The volume of the bell results in a disadvantageously high consumption of inert gas or sterile air.

The object of the invention is to develop a method or a device of the type mentioned at the outset such that, while maintaining the advantage of saving inert gas, a high quality and long shelf life of the filled product can be achieved even with a sensitive product.

To achieve this object, a method according to the characterizing part of patent claim 1 and a device according to the characterizing part of patent claim 11 are formed.

In the method according to the invention, too, the purging and the partial prestressing of the respective container takes place in the prestressing phase using the return gas from the return gas channel directly. Despite the desired high quality and durability of the filled product according to the teaching of the invention, this is possible in that the containers are sufficiently sterilized at least on their inner surfaces in the pretreatment phase and at the same time it is ensured that only the return gas is led into the return gas channel, ie neither the air displaced from the respective container by the sterilization medium during the pretreatment phase, nor the sterilization medium displaced when the containers are rinsed in the pretension phase into the return gas duct. Rather, it is necessary to discharge the displaced air and the displaced sterilization medium to the atmosphere or into a duct that is completely separate from the return gas duct.

In the invention, the return gas in the return gas channel not only has a perfect microbiological state, ie the return gas is not or only to a harmless degree contaminated with bacteria and other microorganisms, but in particular an almost pure CO₂ atmosphere is also achieved in the return gas channel.

Only through the entirety of all measures of the method according to the invention is it possible to achieve considerable savings in expensive inert gas or CO₂ gas without loss of quality and durability by using the return gas.

In the invention, simply designed filling elements can be used. In particular, the invention does not require any bells on the filling elements which accommodate the containers in whole or in part.

In the case of a filling element with a filling tube, the interior of the container is preferably treated with the sterilization medium via this filling tube. In the case of a filling element without a filling tube, the interior of the container is treated with the sterilization medium preferably via a part of the return gas path which is connected to the interior, preferably via a gas duct of a gas tube, via which (return gas path) the displaced return gas is discharged during filling.

The sterilization medium is preferably saturated water vapor at a temperature of 105 to 140 ° C, preferably at a temperature of 110 ° C.

Developments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

Fig. 1

in vereinfachter Teildarstellung und im Schnitt eines der am Umfang eines um eine vertikale Drehachse umlaufenden Rotors vorgesehenen Füllelement einer Füllmaschine umlaufender Bauart, mit einem langen Füllrohr, zusammen mit einer zu füllenden Flasche;

Fig. 2

eine ähnliche Darstellung wie Fig. 1, jedoch bei einem füllrohrlosen Füllelement;

Fig. 3

in ähnlicher Darstellung wie Fig. 1 eine weitere Ausführung eines Füllelementes mit langem Füllrohr, zusammen mit einer zu füllenden Flasche.

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

Fig. 1

in a simplified partial representation and in section of one of the filling elements of a filling machine of the type provided on the circumference of a rotor rotating around a vertical axis of rotation, with a long filling tube, together with a bottle to be filled;

Fig. 2

a representation similar to Figure 1, but with a filler tube-less filler.

Fig. 3

in a representation similar to FIG. 1, a further embodiment of a filling element with a long filling tube, together with a bottle to be filled.

In FIG. 1, 1 is the filling element of a rotating machine of the rotating type, which is arranged together with further, similar filling elements 1 on the circumference of a rotor part 2 of the filling machine rotating around the vertical machine axis.

The filling element 1 essentially consists of a housing 3, which is composed of the two housing parts 3 ′ and 3 ″, of which the housing part 3 ″ forms the underside of the filling element 1. In the housing part 3 'a liquid channel 4 is formed, which is connected with its upper region to an annular channel or boiler 5 for supplying the liquid filling material and with its lower region to the upper end of a long filling pipe 6, which is coaxially with a vertical filling element axis VA is arranged and protrudes over the underside of the filling element 1.

The liquid valve 7 with the associated valve body 8 is provided in the liquid channel 4.

In the housing part 3 ″, an annular channel 9, which concentrically surrounds the filling tube 6 and the axis VA, is formed, which is open on the underside of the housing 3 and with a mouth 10 in a sealing position against the underside of the housing 3 or against one there seal 11 pressed bottle 12 is connected to the interior.

A connecting line 13 opens into the channel 9. A connecting line 14 opens into the liquid channel 4 in the flow direction behind the liquid valve 7.

In the filling element 1, two control valve devices 16 and 17 are assigned, which in the embodiment shown are each formed by a slide control device with a control housing. Each control valve device 16 and 17 has an actuating lever 18 and 19, respectively. Which interact with stationary control elements, for example with control cams or control cams, on a stationary control ring when the filling machine is rotating. In addition to the control valve devices 16 and 17, each filling element 1 is assigned a control valve 20 which has an actuating element 20 'controlled by a control device (not shown in more detail) and is, for example, a pneumatic or electric valve.

The control valve device 16 has a plurality of valves 21-25 which, in accordance with the design of the control valve device 16 as a slide control device, are implemented by at least one slide disk. In principle, however, it is also possible to implement the valves 21-25 of the control valve device 16 by means of individual valves.

The control valve device 17 has the valves 26-30, which are also realized there by at least one slide disk.

1 further shows a return gas channel 31 formed in the rotor part 2, which leads under a predetermined return gas pressure which has a high proportion of CO₂ return gas. Furthermore, a supply line 32 for fresh, pressurized CO₂ gas and a supply line 33 for saturated water vapor, i.e. for water vapor with a temperature of about 105 to 140 ° C, preferably with a temperature in the order of about 110 ° C.

All valves 21-30 have two connections, of which one connection can be referred to as an input and the other as an output. When the valve 21-30 is open, there is a flow connection between the two connections of this valve. With valve 21 blocked -30 this flow connection is interrupted. In the following description it is assumed that the valves 21-30 are in the closed state and only that valve 21-30 is open for which the open state is expressly indicated.

All valves 21-25 are connected to the connecting line 14 with their one connection, which is lower in FIG. 1. A throttle 34 is provided in the corresponding connection of the valve 24. The following connections exist with respect to the other connections of the valves 21-25 shown in FIG. 1:
Valve 21 via line 35 to connecting line 13;
Valve 22 via line 36 to supply line 33;
Valves 23 and 24 via line 37 to return gas duct 31;
Valve 25 via line 38 to supply line 32.
The lower in FIG. 1, one connections of the valves 26-29 are connected to a common line 39, which in turn is connected to the connecting line 13 via the control valve 20. The lower connection of the valve 30 in FIG. 1 is also connected to the connection line 13 via a line 40. The following connections exist with regard to the other upper connections of the valves 26-30 in FIG. 1:
Valve 26 via line 41 to the atmosphere;
Valve 27 via line 42 to supply line 33;
Valve 28 via line 43 to the atmosphere;
Valves 29 and 30 via lines 44 and 45 on line 37 and on return gas duct 31, respectively.

A throttle 34 is provided in each case in the lines 42, 43, 44 and 45.

• 1. Positionieren der Flasche 12 unter dem Füllelement 1
  Die jeweils zu füllende Flasche, auf eine Temperatur von etwa 30 bis 50 °C vorgewärmte Flasche 12 wird in der üblichen Weise, d. h. durch Anheben der aufrecht auf einem Flaschenteller 46 stehenden Flasche 12 mittels einer nicht dargestellten Hubvorrichtung, mit ihrer Mündung 10 in Dichtlage gegen das Füllelement 1 gebracht. Das lange Füllrohr 6 reicht dann im Inneren der Flasche 12 bis in die Nähe der Bodenfläche 12'.
• 2. Verdrängen der Luft aus der Flasche 12 mit Dampf
  Über die Steuerventileinrichtung 16 wird nach dem Anpressen und Abdichten der Flasche 12 am Füllelement 1 ein voller Dampfstrom über die Anschlußleitung 14 in das Füllrohr 6 geleitet. Gleichzeitig wird die Anschlußleitung 13 über die Steuerventileinrichtung 17 mit der Atmosphäre verbunden. Die sich in der Flasche 12 befindliche Luft wird dabei durch den am unteren Ende des langen Füllrohres 6 in den Innenraum der Flasche 12 eintretenden Dampf aus der Flasche 12 zur Atmosphäre hin verdrängt.
  Hierfür sind die Ventile 22 und 26 sowie auch das Steuerventil 20 geöffnet. Da das Steuerventil 20 in dem Strömungs- oder Gasweg liegt, über welchen zunächst die verdrängte Luft und später auch Wasserdampf aus dem Inneren der Flasche 12 zur Atmosphäre hin verdrängt wird, kann mit Hilfe des Steuerventiles 20 die Dauer dieser Behandlung optimal gesteuert werden, und zwar unabhängig von der Drehzahl des Füllers in einer Weise, daß am Ende dieses Verfahrensschrittes bei minimalem Dampfverbrauch in der Flasche 12 eine annähernd reine Dampfatmosphäre vorhanden ist.
• 3. Sterilisieren der Flasche 12 mit Sattdampf
  Nach dem Verdrängen der vorhandenen Luft aus der Flasche wird das Steuerventil 20 geschlossen. Das Ventil 22 bleibt weiterhin geöffnet, so daß sich in der Flasche 12 der in der Versorgungsleitung 33 eingestellte bzw. eingeregelte Sattdampfdruck einstellt. Dieser Zustand wird über eine vorgegebene Zeitperiode bzw. Sterilisationszeit aufrechterhalten, die der gewünschten Sterilisations- bzw. Abtötungsrate entspricht.
• 4. Ablassen des Dampfdruckes aus der Flasche 12
  Nach Ablauf der Sterilisationszeit wird das Ventil 22 geschlossen und bei wiedergeöffnetem oder noch geöffnetem Ventil 26 auch das Steuerventil 20 geöffnet, so daß der Dampfüberdruck in der Flasche 12 zur Atmosphäre hin entlastet bzw. abgelassen wird.
  Das Ablassen des Dampfdruckes könnte grundsätzlich auch dadurch erfolgen, daß die Flasche 12 mittels des Flaschentellers 46 und der zugehörigen Hubeinrichtung kurz gegenüber dem Füllelement 1 abgesenkt wird, so daß der Dampfüberdruck über die Mündung 10 der Flasche 12 zur Atmosphäre hin entweichen kann. Dieser alternative Verfahrensschritt hat den Vorteil, daß durch den heißen Wasserdampf, der beim Ablassen des Dampfdruckes entweicht, die Mündung 10 und auch die die Anlageflächen für die Mündung 10 bildenden Bereiche der Dichtung 11 sterilisiert werden.
• 5. Verdrängen des Dampfes aus der Flasche 12
  Nach dem Ablassen des Dampfdruckes wird bei in Dichtlage mit dem Füllelement 1 befindlicher Flasche 12 das Füllrohr 6 über die Steuerventileinrichtung 16 mit dem Rückgaskanal 31 verbunden. Hierfür ist das Ventil 24 der Steuerventileinrichtung 1 geöffnet. Gleichzeitig ist auch das Ventil 26 geöffnet, so daß nach dem Öffnen des Steuerventiles 20 aus dem Rückgaskanal 31 über die Anschlußleitung 14 und das Füllrohr 6 Rückgas in das Innere der Flasche 12 strömt, um dadurch den in der Flasche 12 vorhandenen Wasserdampf über die Anschlußleitung 13 zur Atmosphäre hin zu verdrängen. Auch dieser Verfahrensschritt wird durch das Steuerventil 20 unabhängig von der Drehzahl des Füllers gesteuert, beispielsweise zeitgesteuert, und zwar derart, daß sich bei einer optimalen Verdrängung sämtlicher Dampfreste ein Minimum an Rückgasverbrauch ergibt.
• 6. Teilweises Vorspannung der Flasche 12 mit CO₂-Gas bzw. Rückgas aus dem Rückgaskanal 31
  Nach Ablauf der Verdrängungszeit wird das Steuerventil 20 geschlossen, so daß sich bei weiterhin geöffnetem Ventil 24 ein Druckausgleich zwischen dem Rückgaskanal 31 und dem Innenraum der Flasche 12 ergibt, d.h. im Innenraum der Flasche 12 stellt sich in etwa der Druck des Rückgaskanales 31 ein.
  Dieses teilweise Vorspannen der Flasche 12 erfolgt somit unter Verwendung des CO₂-Gases bzw. Rückgases aus dem Rückgaskanal 31, d.h. für dieses teilweise Vorspannen wird ein CO₂-Gas verwendet, welches während des Füllens einer anderen, vorgespannten Flasche 12 verdrängt wird oder wurde. Hierdurch wird der Verbrauch an CO₂-Gas drastisch reduziert.
  Das teilweise Vorspannen mit CO₂-Gas aus dem Rückgaskanal 31 ist insbesondere deswegen möglich, weil jede zu füllende Flasche 12 zumindest an ihren Innenflächen, aber auch das Füllrohr 6 vor dem Füllen einer Flasche durch den Wasserdampf zuverlässig sterilisiert sind und der als Sterilisationsmedium dienende Wasserdampf nicht in den Rückgaskanal 31, sondern zur Atmosphäre hin abgeleitet wird.
  Hierdurch ist sichergestellt, daß beim Füllen einer Flasche 12 mit dem dabei aus dieser Flasche 12 verdrängten CO₂-Gas keine Keime in den Rückgaskanal 31 gelangen, d.h. das in diesem Rückgaskanal 31 vorhandene Rückgas absolut keimfrei ist bzw. Keime allenfalls nur in so geringer Anzahl enthält, daß hierdurch trotz der Teilvorspannung mit Rückgas die Qualität und Lagerfähigkeit des in die jeweilige Flasche 12 abgefüllten Füllgutes nicht beeinträchtigt werden.
• 7. Endgültiges Vorspannen der Flasche 12 mit frischem CO₂-Gas
  Nach dem teilweise Vorspannen mit Rückgas erfolgt dann das endgültige Vorspannen unter Verwendung von frischem CO₂-Gases aus der Versorgungsleitung 32. Hierfür ist das Ventil 25 geöffnet.
  Soweit abweichend von der Fig. 1 keine gesonderte Versorgungsleitung 32 für frisches CO₂-Gas vorhanden ist, sondern das Rotorteil 2 einen mit dem flüssigen Füllgut nur teilgefüllten Kessel bzw. Ringbehälter bildet, bei dem der über dem Spiegel des flüssigen Füllgutes liegende Innenraum mit unter Druck stehendem CO₂-Gas ausgefüllt ist, erfolgt das endgültige Vorspannen selbstverständlich unter Verwendung des CO₂-Gases aus diesem Gasraum des Ringbehälters.
• 8. Füllen der Flasche 12
  Nach erfolgter Vorspannung wird in üblicher Weise durch Öffnen des Flüssigkeitsventils 7 die eigentliche Füllphase eingeleitet. Hierfür sind die Ventile 29 und 30 geöffnet, wobei zunächst das Steuerventil 20 für eine Anfüllphase mit niedrigerer Füllgeschwindigkeit geschlossen ist. In einer Schnellfüllphase wird das Steuerventil 20 dann geöffnet. In einer anschließenden Brems- und Korrekturphase wird das Steuerventil 20 wieder geschlossen.
• 9. Entlasten der gefüllten Flasche 12
  Nach Beendigung der Füllphase erfolgt in üblicher Weise das Entlasten der Flasche 12. Hierbei wird vorzugsweise zunächst eine Vorentlastung und Beruhigung auf den Rückgasdruck vorgenommen, und zwar über das geöffnete Ventil 30 und die in der Leitung 45 angeordnete Drossel 34.
  Im Anschluß erfolgt dann eine endgültige Entlastung auf Atmosphärendruck. Hierfür sind das Ventil 28, aber auch das Steuerventil 20 geöffnet. Dies bedeutet, daß diese endgültige Entlastung ebenfalls unabhängig von der Drehzahl des Füllers von der das Steuerventil 20 ansteuernden Steuereinrichtung optimal geregelt werden kann.
• 10. Absenken der gefüllten Flasche 12
  Gleichzeitig oder annähernd gleichzeitig mit dem Abziehen bzw. Absenken der gefüllten Flasche 12 wird über die Steuerventileinrichtung 16 eine Verbindung zwischen den Anschlußleitungen 13 und 14 hergestellt, d.h. das Ventil 21 wird geöffnet. Das im Füllrohr 6 befindliche Füllgut wird damit während des Absenkens der Flasche 12 in diese entleert. Gleichzeitig wird über die Steuerventileinrichtung 17 ein reduzierter Dampfstrom in den ringförmigen Kanal 9 des Füllelementes 1 eingestellt. Hierfür ist neben dem Ventil 27 auch das Steuerventil 20 geöffnet, mit welchem diese Beaufschlagung mit reduziertem Dampfstrom wiederum unabhängig von der Drehzahl des Füllers gesteuert wird. Der aus dem Kanal 9 nach unten austretende Dampfstrom bewirkt eine zusätzliche Sterilisation der Mündung 10 sowie des Füllelementes 1 insbesondere im Bereich der Dichtung 11. Weiterhin wird durch den aus den Kanal 9 nach unten austretende Dampfstrom auch wirksam verhindert, daß eventuelle Keime aus der Umgebungsluft in die gefüllte Flasche 12 gelangen könnten.
  Da weiterhin über die Steuerventileinrichtung 16 eine Verbindung zwischen den Anschlußleitungen 13 und 14 besteht, tritt dann, wenn sich beim Absenken der Flasche 12 das Füllrohr 6 mit seinem unteren Ende aus dem Füllgut herausbewegt hat, auch Dampf aus diesem unteren Ende des Füllrohres 6 aus.
  Die Flasche 12 wird dann anschließend unter Aufrechterhaltung beider Dampfströmungen (Dampfstrom aus Kanal 9 und Dampfstrom aus Füllrohr 6) in einen Übergabetunnel überführt, über den die gefüllte Flasche 12 zum Verschließer transportiert und in dem die Flasche ständig mit Dampf beaufschlagt wird
  Nach der Übergabe der Flasche 12 an den Übergabetunnel wird bei geöffneten Ventilen 21, 27 und 20 der reduzierte Dampfstrom für eine zusätzliche Sterilisation des Füllelementes 1, insbesondere im Bereich des Füllrohres 6, der Dichtung 11, Zentriertulpe usw. aufrechterhalten.
  Anstelle einer Beaufschlagung der gefüllten Flasche 12 bzw. des Halses dieser Flasche über das Füllrohr 6 mittels reduziertem Dampf kann auch eine Beaufschlagung in der Flasche 12 mit CO₂-Gas erfolgen. In diesem Fall wird dann, wenn das untere Ende des Füllrohres 6 beim Absenken der Flasche 12 aus dem Spiegel des Füllgutes ausgetreten ist, über die Steuerventileinrichtung 16 eine Verbindung mit dem Rückgaskanal 31 hergestellt. Hierfür sind dann lediglich die Ventile 23 und 27 geöffnet, die dem Ventil 23 zugeordnete Drossel 34 sorgt für eine Begrenzung der Menge an CO₂-Gas. Bei geöffnetem Ventil 27 tritt weiterhin an der unteren, offenen Seite des Kanals 9 ein reduzierter Dampfstrom aus.

With the design described, the following procedure is possible when filling the bottle 12 with the liquid contents:

• 1. Position the bottle 12 under the filling element 1
  The bottle 12 to be filled in each case, preheated to a temperature of approximately 30 to 50 ° C., is countered with its mouth 10 in a sealing position in the usual manner, ie by lifting the bottle 12 standing upright on a bottle plate 46 by means of a lifting device (not shown) brought the filling element 1. The long filling tube 6 then extends inside the bottle 12 to near the bottom surface 12 '.
• 2. Displacing the air from the bottle 12 with steam
  After the bottle 12 is pressed and sealed on the filling element 1, a full steam flow is passed via the control valve device 16 into the filling pipe 6 via the connecting line 14. At the same time, the connecting line 13 is connected to the atmosphere via the control valve device 17. The air in the bottle 12 is displaced from the bottle 12 to the atmosphere by the steam entering the interior of the bottle 12 at the lower end of the long filling tube 6.
  For this purpose, the valves 22 and 26 and also the control valve 20 are open. Since the control valve 20 lies in the flow or gas path, via which the displaced air and later also water vapor is first displaced from the inside of the bottle 12 to the atmosphere, the duration of this treatment can be optimally controlled with the help of the control valve 20 irrespective of the speed of the filler in such a way that at the end of this process step an almost pure steam atmosphere is present in the bottle 12 with minimal steam consumption.
• 3. Sterilize bottle 12 with saturated steam
  After the existing air has been displaced from the bottle, the control valve 20 is closed. The valve 22 remains open, so that the saturated steam pressure set or regulated in the supply line 33 is established in the bottle 12. This state is maintained over a predetermined period of time or sterilization time which corresponds to the desired sterilization or mortality rate.
• 4. Release the vapor pressure from the bottle 12
  After the sterilization time has elapsed, the valve 22 is closed and, when the valve 26 is open or still open, the control valve 20 is also opened, so that the vapor overpressure in the bottle 12 is released or released to the atmosphere.
  The release of the vapor pressure could in principle also take place in that the bottle 12 is briefly lowered relative to the filling element 1 by means of the bottle plate 46 and the associated lifting device, so that the vapor overpressure can escape to the atmosphere via the mouth 10 of the bottle 12. This alternative method step has the advantage that the mouth 10 and also the regions of the seal 11 forming the contact surfaces for the mouth 10 are sterilized by the hot water vapor that escapes when the vapor pressure is released.
• 5. Displacing the steam from the bottle 12
  After the vapor pressure has been released, with the bottle 12 in the sealing position with the filling element 1, the filling tube 6 is connected to the return gas channel 31 via the control valve device 16. For this, the valve 24 of the control valve device 1 is open. At the same time the valve 26 is open, so that after opening the Control valves 20 from the return gas channel 31 via the connecting line 14 and the filling pipe 6 return gas flows into the interior of the bottle 12, thereby displacing the water vapor present in the bottle 12 via the connecting line 13 to the atmosphere. This method step is also controlled by the control valve 20 independently of the speed of the filler, for example time-controlled, in such a way that, with an optimal displacement of all steam residues, there is a minimum of return gas consumption.
• 6. Partial prestressing of the bottle 12 with CO₂ gas or return gas from the return gas channel 31
  After the displacement time has elapsed, the control valve 20 is closed, so that, with the valve 24 still open, there is pressure equalization between the return gas channel 31 and the interior of the bottle 12, ie the pressure of the return gas channel 31 is approximately established in the interior of the bottle 12.
  This partial prestressing of the bottle 12 thus takes place using the CO₂ gas or return gas from the return gas channel 31, ie a CO₂ gas is used for this partial prestressing, which is or has been displaced during the filling of another, prestressed bottle 12. This drastically reduces the consumption of CO₂ gas.
  The partial prestressing with CO₂ gas from the return gas channel 31 is possible in particular because each bottle 12 to be filled is reliably sterilized at least on its inner surfaces, but also the filling tube 6 before the filling of a bottle by the water vapor and the water vapor serving as the sterilization medium is not in the return gas channel 31, but is derived to the atmosphere.
  This ensures that when a bottle 12 is filled with the CO₂ gas displaced from this bottle 12, no germs get into the return gas channel 31, ie the return gas present in this return gas channel 31 is absolutely germ-free or contains germs at most in such a small number that this does not affect the quality and shelf life of the contents filled into the respective bottle 12 despite the partial prestressing with return gas.
• 7. Final prestressing of bottle 12 with fresh CO₂ gas
  After the partial prestressing with return gas, the final prestressing then takes place using fresh CO₂ gas from the supply line 32. The valve 25 is open for this.
  As far as deviating from FIG. 1, there is no separate supply line 32 for fresh CO₂ gas, but the rotor part 2 forms a vessel or ring container that is only partially filled with the liquid filling material, in which the interior lying above the level of the liquid filling material is under pressure standing CO₂ gas is filled, the final prestressing of course takes place using the CO₂ gas from this gas space of the ring container.
• 8. Filling the bottle 12
  After prestressing, the actual filling phase is initiated in the usual way by opening the liquid valve 7. For this purpose, the valves 29 and 30 are open, the control valve 20 being closed for a filling phase with a lower filling speed. The control valve 20 is then opened in a rapid filling phase. In a subsequent braking and correction phase, the control valve 20 is closed again.
• 9. Relieve the filled bottle 12
  After the filling phase has ended, the bottle 12 is relieved in the usual way. In this case, a preliminary relief and calming to the return gas pressure is preferably carried out first, namely via the opened valve 30 and the throttle 34 arranged in line 45.
  Then there is a final relief to atmospheric pressure. For this, the valve 28, but also the control valve 20 are open. This means that this final relief can also be optimally controlled independently of the speed of the filler by the control device controlling the control valve 20.
• 10.Lower the filled bottle 12
  Simultaneously or approximately simultaneously with the withdrawal or lowering of the filled bottle 12, a connection between the connecting lines 13 and 14 is established via the control valve device 16, ie the valve 21 is opened. The filling material located in the filling tube 6 is thus emptied into the bottle 12 while it is being lowered. At the same time, a reduced steam flow is set in the annular channel 9 of the filling element 1 via the control valve device 17. For this purpose, in addition to the valve 27, the control valve 20 is also opened, with which this application of reduced steam flow is in turn controlled independently of the filler speed. The steam flow exiting downward from the channel 9 effects an additional sterilization of the mouth 10 and of the filling element 1, in particular in the area of the seal 11 also effectively prevents any germs from the ambient air from getting into the filled bottle 12.
  Since there is still a connection between the connecting lines 13 and 14 via the control valve device 16, when the lowering of the bottle 12 the filling pipe 6 has moved out of the filling material with its lower end, steam also emerges from this lower end of the filling pipe 6.
  The bottle 12 is then transferred, while maintaining both steam flows (steam flow from channel 9 and steam flow from filling tube 6), into a transfer tunnel, via which the filled bottle 12 is transported to the capper and in which steam is constantly applied to the bottle
  After the bottle 12 has been transferred to the transfer tunnel, the reduced steam flow for additional sterilization of the filling element 1, in particular in the area of the filling tube 6, the seal 11, centering tulip, etc., is maintained when the valves 21, 27 and 20 are open.
  Instead of applying the filled bottle 12 or the neck of this bottle via the filler tube 6 by means of reduced steam, it is also possible to apply CO₂ gas in the bottle 12. In this case, when the lower end of the filling tube 6 emerges from the level of the filling material when the bottle 12 is lowered, a connection to the return gas channel 31 is established via the control valve device 16. For this purpose, only the valves 23 and 27 are open, the throttle 34 assigned to the valve 23 ensures a limitation of the amount of CO₂ gas. When the valve 27 is open, a reduced steam flow continues to emerge on the lower, open side of the channel 9.

2 shows, as a further possible embodiment, a filling element 47 without a filling tube, which is arranged together with a large number of further filling elements on the rotor part 48 of the filling machine which rotates around the vertical machine axis. A liquid channel 50 with the liquid valve 51 or the associated valve body 52 is provided in the housing 49 of the filling element 47. The liquid channel 50 is connected to a ring bowl 53 formed in the rotor part 48, which is only partially filled with the liquid filling material, so that a gas space 54 for fresh, pressurized CO₂ gas results in the ring bowl 53 above the level of the liquid filling material . In the direction of flow downstream of the liquid valve 51, the liquid channel 50 on the underside of the filling element 47 forms an annular outlet opening 56 concentrically surrounding the filling element axis VA and a gas pipe 55 connected to the valve body 52, via which, during the filling phase with the liquid valve 51 open, the liquid filling material in the sealed position flows with the filling element 47 located bottle 12. A seal 58 is provided on a centering tulip 57 for tightly pressing the mouth 10 of the bottle 12 against the filling element 47.

The gas pipe 55, which is open at its lower end, forms a gas channel 59 which extends through the valve body 52 and through an actuating device (not shown) for the liquid valve 51 into a space 60.

The filling element 47 is in turn assigned two control valve devices 70 and 71 which form different valves 61-69. Of these control valve devices 70 and 71, which in turn are designed as slide control devices and interact with their actuating levers 72 with stationary control elements, the control valve device 70 has the valves 61-66 and the control valve device 71 has the valves 67-69.

In addition to the control valve devices 70 and 71, the control valve 73 corresponding to the control valve 20 and actuated by the control device (not shown) is provided for each filler element 47, but is assigned to the control valve device 70.

Provided on the rotor part 48 is a return gas channel 74 corresponding to the return gas channel 31 and a supply line 75 corresponding to the supply line 33 for saturated water vapor.

The valves 61-69 each have two connections, between which there is a flow connection when the valve is open. When valve 61 -69 is blocked, this flow connection is interrupted.

The individual connections to the valves 61-69 and their connections are as follows:
The valves 61 and 62 are connected with their lower connection in FIG. 2 to a connecting line 76 which is connected to the space 60. The valves 63-66 are connected with their lower connections in FIG. 2 to a common line 77 which is connected to the connecting line 76 via the control valve 73. With regard to the upper connections of the valves 61-66 in FIG. 2, the following connections exist:
Valves 61 and 63 via a line 78 to gas space 54;
Valves 62 and 64 via line 79 to return gas duct 74;
Valves 65 and 66 via line 80 to supply line 75.

The lower connections of the valves 67-69 in FIG. 2 are connected to a connecting line 81 which opens into the liquid channel 50 in the flow direction behind the liquid valve 51 and in front of the outlet opening 56. The following connections exist with regard to the upper connections of the valves 67-69 in FIG. 2:
Valve 67 via line 82 to atmosphere;
Valve 68 via line 83 to line 80;
Valve 69 via line 84 to the atmosphere.

In the connections of the valve 62 with the supply line 67, the valves 63 and 65 with the line 77 and the valves 67 and 68 with the connecting line 81, throttles 85 corresponding to the throttle 34 are arranged.

The filler element 47 also has a probe 86 for controlling the fill level. This probe 86, which is arranged coaxially with the axis VA, is enclosed by the annular gas channel 59.

• 1. Positionieren der Flasche 12 unter dem Füllelement 47
  Die Flasche 12 wird hierbei unter Verwendung der Dichtung 58 in Dichtlage mit dem Füllelement 47 gebracht.
• 2. Verdrängen der Luft aus der Flasche 12 mit Dampf
  Bei geöffneten Ventilen 66 und 69 erfolgt dieses Verdrängen gesteuert durch das Steuerventil 73, und zwar unabhängig von der Drehgeschwindigkeit der Füllmaschine. Das Steuerventil 73 wird hierzu während einer vorgegebenen Verdrängungsdauer geöffnet, so daß über den Gaskanal 59 des Rückgasrohres 55 gesättigter Wasserdampf aus der Versorgungsleitung 75 in das Innere der Flasche 12 einströmt und zunächst die verdrängte Luft und anschließend auch Wasserdampf über die Verbindungsleitung 81 zur Atmosphäre hin verdrängt wird.
• 3. Sterilisieren der Flasche 12 mit Sattdampf
  Nach Abschluß der Verdrängungsphase erfolgt das Sterilisieren der Flasche 12 mit Sattdampf. Hierfür ist das Ventil 69 geschlossen und bei geöffnetem Ventil 66 wird auch das Steuerventil 73 für eine vorgegebene Sterilisationsdauer geöffnet.
• 4. Ablassen des Dampfdruckes aus der Flasche 12
  Nach Ablauf der Sterilisationszeit wird das Steuerventil 73 geschlossen. Zum Ablassen des Dampfdruckes wird nunmehr das Ventil 69 geöffnet.
  Alternativ kann hierzu die Flasche 12 geringfügig und kurzzeitig vom Füllelement 47 abgesenkt werden, mit dem Vorteil eines Sterilisationseffektes der Mündung 10 sowie der Dichtung 58.
• 5. Verdrängen des Dampfes aus der Flasche 12
  Bei geöffneten Ventilen 64 und 69 wird das Steuerventil 73 für eine vorgegebene Zeit und wiederum unabhängig von der Drehzahl des Füllers geöffnet. Hierdurch wird der Gaskanal 59 mit dem Rückgaskanal 74 verbunden, wobei gleichzeitig der Innenraum der Flasche 12 über die Verbindungsleitung 81 und das geöffnete Ventil 69 zur Atmosphäre hin offen ist, so daß durch das aus dem Rückgaskanal 74 zuströmende Rückgas bzw. CO₂-Gas der in der Flasche 12 vorhandene Dampf zur Atmosphäre hin verdrängt wird. Dieser Verfahrensschritt wird durch Schließen des Ventiles 73 beendet.
  Die Öffnungszeit des Ventiles 73 ist wiederum so gewählt, daß bei einem minimalen Verbrauch an CO₂-Gas eine möglichst vollständige Verdrängung des Dampfes aus der Flasche 12 erfolgt.
• 6. Teilvorspannung der Flasche 12 mit CO₂-Gas aus dem Rückgaskanal 74
  Hierfür wird das Ventil 69 geschlossen. Bei geöffnetem Ventil 64 wird das Steuerventil 73 geöffnet, so daß sich im Inneren der Flasche 12 ein dem Druck im Rückgaskanal 74 entsprechender Druck aufbaut. Für dieses teilweise Vorspannen wird wiederum CO₂-Gas aus dem Rückgaskanal 74 verwendet. Dies ist auch bei der Ausführung nach Fig. 2 dadurch möglich, daß jede zu füllende Flasche 12 vor dem Füllen mit Sattdampf sterilisiert wird und darüber hinaus in keinem Verfahrensschritt der Dampf in den Rückgaskanal 74 abgeleitet wird.

With the design shown in FIG. 2, a process sequence when filling the bottles 12 is possible, which is equivalent to the process sequence described above in connection with FIG. 1, that is to say once again has the process steps specified below:

• 1. Position the bottle 12 under the filling element 47
  The bottle 12 is brought into a sealing position with the filling element 47 using the seal 58.
• 2. Displacing the air from the bottle 12 with steam
  When the valves 66 and 69 are open, this displacement is controlled by the control valve 73, regardless of the speed of rotation of the filling machine. For this purpose, the control valve 73 is opened during a predetermined displacement period, so that saturated water vapor flows from the supply line 75 into the interior of the bottle 12 via the gas channel 59 of the return gas tube 55 and first displaces the displaced air and then also water vapor via the connecting line 81 to the atmosphere becomes.
• 3. Sterilize bottle 12 with saturated steam
  After the displacement phase has ended, the bottle 12 is sterilized with saturated steam. For this purpose, the valve 69 is closed and, when the valve 66 is open, the control valve 73 is also opened for a predetermined sterilization period.
• 4. Release the vapor pressure from the bottle 12
  After the sterilization time has elapsed, the control valve 73 is closed. To release the vapor pressure, valve 69 is now opened.
  Alternatively, the bottle 12 can be lowered slightly and briefly from the filling element 47, with the advantage of a sterilization effect of the mouth 10 and the seal 58.
• 5. Displacing the steam from the bottle 12
  When the valves 64 and 69 are open, the control valve 73 is opened for a predetermined time and again regardless of the speed of the filler. As a result, the gas channel 59 is connected to the return gas channel 74, and at the same time the interior of the bottle 12 is open to the atmosphere via the connecting line 81 and the open valve 69, so that the return gas or CO₂ gas flowing in from the return gas channel 74 the bottle 12 existing steam is displaced to the atmosphere. This process step is ended by closing the valve 73.
  The opening time of the valve 73 is again selected so that the steam is displaced as completely as possible from the bottle 12 with a minimal consumption of CO₂ gas.
• 6. Partial bias of the bottle 12 with CO₂ gas from the return gas channel 74
  For this, the valve 69 is closed. When the valve 64 is open, the control valve 73 is opened so that a pressure corresponding to the pressure in the return gas channel 74 builds up in the interior of the bottle 12. For this partial prestressing, CO₂ gas from the return gas duct 74 is in turn used. This is also possible in the embodiment according to FIG. 2 in that each bottle 12 to be filled is sterilized before being filled with saturated steam and, moreover, the steam is not diverted into the return gas duct 74 in any process step.

After the partial prestressing of the bottle 12 with the CO₂ gas from the return gas duct 74, the method steps 7 to 10 already mentioned in connection with FIG. 1 take place in an analogous manner, the control valve 73 for controlling the filling speed during the filling phase as well is used to control the reduced steam flow when the bottle 2 is pulled off the filling element 47.

During the final prestressing with the fresh CO₂ gas from the gas space 54, the valve 61 is opened. When filling, in addition to the filling valve 51, the valves 62 and 64 are also opened, the control valve 73 being opened during the rapid filling phase lying between the filling phase and the braking phase. The pre-relieving of the filled bottle 12 takes place in turn at the pressure of the return gas channel 74, namely by opening the valve 62. The final relieving to atmospheric pressure takes place by opening the valve 67. For the treatment of the filled bottle 12 with reduced steam flow when withdrawing, open Valves 65 and 68 also open the control valve 73 for a predetermined period of time. The control valve 73 controls the steam flow emerging from the lower end of the return gas pipe 55. Instead of the steam stream emerging from the return gas pipe 55, here too again a treatment of the bottle 12 (throat fumigation) with CO₂ gas from the return gas channel 74. For this purpose, valve 64 is opened, for example.

The devices described above and the methods which are possible with them thus have the following advantages, among others:
The control valve 20, 73 enables optimum control of the respective amount of steam or return gas, regardless of the speed of the filling machine. Here, one and the same control valve 20, 73 can be used in successive process steps for different media (steam or CO₂ gas) and for different functions.
The decisive advantage is that by pretreating each bottle 12 with the steam in the return gas channel 31, 74 an approximately pure CO₂ atmosphere is obtained and also that the CO₂ gas discharged into the return gas channel and present there has a microbiologically perfect state, so that this CO₂ gas can be used again for the partial prestressing of the bottles 12 without the CO₂ gas having to be prepared from the return gas channel 31 beforehand.

Fig. 3 shows a filling element 1a on the rotating rotor part 2a, which is an annular channel or bowl 5a, which differs from the ring bowl 5 of Fig. 1 essentially in that it is only filled to a predetermined level with the liquid contents is, so that there is a gas space 67 above the product level, which is connected via a connecting line 88 to the supply line 32 formed on the rotor part 2a for fresh CO₂ gas under pressure.

The supply line 33 for water vapor, the return gas duct 31 and additionally also a collecting duct 89 are also provided on the rotor part 2a.

Instead of the two control valve devices 16 and 17, only one control valve device 90, again designed as a slide control device, is assigned to each filling element 1 a, which essentially corresponds to the filling element 1 of FIG. 1, which, with its actuating lever, rotates with the stationary control elements when the filling machine rotates cooperates. Each control valve device 90 has the control valve 20 and, in a connecting line 92, with which the control valve device 90 is connected to the supply line 33 for steam, also a pneumatically or electrically actuable control valve 91. With this control valve 91, the control (shut-off and release) of the steam takes place in the individual treatment phases, so that the control valve device 90 or its slide valve can be used exclusively for the other control functions and therefore only a single control valve device 90 is required. Furthermore, the control of the valve 91 is preferably carried out such that this valve is opened with steam at the beginning of the respective treatment phase and closed again at the end of this treatment phase, but the valve 91 is in any case forced to close after a predetermined period of time, so that For example, when a machine is at a standstill, steam is largely avoided at filling elements which are in a position corresponding to a steam treatment. Furthermore, the control of the valve 91 can also take place in such a way that this valve is prevented from opening if there is no bottle 12 or a defective bottle 12 on the filling element 1 a.

• 1. Positionieren der Flasche unter dem Füllelement 1a und Vorspülen der Flasche 12 mit Dampf
  Hierfür ist die zu füllende Flasche 12 in der üblichen Weise, d.h. durch Anheben mittels des Flaschentellers 46 so positioniert, daß sie mit ihrer Mündung 10 zwar gegen die Dichtung 11 bzw. die Zentrierpunkte 11' anliegt, letztere aber von der Unterseite des Füllelements 1a bzw. von einer dortigen Dichtung beabstandet ist.
  Bei geöffnetem Steuerventil 91 und geschlossenem Ventil 20 erfolgt über die Steuerventileinrichtung 90 ein reduzierter Dampfstrom an das Füllrohr 6 und an den Kanal 9, und zwar über eine in der Steuerventileinrichtung 90 vorgesehene Drossel. Mit diesem reduzierten Dampfstrom erfolgt das Vorspülen im Inneren der Flasche 12sowie gleichzeitig auch ein Sterilisieren der Unterseite des Füllelements 1a und der Oberseite der Zentriertulpe 11'.
• 2. Verdrängen von Luft-Resten aus der Flasche 12 mit Dampf
  Mit diesem Verfahrensschritt wird bei geöffnetem Steuerventil 91 über die Steuerventileinrichtung 90 und das Füllrohr 6 Dampf in die in Dichtlage mit dem Füllelement 1a gebrachte Flasche 12 eingeleitet. Über das geöffnete Steuerventil 20 wird die verdrängte Luft sowie auch der Dampf in den Sammelkanal 89 abgeleitet.
• 3. Sterilisieren der Flasche 12 mit Sattdampf
  Hierfür wird gegenüber dem vorausgehenden Verfahrensschritt lediglich das Steuerventil 20 geschlossen, so daß der Innenraum der Flasche 12 weiterhin über das Füllrohr 6 mit dem heißen Dampf (ca. 110° C) bzw. mit einem Dampfdruck (ca. 0,8 bar) beaufschlagt ist.
• 4. Sterilisieren der Zentriertulpe 11' und der Mündung 10
  Für diesen Verfahrensschritt werden die Zentriertulpe 11' (durch eine mit einer Steuerkurve zusammenwirkende und an Führungsstangen vorgesehene Rolle 93) und der Flaschenteller 46 (durch eine Hubeinrichtung) gesteuert derart abgesenkt, daß sich zwischen der Unterseite des Füllelements 1a und der Zentriertulpe 11' sowie auch zwischen der Mündung 10 und der Dichtung 11 jeweils ein ausreichend breiter Ringspalt ergibt, aus welchem bei weiterhin geöffnetem Steuerventil 91 und geschlossenem Steuerventil 20 Dampf austritt, der eine Sterilisation der Unterseite des Füllelementes 1a, der Zentriertulpe 11' und der Mündung 10 bewirkt.

The following procedure for filling the bottle 12 is possible with the filling element 1a, this procedure essentially corresponding to the procedure as described above for the filling element 1:

• 1. Position the bottle under the filling element 1a and rinse the bottle 12 with steam
  For this purpose, the bottle 12 to be filled is positioned in the usual way, ie by lifting by means of the bottle plate 46, so that its mouth 10 lies against the seal 11 or the centering points 11 ', but the latter from the underside of the filling element 1a or is spaced from a seal there.
  When the control valve 91 is open and the valve 20 is closed, a reduced steam flow to the filling pipe 6 and to the channel 9 takes place via the control valve device 90, specifically via a throttle provided in the control valve device 90. With this reduced steam flow, the pre-rinsing takes place inside the bottle 12 and at the same time the bottom side of the filling element 1a and the top side of the centering tulip 11 'are sterilized.
• 2. Displacement of air residues from the bottle 12 with steam
  With this method step, with the control valve 91 open, steam is introduced via the control valve device 90 and the filling pipe 6 into the bottle 12 brought into the sealing position with the filling element 1 a. The displaced air and also the steam are discharged into the collecting duct 89 via the opened control valve 20.
• 3. Sterilize bottle 12 with saturated steam
  For this purpose, only the control valve 20 is closed compared to the preceding method step, so that the interior of the bottle 12 continues to be supplied with the hot steam (approx. 110 ° C.) or with a steam pressure (approx. 0.8 bar) via the filling pipe 6 .
• 4. Sterilize the centering tulip 11 'and the mouth 10
  For this process step, the centering bell 11 '(by a roller 93 cooperating with a control cam and provided on guide rods) and the bottle plate 46 (by a lifting device) are lowered in such a way that there is between the underside of the filling element 1a and the centering bell 11' and also between the mouth 10 and the seal 11 each results in a sufficiently wide annular gap, from which, with the control valve 91 still open and the control valve 20 closed, steam escapes, which sterilizes the underside of the filling element 1 a, the centering tulip 11 ′ and the mouth 10.

Subsequently, with the control valve 91 closed, the steam is displaced from the bottle 12, the partial and complete prestressing of the bottle 12 with CO₂ gas first from the return gas channel 31 and then from the supply line 32, the filling of the bottle 12 and the unloading of the filled bottle , as described above in connection with FIG. 1 in the method steps 5 - 9 there.

• 5. Entleeren des Füllrohres 6
  Bei diesem Verfahrensschritt sind die Steuerventile 20 und 91 geöffnet, so daß das Füllrohr 6 mit Dampf beaufschlagt ist und Dampf gleichzeitig auch aus dem Kanal 9 zur Sterilisierung der Unterseite des Füllelements 1 und der Zentrierglocke 11' austritt.
• 6. Außenteile sterilisieren und Flaschenhals begasen
  Bei weiteren Absenken der Flasche 12 wird der Betriebszustand des Verfahrensschritts 5 aufrecht erhalten. Anschließend folgt das Überführen der jeweils gefüllten Flasche 12 in den eigene Dampfaustrittsdüsen aufweisenden Überführungskanal.

The next procedural steps are:

• 5.Emptying the filling pipe 6
  In this process step, the control valves 20 and 91 are opened, so that the filling tube 6 is acted upon by steam and steam also emerges from the channel 9 for sterilizing the underside of the filling element 1 and the centering bell 11 '.
• 6. Sterilize the outer parts and gas the bottle neck
  When the bottle 12 is lowered further, the operating state of method step 5 is maintained. This is followed by transferring the filled bottle 12 into the transfer channel having its own steam outlet nozzles.

The invention has been described above using exemplary embodiments. It is understood that changes and modifications are possible. The filling elements 1 and 47 are those with a probe for determining the filling level. Of course, the invention is not limited to the use of such filling elements.

List of reference numbers

1, 1a

Filling element

2, 2a

Rotor part

3rd

casing

3 ', 3' '

Housing part

4th

Liquid channel

5

Ring bowl

6

Filling pipe

7

Liquid valve

8th

Valve body

9

channel

10th

muzzle

11

poetry

11 '

Centering tulip

12th

bottle

12 '

ground

13, 14

Connecting cable

16, 17

Control valve device

18, 19

Operating lever

20th

Control valve

20 '

Actuator

21-30

Valve

31

Return gas duct

32, 33

supply line

34

throttle

35-45

management

46

Bottle plate

47

Filling element

48

Rotor part

49

casing

50

Liquid channel

51

Liquid valve

52

Valve body

53

Ring bowl

54

Gas space

55

Gas pipe

56

Outlet opening

57

Centering tulip

58

poetry

59

Gas channel

60

room

61-69

Valve

70, 71

Control valve device

72

Operating lever

73

Control valve

74

Return gas duct

75

supply line

76

Connecting line

77-80

management

81

Connecting line

82-84

management

85

throttle

86

probe

87

Gas pipe

88

Connecting line

89

Collecting channel

90

Control valve device

91

Control valve

92

management

93

role

Claims (19)

1. Method for the filling of bottles or the like containers (12) with a liquid filling stock with the use of a filling machine of rotary mode of construction with several filling elements (1, 1a, 47) each displaying a respective liquid valve (7, 51), in which method the container (12) disposed in sealed position with the filling element (1, 1a, 47) is flushed and pressurised by an inert gas in a pressurising phase and filled with the liquid filling stock while the liquid valve (7, 51) is open in a filling phase following in time, wherein the return gas displaced out of the container (12) by the inflowing filling stock is conducted away at least for a time by way of a return gas path of the filling element into a return gas channel (31, 74), and in which method the flushing as well as the at least partial pressurising of the container (12) in the pressurising phase takes place with the use of the return gas from the return gas channel (31, 74) as inert gas, wherein air displaced out of the container (12) during the flushing is conducted away to the atmosphere and/or into a channel separate from the return gas channel (31, 74), characterised thereby, that the interior space of each container (12) is flushed with water vapour in a preliminary treatment phase preceding the pressurising phase independently of the rotational speed of the filling machine until a nearly pure steam atmosphere sets in in the container and that the water vapour, which is displaced by the return gas from the return gas channel out of the interior space of the container (12), disposed in sealed position with the filling element, in the pressurising phase during further flushing is conducted away to the atmosphere and/or into a channel separate from the return gas channel (31, 74).
2. Method according to claim 1, characterised thereby, that a partial pressurising of the container (12) takes place with the return gas from the return gas channel and that a final pressurising of the container (12) with fresh inert gas takes place subsequently.
3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterised thereby, that the interior space of the container (12) is - for the introduction of the sterilising medium - connected by way of a first gas path (14, 36; 76, 80), which is formed in the filling element (1, 1a, 47), with a source (33, 75) for the sterilising medium, which source is preferably a first supply channel or a first supply duct (33, 75) and/or that - for the displacement of the air out of the interior space of the container (12) - this interior space is connected with a collecting channel (89) or a second gas path (13, 41; 81, 84) formed in the filling element (1, 1a, 47) and leading to atmosphere and/or that the interior space of the container (12) is - for the flushing and/or the pressurising - connected during the pressurising phase with the return gas channel (31, 74) by way of a third gas path (14, 37; 76, 78) formed in the filling element (1, 1a, 47), wherein the interior space of the container (12) - preferably after partial pressurising has taken place - is connected by way of a fourth gas path (14, 38; 76, 78), which is likewise formed in the filling element (1, 1a, 47), with a source (32, 54) for fresh inert gas, which source is preferably a second supply channel separated from a tank for the liquid filling stock or a corresponding second supply duct (32) or the source is preferably a gas space (54), which is formed in that space of a storage container or tank (53), which is not taken up by the liquid filling stock, and namely above the surface level of the liquid filling stock.
4. Method according to claim 3, characterised thereby, that the interior space of the container (12) during the flushing stands in connection with the atmosphere by a gas path formed in the filling element (1, 1a, 47), preferably by way of the second gas bath (13, 41; 81, 84).
5. Method according to one of the claims 1 to 4, characterised thereby, that in a filling machine of rotary mode of construction with several filling elements (1, 1a, 47), the duration of the treatment of the container (12) in the preliminary treatment phase and/or the at least partial pressurising of the container (12) by the return gas and/or the displacement of the sterilising medium by the return gas takes place independently of the rotational speed of the filling machine through a first control valve (20, 73) associated with each filling element (1, 1a, 47).
6. Method according to one of the claims 1 to 5, characterised thereby, that in a filling machine of rotary mode of construction with several filling elements (1a), the duration of the treatment with the sterilising medium, in particular during the preliminary treatment phase and/or during a further treatment phase following the filling phase, takes place through a second control valve (91) associated with each filling element (1a) and namely preferably independently of the rotational speed of the filling machine, wherein the second control valve (91) is preferably provided in the first gas path or in a duct (92) connecting the control valve equipment (90) with the source (33) for the sterilising medium.
7. Method according to claim 5 or 6, characterised thereby, that the first and/or the second control valve (20, 91, 73) is or are used in addition to at least one control valve equipment (16, 17; 70, 71) for the gas paths, which co-operates with fixedly located control elements, for example with control cams or control dogs at a fixedly located control ring, wherein preferably two control valve equipments (16, 17; 70, 71) are used, of which one control valve equipment (17, 70) is arranged together with the first control valve (20, 73) in the first and/or the second gas path (14, 36; 76, 80; 13, 41; 81, 84).
8. Method according to one of the claims 5 to 7, characterised thereby, that the first control valve (20, 73) is used also during the filling phase for the control of the filling speed.
9. Method according to one of the claims 1 to 8, characterised thereby, that the containers (12) are preheated for the preliminary treatment, for example to a temperature of 30 to 50°C, and/or the pressure of the sterilising medium is let down to atmosphere through a gap between the filling element and the container mouth at the end of the preliminary treatment phase, and/or the sterilising medium is introduced the interior space of the container (12) before the flushing of the container (12) for sterilising the mouth (10) of the container (12) and a centring element (11'), which centres the container (12), of the filling element (1a) and issues through annular openings between the mouth (10) and the centring element (11') and the filling element (1a).
10. Method according to one of the claims 1 to 9, characterised thereby, that saturated water vapour at a temperature of 105 to 140°C, preferably water vapour at a temperature of 110°C, is used as the sterilising medium.
11. Filling machine of rotary mode of construction for the filling of bottles or the like containers (12) with a liquid filling stock, with several filling elements each displaying a respective liquid valve (7, 51) and with at least one associated valve control (16, 17, 20, 91; 70, 71, 73) displaying several valves for the control of gas paths, which are formed in the filling element (1, 47), at least during a pressurising phase, during which the container (12) disposed in sealed position with the filling element (1, 1a, 47) is pressurised as well as during a filling phase, during which the container (12) disposed in sealed position with the filling element (1, 1a, 47) is filled with the liquid filling stock while the liquid valve (7, 51) is open and in that case the return gas displaced out of the container (12) by the inflowing filling stock is conducted away at least for a time by way of a return gas channel of the filling element (1, 1a, 47) into a return gas channel (31, 74) and which follows in time, wherein the flushing as well as the at least partial pressurising of the container (12) in the pressurising phase takes place with the use of the return gas from the return gas channel (31, 74) as inert gas and air displaced out of the container (12) during the flushing is conducted away to the atmosphere and/or into a channel separate from the return gas channel (31, 74), characterised thereby, that a source (33, 75) for a water vapour is provided, that the valve control (16, 17, 20, 91; 70, 71, 73) for each filling element or a respective group of filling elements displays a first individually controllable control valve (20, 73), by way of which the interior space of the container (12) is loadable by the water vapour in a preliminary treatment phase preceding the pressurising phase for the flushing and the displacement of the air in controlled manner until a nearly pure steam atmosphere sets in in the container and that the water vapour, which is displaced by the return gas from the return gas channel out of the interior space of the container (12) disposed in sealed position with the filling element is conducted away to the atmosphere and/or into a channel separate from the return gas channel (31, 74) by the valve control.
12. Device according to claim 11, characterised thereby, that a source (32, 54) for a fresh inert gas is provided and that the valve control (16, 17, 20, 91; 70, 71, 73) is so constructed that a final pressurising of the container (12) with fresh inert gas takes place after the partial pressuring of the container (12) during the pressurising phase.
13. Device according to claim 11 or 12, characterised thereby, that a first gas path (14, 36; 76, 80), by way of which the interior space of the container (12) is - for the introduction of the sterilising medium - connectable with the source (33, 75) for the sterilising medium, which source is preferably a first supply channel or a first supply duct (33, 75), is formed in the filling element (1, 1a, 47) and/or a second gas path (13, 41; 81, 84), by way of which the interior space of the container (12) is connectable with the atmosphere for the displacement of the air out of the container during the preliminary treatment phase and/or for the flushing during the pressurising phase, is formed in the filling element (1, 1a, 47) and/or that a third gas path (14, 37; 76, 78), by way of which the interior space of the container (12) is connectable with the return gas channel (31, 74) for the flushing and/or the pressurising during the pressurising phase, is formed in the filling element (1, 1a, 47) and/or that a fourth gas path (14, 38; 76, 78), by way of which the interior space of the container (12) is connectable - during the pressurising phase after partial pressurising has taken place - with the source (32, 54) for fresh inert gas, which source is preferably a gas space (54), which is formed in that space of a storage container or tank (53), which is not taken up by the liquid filling stock, or which source is preferably a supply channel separated from a tank or stock container for the liquid filling stock or a corresponding second supply duct (32), is formed in the filling element (1, 1a, 47).
14. Device according to one of the claims 11 to 13, characterised thereby, that in a filling machine of rotary mode of construction with several filling elements (1a), each filling element or a respective group of filling elements is associated with a second control valve (91) of the valve control and that this control valve (91) controls the treatment with the sterilising medium preferably independently of the rotational speed of the filling machine, wherein the second control valve (91) is preferably provided in the first gas path or in a duct (92) connecting the control valve equipment (90) with the source (33) for the sterilising medium.
15. Device according to one of the claims 11 to 14, characterised thereby, that in a filling machine or rotary mode of construction with several filling elements (1, 1a, 47), each filling element is associated with a first control valve (20, 73) of the valve control and that this control valve (20, 73) controls at least the treatment of the respective container (12) in the preliminary treatment phase and/or the partial pressurising of the container (12) by the return gas and/or the displacement of the sterilising medium or flushing of the container (12) by the return gas independently of the rotational speed of the filling machine, wherein the valve control in addition to the first and/or the second control valve (20, 91, 73) preferably displays at least one control valve equipment (16, 17; 70, 71) for the gas paths, which is associated with each filling element (1, 1a, 47) and co-operates with fixedly located control elements, for example with control cams or control dogs at a fixedly located control ring.
16. Device according to claim 15, characterised thereby, that two control valve equipments (16, 17; 70, 71) are respectively provided for each filling element (1, 1a, 47) and that one control valve equipment (17, 20) is arranged together with the first control valve (20, 73) in the first and/or the second and/or third and/or fourth gas path (76, 80; 13, 41; 76, 79; 76, 78) and/or the first control valve (20, 73) is used during the filling phase for the control of the filling speed and preferably arranged together with the one control valve equipment (17, 20) in the return gas path.
17. Device according to claim 15 or 16, characterised thereby, that the first and/or the second control valve (20, 91, 73) lies or lie at least functionally in series with the at least one control valve equipment (16, 17; 70, 71) in such a manner that the respective gas path is prepared by the control valve equipment (16, 17; 70, 71) and controlled by the control valve (20, 91, 73).
18. Device according to one of the claims 11 to 17, characterised thereby, that the filling element (1, 1a) displays a filling tube (6) as well as a connecting duct (14), which stands in connection with a part of a liquid channel (4) of the filling element (1, 1a), which part follows the liquid valve (7) in direction of flow and stands in connection with the filling tube (6), wherein at least the return gas from the return gas channel (31) and/or the sterilising medium are fed by way of this connecting duct (14), wherein the control valve (20) is preferably arranged in the return gas channel as well as in the second gas path (13, 41).
19. Device according to one of the claims 11 to 18, characterised thereby, that the filling element (47) is a filling-tube-less filling element with a gas channel (59) forming a part of the return gas path and that at least the sterilising medium and/or the return gas are feedable by way of the gas channel (59), wherein the control valve (73) is preferably arranged in the return gas path as well as in the first and/or third and/or fourth gas path (76, 80; 76, 79; 76, 78).

Images