EP2881361B1 - Filling body for filling a container with a product and method for cleaning the filling body - Google Patents

Description

Technical area

The present invention relates to a filling member for filling a filling product into a container in a beverage filling plant, preferably for filling a beverage into a bottle or a can in a beverage filling plant, and a method for cleaning the filling member.

State of the art

It is known to fill beverages in containers or cans in beverage filling plants. For this purpose, filling members are provided which serve to fill the filling product from a filling product reservoir via a filling product outlet, which is brought into conformity with the respective mouth of the container to be filled, with filling product and thus to control the filling volume to be filled into the container. In order to achieve a correct dosage of the filling product in the container, the filling member usually comprises a filling valve, which is controlled by a lifting drive. By means of the lifting drive, the filling valve can be opened at a certain time and closed at a further time to allow the predetermined filling amount of the filling product to flow into the container.

Furthermore, the filling valve can be designed so that over the course of filling the filling product in the container across different high volume flows, for example, at the beginning of the filling a reduced flow to reduce a tendency to foaming, then the highest possible filling volume flow to a fast Allow filling process, and at the end again a reduced filling volume flow, for example, to achieve an exact reaching a given filling volume or a predetermined filling height of the filling product in the container to be filled.

The filling members are usually arranged on a rotary carousel to allow a continuous filling operation.

The lifting drive for the filling valve, for example, a pneumatic drive, an electric drive, an electromagnetic drive, such as a linear motor, or a mechanical drive, for example in the form of forced operation of a standing in conjunction with the filling valve roller, which along the Füllerkarussells on a corresponding curve moves, be.

For cleaning the known filling elements different methods are known. A particularly advantageous cleaning method is the so-called Clean-In-Place (CIP) method, in which the filling elements do not have to be removed for cleaning, but are flushed through when installed. For this purpose, the filling product outlet of the filling member is sealingly closed by means of a flushing cap or a so-called CIP cap, so that a cleaning fluid, which is usually supplied via a separate channel opening into the filling member, can be flushed through all the product-carrying areas of the filling member.

Such a flushing cap is usually pressed by means of a separate pressing device to the Füllproduktauslauf to allow the sealing sealing. Furthermore, the flushing cap is pivoted or moved during the filling operation in order to enable a hinderungsfreien filling operation. For this purpose, the flushing cap, such as from the DE 94 03 832 U1 known to be moved linearly or radially with respect to the carousel axis in the direction of the carousel axis. In an alternative, the flushing cap can be pivoted out of the filling area on a holding arm.

The DE 94 03 832 U1 describes a filling member according to the preamble of claim 1.

For sealing application of the flushing cap, at least two movements and correspondingly at least two drives are required accordingly. On the one hand, a translational movement or pivoting movement, which must be effected with a drive, is required, by means of which the flushing cap is moved from a parking position into a cleaning position below the filling product outlet. On the other hand, a pressing movement is required, which must be effected with a Anpressantrieb, by means of which the rinse cap is then moved from the cleaning Vorposition in the cleaning position in which it is pressed sealingly on the Füllproduktauslauf.

The DE 20 2011 004 377 U1 describes a filling head, in particular for filling plastic bottles.

Presentation of the invention

Starting from the known prior art, it is an object of the present invention to provide a filling member with a simpler structure.

This object is achieved by a filling member having the features of claim 1. Advantageous developments emerge from the subclaims.

Accordingly, a filling member for filling a filling product into a container in a beverage filling plant is proposed, comprising an actuatable by means of a lifting actuator filling valve for dosing the filling product through a filling product spout in the container to be filled, and a rinsing cap for sealingly closing the Füllproduktauslaufes for cleaning the filling member. According to the invention, the flushing cap can be pressed sealingly against the filling product outlet by means of the lifting drive of the filling valve.

Characterized in that the flushing cap by means of the lifting drive of the filling valve is sealingly pressed against the filling product outlet, a significantly simplified structure of the filling member can be achieved. In particular, one of the drives can be saved, namely the separate Anpressantrieb, which ensures according to the prior art that the rinse cap is pressed against the Füllproduktauslauf.

In other words, the lifting drive, by means of which the filling valve is actuated, at the same time be used for pressing the flushing cap to the filling product outlet. Thus, a simplified structure of the filling element can be provided in such a way that it is possible to dispense with the separate pressing drive and the respective control devices for this pressing drive. As a result, the overall device is less expensive and more economical in construction.

Furthermore, by dispensing with a separate Anpressantrieb the filling member can be constructed less complex, so that the cleaning ability of the filling member can be improved. In addition, the form factor of the filling member can be reduced, so that the filling member can be made more compact and accordingly allows a higher flexibility in installation in the carousel of a beverage filling device.

The present device makes use of that even when cleaning or sterilizing the filling member, the filling valve must be opened. In particular, by means of the lifting drive, a valve cone is lifted upwards out of its filling valve seat, in order to allow a flushing or flushing of all product-carrying areas within the filling member. This lifting movement to fully open the filling valve is also used to press the rinse cap to the filling product outlet.

The flushing cap and the lifting drive are preferably connectable to one another via a coupling device. In this way, a constant raising and lowering in synchronism with the filling valve in the filling operation can be avoided and raising and lowering is achieved only in the cleaning mode or in sterilizing operation.

In order to achieve a switchable connection of the flushing cap and the drive for cleaning the filling member, the flushing cap is preferably linearly and / or radially displaceable from a parking position to a cleaning position and / or the flushing cap can be pivoted from a parking position into a cleaning position.

A radial direction is here understood to mean a direction which extends radially from the axis of rotation of a filler carousel when the filling element is installed in the carousel of a rotary filler. By installing the filling member, a preferred direction is specified. Due to the geometry of the filling member and in particular the formation of holding elements for holding the container to be filled, this radial direction but also results on the filling itself, without this needs to be installed in the carousel of the rotary filler.

Preferably, simultaneously with the displacement and / or pivoting of the flushing cap via a coupling device, a mechanical connection between the flushing cap and the lifting drive can be produced.

In order to be able to produce an operative connection between the flushing cap and the lifting drive by inserting or swiveling in, a flushing cap carrier is provided which can be brought into operative connection with the lifting drive via a coupling device. Particularly preferably, the coupling device has a arranged on the Spülkappenträger Coupling portion and a complementary, coupled to the lifting drive coupling receptacle which are engageable for coupling with each other.

In a specific embodiment of Spülkappenträger is designed substantially C-shaped or bow-shaped. Upper and lower arms are provided which extend radially, the lower arm carrying the flushing cap, and the upper arm supporting the coupling device which can be coupled to a corresponding coupling portion which is in operative connection with the lifting drive.

The coupling receptacle can be arranged on the plunger of the filling valve, and the coupling region can come into coupling with the coupling receptacle on the plunger of the filling valve during insertion or pivoting of the Spülkappenträgers from the parking position to the cleaning position.

Since when lifting the filling valve or the valve plug from its Füllventilsitz out first the filling valve is opened before a complete pressing of the flushing cap can be achieved, there is a short-term leakage of the above the filling valve pending fluid through the gap between the Füllproduktauslauf and not yet completely sealing pressed rinse cap. Since, however, the remaining filling product from the filling product reservoir, the lines and the filling elements must be drained anyway during the cleaning of a filling element, and consequently the remaining filling product which is present above the closed filling valve must leak from the filling element, this short-term leakage is not considered to be negative rate. Furthermore, in such a case, a deliberate rinsing of the gap between the filling product outlet and the not yet completely closed rinsing cap take place, such that this area, and in particular the contact area, on which the rinsing cap rests sealingly against the filling member, can be rinsed.

In an alternative, via a gear and / or a lever can be achieved that the rinse cap is pressed much faster to the Füllproduktauslauf, as the lifting of the valve plug from the Füllventilsitz done, so that the leakage of fluid from the gap between Füllproduktauslauf and rinse cap can be reduced or completely avoided.

For this purpose, the connection between the lifting drive and the valve cone can also be formed with a freewheel, so that the lifting drive must first raise the plunger by a predetermined distance, and only then the valve cone is raised. So first, a hub can be applied to the Spülkappenträger and then only the filling valve can be opened. Accordingly, the flushing cap may already be pressed sealingly on the filling product outlet before the filling valve is opened.

Preferably, a drive for moving the flushing cap between a parking position and a cleaning Vorposition is provided. Particularly preferably, the drive is operatively connected to a coupling device for coupling the flushing cap to the lifting drive, preferably via a flushing cap carrier. By means of the drive, the coupling device can be switched in this way.

A cleaning method for cleaning a filling member is provided according to claim 8. Advantageous developments emerge from the subclaims.

Accordingly, the method of cleaning a filling member as described above includes the steps of moving the flushing cap from a parking position to a cleaning position and coupling the flushing cap to the lift drive of the filling valve, and opening the filling valve by actuating the lifting drive and sealing the product outlet with the flushing cap ,

The fact that the lifting or pressing of the flushing cap is carried out on the filling product outlet by means of the lifting drive of the filling valve, more complex controls can be saved here and it can be dispensed with a separate Anpressantrieb for pressing or lowering the flushing cap.

Preferably, the filling valve is subjected to a cleaning medium or a sterilizing medium and the rinsing cap is lowered at least once, preferably periodically, by partial closing of the filling valve to allow cleaning medium, sterilizing medium and / or condensate to flow out of the filling product outlet.

In this way, a cleaning or sterilization of the contact surfaces or sealing surfaces between the flushing cap and the Füllproduktauslauf surrounding part of the filling member is possible. Furthermore, in a sterilization of the filling member by means of superheated steam or saturated steam accumulated condensate are discharged and a steady stream of superheated steam or saturated steam can be maintained.

Brief description of the figures

Figur 1

eine schematische seitliche Schnittansicht eines Füllorgans mit angepresster Spülkappe in einer Reinigungsposition;

Figur 2

das Füllorgan der Figur 1 in einer schematischen Schnittansicht von vorne betrachtet in der Reinigungsposition;

Figur 3

das Füllorgan der vorhergehenden Figuren in einer schematischen Seitenansicht mit geschlossenem Füllventil und abgesenkter Spülkappe in einer Reinigungsvorposition; und

Figur 4

das Füllorgan der vorhergehenden Figuren mit zur Seite verschobener Spülkappe und geschlossenem Füllventil in einer Parkposition.

Preferred further embodiments and aspects of the present invention are explained in more detail by the following description of the figures. Showing:

FIG. 1

a schematic sectional side view of a filling member with pressed rinse cap in a cleaning position;

FIG. 2

the filling organ of FIG. 1 in a schematic sectional view seen from the front in the cleaning position;

FIG. 3

the filling member of the preceding figures in a schematic side view with a closed filling valve and lowered rinse cap in a Reinigungsvorposition; and

FIG. 4

the filling member of the preceding figures with the rinsing cap shifted to the side and the filling valve closed in a parking position.

Detailed description of preferred embodiments

In the following, preferred embodiments will be described with reference to the figures. In this case, identical, similar or equivalent elements in the different figures are denoted by identical reference numerals and a repeated description of these elements will be omitted in the following description in part in order to avoid redundancies.

FIG. 1 shows a filling member 1 for filling a filling product in a container, not shown in the figure in a beverage filling plant. An actuatable by means of a lifting drive 2 filling valve 3 is provided, which serves for dosing of the filling product in the container to be filled. The filling valve 3 includes a Füllventilkegel 30 and a Füllventilsitz 32, which is formed substantially complementary to the Füllungskekegel 30, and in which the Füllventilkegel 30 can be lowered sealingly. If the filling valve 30 is lowered into the filling valve seat 32, the filling valve 3 is closed.

The filling product can flow to the filling valve 3 via a filling product channel 10 from a filling product reservoir, not shown, in order then to flow via a filling product outlet 12 into a container arranged below it.

The lifting drive 2 acts via a plunger 20 so on the Füllventilkegel 30 that is raised at a tightening of the plunger 20 by the lifting drive 2 of the Füllventilkegel 30 and is lifted out of the Füllventilsitz 32 so that the filling product on the Füllproduktauslauf 12 in the zu can drain filling container. If the lifting drive 2 lowers the plunger 20 and thus the filling cone 30 back into the filling valve seat 32, the filling product flow is interrupted. By varying the stroke of the plunger 20 by means of the lifting drive 2, moreover, the flow or the flow volume can be regulated by the filling valve 3 in order to achieve an adaptation to the geometry of the container to be filled and the properties of the filling product.

A hygienic seal between the filling valve 3 and the other areas, for example the plunger 20 and the lifting drive 2 of the filling member 1, is achieved by means of an elastic bellows 22.

The lifting drive 2 may be provided pneumatically, but may also be electromagnetically, for example by means of a linear motor, or mechanically, for example in the form of a positive guidance of a roller in a complementary roller conveyor, executed.

In order to carry out a cleaning of the product-carrying areas and in particular the filling product channel 10 and the valve cone 30 and the filling valve seat 32, the filling product outlet 12 is sealed by means of a flushing cap 4. For this purpose, the flushing cap 4 is pressed sealingly against the filling product outlet 12, such that leakage of cleaning fluid from the filling product outlet 12 is not possible.

A cleaning of the filling member 1 then takes place in that a separate cleaning channel 14, which is also referred to as CIP channel, a corresponding cleaning medium and / or a sterilization medium is supplied. The cleaning medium supplied via the cleaning channel 14 flows into the region of the product outlet 12, then flows through the gap formed between the valve cone 30 and the filling valve seat 32, and finally flows through the fill product channel 10. In order to achieve an optimum cleaning effect, the cleaning medium preferably circulates in a direction which is directed opposite to the flow direction of the filling product in the filling operation. In the FIG. 1 the cleaning medium flows from bottom to top through the filling valve 3. After cleaning by means of the cleaning medium, a sterilization can be carried out in the same way.

The flushing cap 4 is arranged on a Spülkappenträger 40, which has a lower arm 42, a side arm 44 and an upper arm 46. The lower arm 42 carries the flushing cap 4. The vertical arm 44 extends in the stroke direction X of the filling valve 3 and in the stroke direction X of the drive 2. The upper arm 46 extends substantially parallel to the lower arm 42nd

In the in FIG. 1 shown state, which corresponds to the cleaning position of the flushing cap 4, the Spülkappenträger 40 is operatively connected via a coupling device 5 with the lifting drive 2. The coupling device 5 comprises a coupling section 50, which is arranged on the upper arm 46 of the flushing cap carrier 40 and which engages with a coupling receptacle 52 on the plunger 20 of the drive 2. By means of the coupling device 5, a connection between the flushing cap 4 and the Spülkappenträger 40 and the lifting drive 2 of the filling valve 3 switchable be prepared so that a movement of the lifting drive 2 is transmitted to the flushing cap 4 in a first switching position of the coupling device 5, and in a second switching position of the coupling device 5, a movement of the lifting drive 2 is not transmitted to the flushing cap 4. The first switching position of the coupling device 5 is schematically in the FIGS. 1 to 3 shown. The second switching position of the coupling device 5 is shown schematically in the FIG. 4 shown.

For switching the coupling device 5, the flush cap carrier 40 is moved by means of a drive 6 in the Y direction, ie in a direction perpendicular to the stroke direction X. The Y direction also extends in the radial direction. By moving the Spülkappenträgers means of the drive 6 in the Y-direction, the coupling device 5 is switched between the first and the second switching position.

As in FIG. 2 shown which the filling member 1 from FIG. 1 in a schematic sectional view from the front, the coupling portion 50 is fork-shaped, whereas the Coupling receptacle 52 on the plunger 20 as a corresponding, to the fork-shaped configuration of the coupling portion 50 complementary groove is formed. In other words, the plunger 20 and thus the lifting drive 2 and the Spülkappenträger 40 via the coupling device 5 positively so operatively connected, that during a movement of the plunger 20 and the Spülkappenträger 40 moves, since it is in direct engagement with the plunger 20.

In other embodiments, instead of the groove, a shoulder may be formed on the plunger 20, which allows coupling of the coupling portion 50 to the coupling receptacle 52 and allows lifting of the flush cap carrier 40. The coupling device 5 can also be designed in any other way, which allows a switchable coupling of coupling portion 50 and coupling receptacle 52 such that a lifting of the Spülkappenträgers 40 is achieved by the lifting drive 2 of the filling valve 3. The coupling can be achieved by a relative movement between Spülkappenträger 40 and plunger 20, for example by radial or linear displacement of the Spülkappenträgers 40 relative to the plunger 20 or by pivoting the Spülkappenträgers 40 relative to the plunger 20th

In FIGS. 1 and 2 It can be seen that the flushing cap 4 is pressed firmly against the filling product outlet 12, wherein this pressing of the flushing cap 4 on the filling product outlet 12 is accomplished by the lifting drive 2, since the lifting drive 2 has also fully raised the filling valve 3 and at the same time on the Spülkappenträger 40th the rinse cap 4 presses against the filling product outlet 12.

In FIG. 3 the filling member 1 is shown in a second state, namely in a state in which the flushing cap 4 is lowered relative to the filling product outlet 12. This condition is also referred to as cleaning preposition. Since the flushing cap 4 is operatively connected by means of the coupling device 5 via the Spülkappenträger 40 with the lifting drive 2 and the plunger 20 of the lifting drive 2, also the Füllventilkegel 30 is lowered in the Füllventilsitz 32, so that the filling valve 3 is sealed.

After the coupling of Spülkappenträger 40 and lifting drive 2, the flushing cap 4 and the Füllventilkegel 30 move in the same direction. Accordingly, here by a lowering movement of the drive 2, by means of which the filling valve 3 is closed, at the same time the flushing cap 4 is lowered into a cleaning position so that a sealing seal of Füllproduktauslaufs 12 is no longer present. Rather, there is then an air gap between the filling product outlet 12 and the flushing cap 4.

The upper arm 46, which is in operative connection with the plunger 20 of the drive 2 by means of the coupling device 5, that is, via the coupling section 50 and the coupling receptacle 52, is correspondingly raised in the stroke direction X or in the in FIG FIG. 3 lowered case shown, such that the flushing cap 4 is raised and lowered together with the stroke of the filling valve 3 and the lifting drive 2, which causes the stroke of the filling valve 3.

For this purpose, a sufficiently large recess 16 is provided in the valve housing 34, through which the upper arm 46 of the Spülkappenträgers 40 extends. The recess 16 is dimensioned such that a lifting movement of the upper arm 46 can be carried out unhindered together with the plunger 20. Depending on the form of the coupling device 5 and the necessary for the coupling and actuation movement, the recess 16 is formed.

In the FIG. 4 the filling member 1 is shown in a further position, namely the parking position in which the flushing cap 4 is completely removed below the Füllproduktauslaufes 12, such that can be filled with filling member 1 unhindered container with filling product.

For this purpose, the Spülkappenträger 40 has been moved in the direction Y, wherein the direction Y may be, for example, a radial direction in a rotary filler. Accordingly, in the parking position of the flushing cap 4, the filling product outlet 2 is again completely free, so that the filling is not hindered.

Moving the Spülkappenträgers 40 and the flushing cap 4 from the Reinigungsvorposition in the parking position is also achieved by means of the drive 6, which moves the Spülkappenträger 40 according to the Y-direction. The drive 6 serves to the flushing cap 4 from the parking position, as they are for example in FIG. 4 is shown, in the cleaning position in which the coupling portion 5 of the Spülkappenträgers 40 with the coupling receptacle 52 of the drive 2 is in operative connection to move. The drive 6 can be performed correspondingly simple and the requirements for the positioning accuracy and the control of the drive 6 are low, so that here a cost-effective solution can be found.

In the in FIG. 4 shown parking position, the flushing cap 4 is not raised or lowered during actuation of the filling valve 3, since the flushing cap 4 is decoupled from the lifting drive 2. Accordingly, in the regular filling operation, a constant raising and lowering of the flushing cap 4 can be dispensed with, so that the mass to be moved for the lifting drive 2 is reduced compared to the cleaning operation and therefore a faster reaction time of the filling valve 3 is made possible.

Several filling members 1 can be operated parallel to each other, so that a particularly effective cleaning or sterilization can be achieved here. These filling members 1 are preferably arranged at the circumference of a common filler carousel at equal intervals.

In the filling operation, the flushing cap 4 is provided substantially in the parking position, as in FIG. 4 is shown. In this parking position, the filling operation can be carried out in a beverage filling plant, such that the filling product is brought through a filling product outlet 12 into the container arranged underneath.

After completion of the filling process or product change, the beverage filling plant and in particular each filling valve 3 must be cleaned. For this purpose, for example by means of in FIG. 4 shown drive 6, the flushing caps 4 from the parking position so moved that they are arranged in the cleaning position below the respective Füllproduktauslaufes 12.

The drive 6 can be present in a known manner by a short curve segment in the area of influence of a cam, not shown here, with a filler carousel must then slowly rotate at least one complete revolution, so that all the cams are reoriented accordingly when passing on the curve element and thus all Swing the scavenging caps 4 into the cleaning position or move them linearly. Other drives, such as pneumatic, electric or electromagnetic drives, may also be provided.

By this pivoting or linear displacement of a Spülkappenträgers 40, on which the flushing cap 4 is held, simultaneously finds a mechanical engagement of a coupling portion 50 of the Spülkappenträgers 40 in a complementary thereto Coupling receptacle 52 on the lifting drive 2 or a plunger 20 of the lifting drive 2 so instead of a coupling of Spülkappenträgers 40 is present with the lifting drive 2.

Thereafter, the lifting drive 2 is controlled in the stroke direction X so that the valve plug 30 is lifted out of the filling valve seat 32 of the filling valve 3. During this lifting of the Füllventilkegels 30 and the Spülkappenträger 40 is simultaneously raised via the coupling device 5 so that the flushing cap 4 is pressed sealingly on the product outlet 12.

The rinsing caps 4 can be locked in the cleaning position by a locking device, not shown, in order to seal the Füllproduktausläufe 12 sealingly regardless of the movement of the lifting drive 2.

Cleaning medium is passed through the filling member 1 via the cleaning channel 14 in order to clean all product-carrying paths and to achieve rinsing of the contact area between the flushing cap 4 and the filling product outlet 12. Thereafter, a sterilizing medium, such as saturated steam, may be passed through the respective product carrying channels to achieve surface sterilization. During sterilization, the flushing caps 4 can be lowered by periodically actuating the lifting drives 2 by a predetermined amount to drain condensate and to achieve a steady stream of saturated steam through the product-carrying paths at a predetermined back pressure. The combination of the reduced gap in the filling valve 3 and the air gap between Füllproduktauslauf 12 and rinse cap 4 leads to a defined flow resistance, which allows reliable sterilization.

After completion of the cleaning or sterilization process, the flushing cap 4 is then in the example in FIG. 4 shown position, for example by means of the drive 6, pulled or pivoted, such that then again a filling process can be performed.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

Filling head

10

Füllproduktkanal

12

Füllproduktauslauf

14

cleaning channel

16

recess

2

Linear actuator

20

tappet

22

bellow

3

filling valve

30

Füllventilkegel

32

Füllventilsitz

34

valve housing

4

flushing cap

40

Spülkappenträger

42

lower arm

44

lateral arm

46

upper arm

5

coupling device

50

coupling portion

52

female coupling

6

drive

X

stroke direction

Y

radial direction

Claims (11)

1. Filling mechanism (1) for filling a filling product into a container in a beverage filling installation, comprising a filling valve (3) which can be actuated by means of a lifting drive (2) for metering the filling product through a filling product outlet (12) into the container which is to be filled, and a flushing cap (4) for sealingly closuring the filling product outlet (12) for cleaning the filling mechanism (1),
   characterized in that
   the flushing cap (4) can be pressed in a sealing manner against the filling product outlet (12) by means of the lifting drive (2) of the filling valve (3).
2. Filling mechanism (1) according to Claim 1, characterized in that a coupling device (5) is provided, by means of which the flushing cap (4) and the lifting drive (2) can be connected to one another in a switchable manner.
3. Filling mechanism (1) according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the flushing cap (4) can be displaced linearly and/or radially from a parking position into a preliminary cleaning position, and/or the flushing cap (4) can be pivoted into a preliminary cleaning position from a parking position.
4. Filling mechanism (1) according to Claim 3, characterized in that, simultaneous to displacing and/or pivoting the flushing cap (4), a mechanical connection can be established between the flushing cap (4) and the lifting drive (2) via a coupling device (5).
5. Filling mechanism (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the flushing cap (4) is held on a flushing cap carrier (40), which can be brought into operative connection with the lifting drive (2) in a switchable manner via a coupling device (5).
6. Filling mechanism (1) according to Claim 5, characterized in that the flushing-cap carrier (40) has a coupling portion (50), which can be brought into engagement in a switchable manner with a coupling mount (52) on the lifting drive (2).
7. Filling mechanism (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a drive (6) for moving the flushing cap (4) between a parked position and a preliminary cleaning position is provided.
8. Filling mechanism (1) according to Claim 7, characterized in that the drive (6) is operatively connected to a coupling device (5) for coupling the flushing cap (4) to the lifting drive (2) in the preliminary cleaning position, preferably via a flushing cap carrier (40).
9. Method for cleaning a filling mechanism (1) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising the following steps:

   - moving the flushing cap (4) from a parking position into a preliminary cleaning position and coupling the flushing cap (4) to the lifting drive (2) of the filling valve (3);

   - opening the filling valve (3) by actuating the lifting drive (2) and sealing the filling product outlet (12) with the flushing cap (4).
10. Method according to Claim 9, characterized in that, following to the cleaning operation, the lifting drive (2) recloses the filling valve (3) and moves the flushing cap (4) into the preliminary cleaning position.
11. Method according to Claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the filling valve (3) is subjected to a cleaning medium or a sterilizing medium, and the flushing cap (4) is lowered at least once, preferably periodically, by virtue of the filling valve (3) being partially closed, in order to allow cleaning medium, sterilizing medium and/or condensate to flow out of the filling-product outlet (12).

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