EP2937310B1 - Method for filling a container with a filling product - Google Patents

Description

Technical area

The present invention relates to a method for filling a container with a filling product in a beverage filling plant, preferably for filling a carbonized filling product such as beer, soft drinks or mineral water.

State of the art

A large number of different methods and devices for filling filling products in beverage filling systems are known. For filling carbonated filling products, such as beer, mineral water or soft drinks, it is known, for example, to preload the container to be filled to an overpressure with a tensioning gas before filling it with the respective filling product, and only then to fill the filling product into the container pretensioned in this way. _{CO 2} , for example, is used here as the tensioning gas. _{Correspondingly, the CO 2} bound in the carbonized filling _{product is filled in against the increased CO 2} pressure when it is filled into the container to be filled, so that release of the CO ₂ from the filling product can be reduced or completely prevented. This process is also known as the back pressure filling process. In this way, the foaming of the filling product in the container to be filled can be reduced or avoided, so that in this way the filling process is accelerated overall.

Usually, before the container to be filled is pre-tensioned with the tensioning gas, the container is first evacuated, then flushed with the tensioning gas, then evacuated again, in order then to be brought to the appropriate tensioning pressure before the actual filling with the tensioning gas before the filling product is introduced. By evacuating and purging, a defined gas atmosphere can be created in the container, in particular a largely oxygen-free atmosphere, which is particularly desirable for beer or other oxygen-sensitive products

Depending on the design of the counter-pressure method, a filling level correction can also be carried out in a pre-tensioned and filled container by pushing the filling product back into the filling product reservoir via a return gas tube which is immersed in the filling product filled into the container. This can be achieved, for example, by further subjecting the filled container to a tensioning gas, for example CO ₂ , which is under increased pressure. The filling product is then pressed out of the container via the return gas tube until the return gas tube is no longer immersed in the filling product and the tension gas escapes from the filled container directly via the return gas tube into the filling product reservoir.

By providing the return gas tube in such a counter pressure filling process, the interior of the container and the pressure in the gas space above the filling product in the filling product reservoir can be kept at the same overpressure level while the filling product flows into the container.

Furthermore, a so-called vacuum filling method is known in which still liquids are introduced into a pre-evacuated container to be filled. An exact filling level correction takes place in such a way that a suction pipe is immersed in the container filled with the filling product and the filling product is withdrawn from the container again by a negative pressure applied to the suction pipe until the desired filling level, which is defined by the lower edge of the suction pipe, is reached. The suction tube is in fluid connection with the negative pressure applied above the filling product in the filling product reservoir, so that the liquid can be sucked off quickly and the filling product can be held in the suction tube without dripping. Examples of such vacuum fillers can be found in DE 83 08 618 U1 and the DE 83 08 806 U1 .

Vacuum fillers, such as the Krones types VV, VVHK, VVHL, enable a correction phase after the filling phase has been completed. The vacuum created in the ring bowl is connected to a return air pipe. The filling level can be controlled via the immersion depth of the return air pipe in the respective container to be filled. By bringing the return air tube into fluid connection with the vacuum in the ring bowl, the filling product that is present via the lower end of the return air tube is sucked back into the ring bowl. This can lead to an unfavorable loss of aroma and / or alcohol, for example when bottling spirits.

By providing the suction tube in a vacuum filling process, the interior of the container and the space above the filling product in the filling product reservoir can be brought to the same negative pressure level.

The vacuum filling devices or vacuum filling methods were not used for filling carbonated beverages, because the applied negative pressure or the applied vacuum _{would release the CO 2} in the respective carbonated beverages immediately and a filling process with a very high foaming tendency and thus a long filling time would result. Accordingly, the filling of carbonized filling products with vacuum filling processes has been excluded in the prior art.

From the DE 199 11 517 A1 a beverage filling machine is known in which CO ₂ -free, i.e. non-carbonized, beverages can be filled into containers. In order to achieve sterility and oxygen protection of the bottled CO ₂ -free beverage, the filling points of the beverage filling machine run in an evacuated interior of the filler housing. An evacuation of the container is achieved simply by inserting the respective container into the filler housing. In other words, the containers are evacuated by the negative pressure prevailing in the filler housing, then fed to the respective filling stations and then filled. Since the containers are introduced into the interior of the filler housing via a sluice wheel and are discharged from the filler housing after filling, the negative pressure that can be achieved in the filler housing is severely limited.

Filling a filling product into a pre-tensioned container is also known for maintaining sterility, for example from US Pat DE 41 26 136 A1 known.

The U.S. 2,124,581 A describes a container filling machine which evacuates the container to be filled before filling. The EP 0 965 524 A1 describes a method for the aseptic filling of a container with a filling product in a beverage filling plant, comprising providing the filling product under an overpressure and evacuating the container to be filled to a negative pressure, the filling product under overpressure being introduced into the overpressure container, and the filled container is closed with a sealer under an overpressure. The U.S. 2,660,357 A describes a device for filling containers with a combination of evacuation of the container and filling under excess pressure.

Presentation of the invention

Based on the known prior art, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method for filling a container with a filling product, preferably with a carbonized filling product to indicate which show an improved filling behavior.

This object is achieved by a method for filling a container with a filling product having the features of claim 1. Advantageous further developments result from the subclaims.

Accordingly, a method is proposed for filling a container with a filling product in a beverage filling plant, comprising providing the filling product under an overpressure or ambient pressure, and evacuating the container to be filled to achieve a negative pressure. The filling product under overpressure is introduced into the underpressure container. After being filled with the filling product, the container is closed under excess pressure without relieving the container beforehand.

By introducing the filling product under overpressure into the underpressure container, the flow of the filling product into the container can be accelerated. In particular, a sudden filling of the container to be filled with the filling product is possible in this way.

Due to the negative pressure in the container to be filled, initially no gas is displaced from the interior of the container when the container is filled, but rather the negative pressure is only reduced. Accordingly, there is also no fluid flow directed against the incoming filling product and in particular no gas is displaced from the container to be filled by the filling product, which gas would then have to flow out through the opening of the container. Correspondingly, when filling the container, the entire opening cross-section is available for the filling product to flow in. The return gas pipe required for this disadvantageously also takes up part of the maximum available free mouth cross section of the container.

In conventional filling processes, for example the counter-pressure process, it is necessary, however, that the gas displaced from the container by the inflowing filling product flow escapes again at the same time as the filling product flows in through the mouth. Correspondingly, two oppositely directed fluid flows share the mouth cross-section of the container to be filled, namely on the one hand the fluid flow of the directed into the container Filling product and, on the other hand, the fluid flow of the displaced gas directed out of the container.

In the case of a vacuum filling method, the entire opening cross-section is also not available, since the return gas pipe is passed through the opening cross-section, via which a fill level correction, as known from the prior art, is carried out. Thus, even with a vacuum filling method according to the prior art, two opposing fluid flows are present, namely on the one hand the filling product flow flowing into the container to be filled and the opposing return gas flow or vacuum flow through the return gas pipe, which is then replaced in the correction phase by the return flow filling product flow.

Before the filling product is introduced, the container is evacuated to a negative pressure with an absolute pressure of 0.5 to 0.05 bar, preferably 0.3 to 0.1 bar, particularly preferably 0.1 bar. By filling the filling product in a corresponding negative pressure in the container, the interior of the container is evacuated in such a way that no gas is displaced by the filling product during filling with the filling product and accordingly no gas has to flow out of the interior of the container. Rather, the entire opening cross-section of the container can be used to allow the filling product to flow in. In other words, only a flow of filling product directed into the container occurs here. The filling of the filling product is further supported by the pressure difference provided between the negative pressure in the container to be filled and the overpressure in the filling product reservoir.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the method, the filling product is provided under an absolute pressure of 1 bar, so that there is a pressure gradient between the filling product provided and the container.

The overpressure can also correspond to the saturation pressure of the filling product and preferably be at an absolute pressure of 1.1 bar to 6 bar. The presence of the overpressure at the respective saturation pressure can _{counteract the release of CO 2} in the case of a carbonized filling product.

In a further development, the overpressure is above the saturation pressure of the filling product and is preferably below an absolute pressure of 1.6 bar to 9 bar. Due to a high overpressure, the is especially above the saturation pressure of the filling product, it can be achieved that the CO ₂ in the filling product is in saturation and at the same time the pressure gradient between the filling product provided and the container is even greater in order to accelerate the filling process even further.

A sudden filling of the container can be achieved via the pressure gradient provided between the filling product and the container. Here, for example, a conventional beer bottle can be filled with the filling product in approximately 0.3 seconds, compared to the conventional filling time of approximately 4.5 seconds. The sudden filling takes place essentially at the beginning of the filling process. Towards the end of the filling process, when the container is largely already filled with the filling product, the pressures between the pressure in the headspace of the container and the pressure of the filling product provided under excess pressure can also take place, since the residual gas in the container is now at atmospheric pressure or can rise to the pressure provided by the filling product. The pressure difference achieved or the equalization of the pressures, however, depends on the initial pressures and, in particular, on the initial negative pressure in the container to be filled.

In other words, the pressure curve in the container to be filled during filling is dependent on the pressure in the container to be filled at the beginning of the filling process and thus also on the residual gas in the container. The container is filled by the filling product in such a way that the filling product shares the remaining space with the residual gas. The pressure in the container increases accordingly. The resulting pressure curve can therefore also be used to determine the respective filling state of the container and, for example, the end of filling to be achieved can also be determined on this basis.

In order to achieve a particularly hygienic and low-oxygen filling of the filling product in the container to be filled, the container to be filled is particularly preferably evacuated once before the actual evacuation for filling the container with the filling product and then flushed with a flushing gas, whereupon the container is then is again evacuated to the above-mentioned negative pressure and then the filling product is poured into the container thus evacuated. In this way it can be achieved that the residual gas which is located in the container is a largely defined gas, for example CO ₂ , in order to fill the container to be filled in a defined atmosphere and in particular a low-oxygen one To enable atmosphere. In this way, a longer storage period can be achieved and oxygen-sensitive products such as beer can also be filled.

After the filling product has been introduced, the filled container is preferably pressurized with a tensioning gas under an absolute pressure of 2 bar to 9 bar, preferably under an absolute pressure of 3.5 bar to 7 bar, particularly preferably under an absolute pressure of 3.8 bar to 5, 5 bar. _{An inert gas, for example CO 2,} can particularly preferably be used as the tensioning gas.

When the filled container is charged with a tension gas under increased pressure, for example with CO ₂ , the foam of the filler product in the head space of the filled container can be pushed back and pressed into the container. Furthermore, the filling product line can be emptied of foam and residual filling product. In addition, by applying the tension gas to the container, a renewed binding or loosening of the CO ₂ in the filling product can be promoted, so that the settling time for the filling product in the filled container can be reduced and a discharge or closing of the filled container can be prepared accordingly can.

The overpressure of the tensioning gas, with which the filled container is acted upon after the filling product has been introduced, particularly preferably corresponds to the overpressure with which the filling product is provided.

Carbonated beverages are preferably filled with the process mentioned. Contrary to the prejudice in the prior art that filling a container to be filled with a carbonized filling product is not possible when the container has a negative pressure or a vacuum, the method proposed here enables the container to be suddenly filled with a filling product, when the container is under a negative pressure or has a vacuum and the filling product reservoir is under an overpressure.

In order to shorten the settling time of the filling product in the filled container and to prevent the filling product from foaming or over-foaming when the container is brought to ambient pressure after filling, the filled container is closed without the interior of the container being exchanged with the environment. It is particularly preferable for the filled container to be closed after the filling and possibly after the container has been subjected to a tensioning gas, without the Pressure conditions in the head space of the filled container can be changed and in particular without the filled container being brought into contact with the environment.

After filling with the filling product, the container is closed without releasing the container to ambient pressure, in order to prevent the filling product from foaming, overflowing or spilling out. So there is no need to wait for the filling product to calm down, but the closing can be carried out directly. The filled container is preferably under an overpressure at an absolute pressure of 2 bar to 9 bar, preferably under an overpressure at an absolute pressure of 2.5 bar to 6 bar, or under an overpressure that corresponds to the saturation pressure of the filling product, preferably at a Absolute pressure of 1.1 bar to 6 bar, or under an overpressure which is above the saturation pressure of the filling product, preferably under an absolute pressure of 1.6 bar to 9 bar. The overpressure under which the filled container is closed is preferably the overpressure provided by the tensioning gas.

The actual closing of the filled container can be carried out by means of well-known closers with well-known closures. The filled containers can be closed with crown caps, stoppers, screw caps or roll-up closures, for example.

An evacuation of a soft-walled container, for example a PET container or another thin-walled plastic container, is made possible in that the container is introduced into an evacuable chamber and the chamber is also evacuated before or during the evacuation of the container to be filled. For this purpose, either a filler chamber can be evacuated or a separate space surrounding the respective container can be provided, which enables evacuation so that the pressure conditions on the inside and on the outside of the evacuated container to be filled are the same. Accordingly, soft-walled containers can also be filled using the proposed method. Before evacuation, the container is preferably connected in a fluid-tight manner to a filling product line for supplying the vacuum, the tensioning gas and the filling product.

At least one aroma and / or one beverage additive and / or is preferred before and / or during and / or after the filling product is introduced into the interior of the plastic container a beverage component is metered into the interior of the plastic container. In this context, drink additives are also understood to mean syrup and / or preservatives.

By metering the aroma and / or the beverage additive and / or the beverage component into the interior of the plastic container, a flexible metering of aromas and / or beverage additives and / or beverage components can be achieved, which enables a quick change between different aromas and flavors. Due to the fast filling process, as described above, part of the treatment angle in a rotary filler can be occupied by other functions. Accordingly, the method described above makes it possible to additionally provide an aroma meter for metering in aromas and / or beverage additives and / or beverage components, so that an advantageous change between different flavors is possible.

Brief description of the figures

Figur 1

eine schematische Darstellung einer Vorrichtung zum Befüllen eines Behälters mit einem Füllprodukt;

Figur 2

eine weitere schematische Darstellung einer Vorrichtung zum Befüllen eines Behälters mit einem Füllprodukt;

Figur 3

eine weitere schematische Darstellung einer Vorrichtung zum Befüllen eines Behälters mit einem Füllprodukt mit einem befüllten Behälter;

Figur 4

eine schematische Schnittdarstellung von der Seite betrachtet eines Verschließkopfes einer Vorrichtung zum Befüllen eines Behälters;

Figur 5

eine Draufsicht auf den Verschließkopf der Figur 4 in einer geschlossenen Position;

Figur 6

eine Draufsicht auf den Verschließkopf der Figuren 4 und 5 in einer geöffneten Position;

Figur 7

eine weitere schematische teilgeschnittene und seitliche Darstellung des Verschließkopfes aus den Figuren 4 bis 6;

Figur 8

eine schematische Schnittdarstellung eines Verschließkopfes in einem weiteren Ausführungsbeispiel;

Figur 9

eine schematische Schnittdarstellung eines Verschließkopfes in noch einem weiteren Ausführungsbeispiel;

Figur 10

eine schematische Schnittdarstellung einer weiteren Vorrichtung zum Befüllen eines Behälters mit einem Füllprodukt mit einem geöffneten Verschließkopf zum Zuführen eines zu befüllenden Behälters sowie eines Verschlusses;

Figur 11

eine schematische Schnittdarstellung der Vorrichtung aus Figur 10 mit geschlossenem Verschließkopf und an den Innenraum des Behälters angebundener Füllproduktleitung beim initialen Evakuieren des zu befüllenden Behälters;

Figur 12

schematische Schnittdarstellung der Vorrichtung aus Figuren 10 und 11 beim Spülen des zu befüllenden Behälters mit einem Spanngas;

Figur 13

die Vorrichtung der Figuren 10-12 in einer schematischen Schnittdarstellung beim Bereitstellen eines Unterdruckes in dem zu befüllenden Behälter;

Figur 14

eine schematische Schnittdarstellung der Vorrichtung der Figuren 10-13 beim Befüllen des zu befüllenden Behälters mit einem Füllprodukt unter Überdruck in den unter Unterdruck stehenden zu befüllenden Behälter;

Figur 15

eine schematische Schnittdarstellung der Figuren 10-14 nach Beenden des Befüllens des zu befüllenden Behälters mit einem Füllprodukt und Beaufschlagen mit einem Spanngas;

Figur 16

die Vorrichtung gemäß den Figuren 10-15 beim Beaufschlagen des Verschließkopfraumes mit dem Spanngas;

Figur 17

die Vorrichtung der Figuren 10-16 in einer schematischen Schnittdarstellung beim Lösen der Verbindung der Füllproduktleitung von dem befüllten Behälter;

Figur 18

die Vorrichtung der Figuren 10-17 in einer schematischen Schnittdarstellung beim Zurückziehen der Füllproduktleitung;

Figur 19

eine schematische Schnittdarstellung der Vorrichtung aus den Figuren 10-18 beim Verschließen des befüllten Behälters;

Figur 20

eine schematische Schnittdarstellung der Vorrichtung aus den Figuren 10-19 beim Entlasten des Verschließkopfraumes;

Figur 21

eine schematische Schnittdarstellung der Vorrichtung aus den Figuren 10-20 bei geöffnetem Verschließkopf zum Ausschleusen des befüllten und verschlossenen Behälters;

Figur 22

die schematische Darstellung einer Vorrichtung zum Befüllen eines Behälters mit einem Füllprodukt gemäß Figur 1 in einer Weiterbildung mit einem Aromadosierer;

Figur 23

die schematische Darstellung einer Vorrichtung zum Befüllen eines Behälters mit einem Füllprodukt gemäß Figur 2 in einer Weiterbildung mit einem Aromadosierer; und

Figur 24

eine schematische Schnittdarstellung eines Verschließkopfes einer Vorrichtung zum Befüllen eines Behälters gemäß Figur 4 in einer Weiterbildung mit einem Aromadosierer.

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

Figure 1

a schematic representation of a device for filling a container with a filling product;

Figure 2

a further schematic representation of a device for filling a container with a filling product;

Figure 3

a further schematic representation of a device for filling a container with a filling product with a filled container;

Figure 4

a schematic sectional view, viewed from the side, of a closing head of a device for filling a container;

Figure 5

a top view of the closing head of Figure 4 in a closed position;

Figure 6

a top view of the closing head of Figures 4 and 5 in an open position;

Figure 7

a further schematic, partially sectioned and side view of the closing head from FIG Figures 4 to 6 ;

Figure 8

a schematic sectional view of a closing head in a further embodiment;

Figure 9

a schematic sectional view of a closing head in yet another embodiment;

Figure 10

a schematic sectional view of a further device for filling a container with a filling product with an open closing head for feeding in a container to be filled and a closure;

Figure 11

a schematic sectional view of the device Figure 10 with the closing head closed and the filling product line connected to the interior of the container during the initial evacuation of the container to be filled;

Figure 12

schematic sectional view of the device Figures 10 and 11 when purging the container to be filled with a tension gas;

Figure 13

the device of the Figures 10-12 in a schematic sectional view when providing a negative pressure in the container to be filled;

Figure 14

a schematic sectional view of the device of FIG Figures 10-13 when filling the container to be filled with a filling product under excess pressure into the container to be filled which is under negative pressure;

Figure 15

a schematic sectional view of the Figures 10-14 after completion of the filling of the container to be filled with a filling product and the application of a tension gas;

Figure 16

the device according to the Figures 10-15 when applying the clamping gas to the closing head space;

Figure 17

the device of the Figures 10-16 in a schematic sectional view when the connection of the filling product line is released from the filled container;

Figure 18

the device of the Figures 10-17 in a schematic sectional view when the filling product line is withdrawn;

Figure 19

a schematic sectional view of the device from FIG Figures 10-18 when closing the filled container;

Figure 20

a schematic sectional view of the device from FIG Figures 10-19 when relieving the closing head space;

Figure 21

a schematic sectional view of the device from FIG Figures 10-20 with the closing head open, for discharging the filled and closed container;

Figure 22

the schematic representation of a device for filling a container with a filling product according to FIG Figure 1 in a further development with an aroma meter;

Figure 23

the schematic representation of a device for filling a container with a filling product according to FIG Figure 2 in a further development with an aroma meter; and

Figure 24

a schematic sectional view of a closing head of a device for filling a container according to FIG Figure 4 in a further training with an aroma meter.

Detailed description of preferred exemplary embodiments

Preferred exemplary embodiments are described below with reference to the figures. Identical, similar or identically acting elements are denoted by identical reference symbols in the different figures and a repeated description of these elements is in some cases dispensed with in the following description in order to avoid redundancies.

Figure 1 shows schematically a device 1 for filling a container 100 with a filling product 110. The filling product 110 to be filled is received in a filling product feed arranged above the container 100 in the form of a filling product reservoir 2, which can be provided, for example, in the form of a central vessel or a ring vessel of a rotary filler. The filling product 110 is present in the lower part of the filling product reservoir 2, so that a gas space 20 is formed above the filling product 110 in the filling product reservoir 2.

A corresponding gas or gas mixture is present in the gas space 20, depending on the respective filling product 110 to be filled. For example, in the case of a carbonated beverage to be filled, the gas space 20 will have CO ₂ , which is preferably present at an overpressure, which means that the CO ₂ bound in the carbonated beverage is not released. Furthermore, the oxygen can be displaced from the gas space 20 by the CO ₂ , so that there is hardly any or no oxygen in the filling product reservoir 2, which is particularly preferred in the case of filling products that are sensitive to oxygen, such as beer. When filling still beverages, another inert gas can also be present in the gas space 20, which enables the filling product 110 to be handled with particular care.

A filling product line 3, which comprises a centering bell 30, is shown schematically in the figure. The container 100 to be filled is pressed with its mouth 102 in a sealing manner against the centering bell 30, so that a gas-tight and liquid-tight connection is formed. Correspondingly, there is a gas-tight and liquid-tight connection between the filling product line 3 and the interior of the container 100 by means of the centering bell 30.

The filling product 110 can pass from the filling product reservoir 2 via the filling product line 3 into the interior of the container 100 via a filling product valve 32. The filling product valve 32 controls the beginning and the end of filling, so that the container 100 is filled with a predetermined amount of filling product 110.

The end of filling and thus the closing of the filling product valve 32 can be determined, for example, by reaching a predetermined filling level N in the container 100, by reaching a predetermined filling weight and / or by reaching a predetermined filling volume. As a further possibility, a metering chamber can also be provided, into which the filling product is pre-metered and then also present in this metering chamber under the excess pressure. The filling process ends when the dosing chamber is empty.

As a further possibility for determining the end of filling, the pressure curve in the container 100 to be filled can be viewed during the filling process with the filling product 110 and the filling process and the end of filling can be controlled on the basis of the pressure curve. For example, the end of filling can be reached when a certain pressure inside the container 100 is exceeded. For this purpose, a pressure sensor 38 can be provided in the filling product line 3, which monitors the pressure conditions in the container 100 during the filling process.

A throttle valve 36 can be provided upstream of the filling product valve 32 in the product-carrying line, by means of which the maximum flow rate can be controlled when the filling product valve 32 is open. By means of the throttle valve 36, the course of the filling process can be influenced in a targeted manner and, for example, only a reduced flow rate can be provided towards the end of the filling process in order, for example, to enable the filling end to be reached exactly.

Furthermore, a vacuum device 4 is provided, which is also in communication with the filling product line 3 and thus also with the interior of the container 100 via a vacuum valve 40 can be brought. The interior of the container 100 can be evacuated by means of the vacuum device 4 and the gas located in the interior of the container 100 can be pumped out accordingly. The pressure that can be provided with the vacuum device 4 in the interior of the container 100 is preferably an absolute pressure of 0.5 bar to 0.05 bar, preferably 0.3 bar to 0.1 bar, particularly preferably approx. 0.1 bar. Correspondingly, a large part of the gas located in the interior of the container can be pumped out by means of the vacuum device 4.

The gas space 20 of the filling product reservoir 2 can be subjected to an overpressure via a pressure line 22, so that the filling product reservoir 2 is under pressure as a whole. The gas received in the gas space 20 of the filling product reservoir 2 is preferably an inert gas and particularly preferably CO ₂ , especially when the filling product 110 is a carbonated beverage, for example beer, a soft drink or mineral water.

If the filling product 110 is a carbonized filling product, by supplying CO ₂ via the pressure line 22 into the gas space 20 above the filling product 110, such a pressure can be provided that the CO _{2 is} prevented from being released from the filling product 110. An absolute pressure of 1 bar to 9 bar is particularly preferably provided here, preferably an absolute pressure of 2.5 bar to 6 bar, particularly preferably an absolute pressure of 2.8 bar to 3.3 bar, is maintained in the gas space 20.

In a further development, the filling product 110 is provided in the filling product reservoir 2 under ambient pressure, preferably under an absolute pressure of 1 bar. The filling product 110 can also be provided in the filling product reservoir 2 under an overpressure which corresponds to the saturation pressure of the filling product 110, preferably at an absolute pressure of 1.1 bar to 6 bar. In a further embodiment, the filling product 110 can also be provided in the filling product reservoir 2 under an overpressure that is above the saturation pressure of the filling product 110, preferably under an absolute pressure of 1.6 bar to 9 bar.

By means of the vacuum device 4, which can be brought into fluid connection with the interior of the container 100 via the filling product line 3, the container 100 can be evacuated before the actual filling with the filling product 110. For this purpose, when the vacuum valve 40 is open, the gas which is located in the container 100 is drawn off via the vacuum device 4. If the container 100 is connected to the centering bell 30, for example coming from the ambient atmosphere, the vacuum device 4 that is located in the container 100 is used Ambient air withdrawn. If a gas atmosphere, for example an inert gas or CO ₂ , has already been applied to the container 100, the vacuum device 4 accordingly pumps this gas atmosphere out of the container 100. The vacuum device 4 is preferably designed in such a way that it can provide a significant negative pressure in the container 100, for example in the range of an absolute pressure of 0.5 to 0.05 bar.

The valves, in particular the filling product valve 32 and the vacuum valve 40, are activated via a control device 7. The control device 7 can either be designed as an analog control, or expediently as a programmed control, for example in the form of a PC or industrial PC. The control device 7 can also be a module of the entire system control of a rotary filler, a rotary closer or a filling system.

The control device 7 is set up to carry out the method described below and is programmed in particular to carry out this method and to control the corresponding system components. Correspondingly, the valves and components are activated one after the other in such a way that the method takes place in the form described.

Particularly preferred, but not shown in the figures, the control device 7 is connected to sensors and transmitters which, for example, monitor the pressure conditions in the container 100 or in the filling product line 3 connected to the container 100 and in the filling product reservoir 2.

The filling method, which by means of the device 1 according to Figure 1 can be carried out, now provides for the loading of the filling product reservoir 2 or the gas space 20 of the filling product reservoir 2 with an overpressure. The overpressure can be provided, for example, by supplying a corresponding gas under pressure via the pressure line 22.

In an embodiment not shown in the figure, the filling product feed 2 can also be provided in the form of a line in which the filling product 110 is guided under pressure. A so-called black-filled line, that is to say completely filled with no gas space, can be used with particular preference.

In order to fill a container 100 with the filling product 110, the interior of the container 100 is evacuated via the vacuum device 4 with the filling product valve 32 closed and the vacuum valve 40 open and brought to a corresponding negative pressure. If the predetermined negative pressure, for example 0.1 bar, is reached in the container 100, the vacuum valve 40 is closed and the filling product valve 32 is opened. Due to the large pressure difference between the interior of the container 100, in which there is a negative pressure, and the filling product reservoir 2, in which there is an overpressure, the container 100 is suddenly filled with the filling product 110. The filling process can thus be carried out very quickly and is therefore ended quickly.

Since during the filling process, due to the negative pressure already in the container 100, at least in the first phase of the filling, no gas is displaced from the container 100 when the filling product 110 flows in, but only the negative pressure is reduced, the filling product can also be displaced over the entire opening cross-section d the mouth 102 of the container 100 flow away into the container 100.

Thus, when filling the container 100 with the filling product 110, the filling process can be achieved at least over the largest area of the filling process with a fluid flow in only one direction, namely a fluid flow which is directed exclusively into the container 100. A counterflow of a fluid, for example a gas, does not take place, since a displacement of gas from the container 100 into the filling product line 3 and / or into the filling product reservoir 2 does not take place. Rather, by filling the container 100, only the negative pressure in the container 100 is slowly reduced. Only towards the end of the filling process, when there is a slow rise in the pressure in the head space K of the container 100, i.e. the space above the filling level N of the filling product 110 in the container 100, and possibly an adjustment of the pressure conditions in the container 100 to the pressure conditions comes in the filling product line 3, the inflow of the filling product 110 from the filling product reservoir 2 will slow down.

However, depending on the respective negative pressure provided in the container 100, such a slowdown can also be avoided. The lower the pressure in the container 100 to be filled, the lower the slowdown will be, since at a lower pressure in the container 100 to be filled there is still a significant negative pressure in the container 100 even at the time of the closing of the filling product valve 32.

The point in time of the slowing down therefore depends on the negative pressure present in the container 100 and consequently on the design of the vacuum device 4. The lower the pressure in the container 100, the later there will be an equalization of the pressure ratios or, in an extreme case of a particularly high vacuum in the container 100, the pressure ratios will not be equalized at all, but there will still be a negative pressure in the head space K, even if the desired filling level N has already been reached and the filling product valve 32 has already been closed.

The overpressure in the filling product reservoir 2 remains essentially constant over time. During the filling, however, the pressure in the container 100 rises because of the inflowing filling product 110. If the negative pressure in the container 100 to be filled is selected such that the pressure in the container 100 and in particular in the head space K has exceeded a certain level at the end of the filling process, the increasing pressure can also regulate the flow of filling product flowing into the container 100 become. Accordingly, the flow of filling product slows down towards the end of the filling process, so that reaching the end of filling can be easily supported and the filling product valve 32 can then be closed.

Accordingly, the in Figure 1 1 shown device for filling a container 100 with a filling product 110 a very fast, abrupt filling of the filling product 110 into the container 100 can be achieved by the fact that there is a large pressure gradient between the filling product reservoir 2 and the interior of the container 100 and thus a high flow rate can be achieved since the filling product is virtually pressed into the container 100 by the pressure gradient (from the perspective of the filling product reservoir 2) and sucked (from the perspective of the container 100). At the same time, the negative pressure in the container 100 to be filled ensures that there is a fluid flow directed exclusively into the container 100 and that no gas flow in the opposite direction occurs, so that the container can be filled using the entire opening cross-section d of the opening 102 of the container .

This makes it possible to fill the container 100 in very short filling times, for example when filling a conventional 0.5 l beer bottle in a filling time of 0.3 seconds. For comparison, the filling times of the same beer bottle in the counter-pressure process using hydrostatic pressure are around 4.5 seconds. Accordingly, with the proposed method, a sudden filling of the container 100 to be filled can be achieved, so that the filling process can be carried out more quickly overall. From this this can either result in a higher capacity for a given filler size, or a filler, for example a rotary filler, can be designed with smaller dimensions and a reduced number of filling points.

The number of filling points preferably corresponds essentially to the number of closing points. In a further development, the number of filling points preferably corresponds to 1 to 2 times the number of closing points. In this way, a particularly compact filling system can be provided.

In Figure 2 A further development of the device 1 is shown, wherein in addition to the filling product reservoir 2, which is connected to the filling product line 3 via the filling product valve 32, and the vacuum device 4, which is connected to the filling product line 3 via the vacuum valve 40, a tensioning gas device 5 is also provided, which can also be connected to the filling product line 3 via a tensioning gas valve 50. The tensioning gas valve 50 can also be activated by means of the control device 7. The control device 7 is set up in such a way that the described method runs.

With the tensioning gas valve 50 open, CO _2, for example, can be introduced into the container 100 via the filling product line 3 by means of the tensioning gas device 5. Another inert gas can also be used as tensioning gas. The tensioning gas can act on the filled container 100 under an absolute pressure of 2 bar to 9 bar, preferably under an absolute pressure of 3.5 bar to 7 bar, particularly preferably under an absolute pressure of 3.8 bar to 5.5 bar.

In a preferred embodiment, the tensioning gas device 5 is connected to the gas space 20 of the filling product reservoir 2. The gas to be supplied to the container 100 in this way is correspondingly under the same pressure as the gas received in the gas space 20 and it is accordingly also the same gas.

A preferred filling method, which is a further development of the to Figure 1 The filling method described above enables the container 100 to be evacuated by opening the vacuum valve 40 with the filling product valve 32 and the clamping gas valve 50 closed by means of the vacuum device 4. At a pressure of 0.1 bar due to the evacuation, 90% of the atmospheric oxygen is correspondingly out of the container 100 away. Once the desired negative pressure has been reached in the container 100, for example a pressure of 0.1 bar, the vacuum valve is activated 40 is closed and the tensioning gas valve 50 is opened, and corresponding tensioning gas, for example CO ₂ , is introduced into the container 1 via the tensioning gas device 5.

After the tensioning gas has been introduced via the tensioning gas device 5, the tensioning gas valve 50 is closed again and the vacuum valve 40 is opened again so that the gas mixture can again be withdrawn from the container 100 via the vacuum device. In this way, when the pressure in the container 100 is reduced to 0.1 bar, a 99% reduction in the oxygen content in the container 100 is achieved compared to the initial state.

Then the in this way evacuated and correspondingly under negative pressure container 100 after closing the vacuum valve 40 and opening the filling product valve 32, as to Figure 1 described, suddenly filled with the filling product 110 from the filling product reservoir 2. The filling product valve 32 is closed when the desired filling level N in the container 100 is reached.

In a particularly preferred development, after the filling product valve 32 has been closed, the tensioning gas valve 50 can again be opened and tensioning gas can be introduced into the filling product line 3 via the tensioning gas device 5. As a result, the negative pressure still present in the head space K or in the container 100 is reduced and instead an overpressure is built up or an overpressure already present in the head space K is further increased. At the same time, residual filling product located in the filling product line 3 is pressed into the container 100 by the inflowing tension gas. In particular when filling a filling product 110 with a high foaming tendency, after the container 100 is suddenly filled with the filling product, there may still be foam filling product in the filling product line 3 and the head space K of the container 100. By opening the tensioning gas valve 50 and applying the tensioning gas to the filling product line 3 and the head space K, this foam can be pushed back into the container 100 so that there is essentially no filling product, in particular no filling product foam, in the filling product line 3.

When the container 100 or the head space K of the container 100 is charged with a tension gas, for example CO ₂ , under an increased pressure, for example at 1.1 to 3 bar, preferably at 2 bar, the debinding of a carbonized filling product 110 can continue are suppressed in the container 100 or a renewed binding of CO ₂ released during the filling process are supported by the increased pressure.

The filling is then completed.

In Figure 3 is shown schematically a further device 1, the structure of which from Figure 2 resembles. The container 100 can in turn be filled via the filling product line 3 with the filling product 110 supplied from a filling product supply in the form of the filling product reservoir 2. A corresponding tensioning gas device 5 or a vacuum device 4 can be used to supply vacuum or tensioning gas to the container 100. The tensioning gas and the vacuum are conducted in a combined gas line 45. A shut-off valve 34 is provided which closes the gas line 45 of the vacuum device 4 and the tensioning gas device 5, which is combined here, from the filling product line 3. The shut-off valve 34 is also activated via the control device 7. The control device 7 is set up accordingly in such a way that the described method runs.

When the filling level N is reached, this results in a head space K which lies between the maximum filling level A of the container 100 and the filling level N. Furthermore, a foam space C is formed, which corresponds to the volume between the filling level N and the filling product valve 32 and the shut-off valve 34. Accordingly, the foam space C has a volume which corresponds to the head space K plus the section of the filling product line 3 between the mouth 102 of the filled container 100 and the filling product valve 32 and the shut-off valve 34.

The foam space C is preferably to be kept as small as possible in order to achieve, when the container 100 is suddenly filled with the filling product 110, that only a limited amount of foam is present, in particular when filling a carbonized filling product 110. By charging the foam space C or the filling product line 3 with the pressurized tensioning gas, for example CO ₂ , from the tensioning gas device 5, it can be achieved that the foam is pressed out of the foam space C into the container 100. By minimizing the foam space C, it can be achieved here that all foam is already pressed into the container 100 via the tensioning gas device 5 by means of a moderate predetermined excess pressure. Furthermore, the filling accuracy is also increased if the foam space C contains only a moderate volume. The one in foam room C Any remaining filling product then has only an insignificant influence on the filling level N after the filling product valve 32 has been switched off, so that precise filling is possible.

In preferred embodiments, the ratio of foam space C to head space K is 1.1 to 3, preferably approx. 2, so that the filling product foam can be fully introduced by introducing the tension gas into the container 100.

Figures 4 to 7 show preferred embodiments of a part of a device 1 for filling a schematically indicated container 100 with a filling product. A closing head 6 is provided here, which is used to fill the container 100 and to close the filled container 100.

The container 100 to be filled is held with its mouth area 102 on the closing head 6 in a sealed manner. For this purpose, the closing head 6 has a container seal 600, which accordingly comes into sealing contact with the mouth area 102 of the container 100. The closing head 6 has a closing head space 60 which is in communication with the interior of the container via the mouth protruding into the closing head space 60.

A filling product line 3 is also provided which has a centering bell 30 which has a seal 300 which can be placed sealingly on the mouth 102 of the container 100 in order to provide a gas-tight and fluid-tight connection. Correspondingly, as shown in the previous figures in other embodiments, a fluid-tight and gas-tight seal between the filling product line 3 and the interior of the container 100 can be made. The filling product line 3 can be shifted together with the centering bell 30 in the displacement direction X such that the filling product line 3 with the centering bell 30 is advanced so that it is placed directly on the mouth 102 of the container 100 in a sealing manner. In the in Figure 4 However, the centering bell 30 is withdrawn, so that the space above the opening 102 in the closing head space 60 is free. The advanced position of the centering bell 30, in which the centering bell 30 rests sealingly on the mouth 102, is shown in FIG Figure 7 shown schematically.

The passage of the filling product line 3 into the sealing head space 60 is sealed off by means of filling product line seals 620, so that the sealing head space 60 is opposite to the Environment is sealed, even if the fluid product line 3 is displaced in the displacement direction X.

In the exemplary embodiment shown, a closer 62 is also provided, which holds a container closure 104 via a magnet 622, the container closure 104 here being designed in the form of a crown cap. The capper 62 can be lowered and raised in the lifting direction Y, the capper sealing the capping head space 60 from the environment via a capper seal 640.

The sealer 62 is arranged coaxially to the container axis 106 of the container 100 and thus also coaxially to the mouth 102 of the container 100 in order to be able to reliably apply the container closure 104 to the container 100.

In Figure 5 the closing head 6 is shown in a top view, it being evident that the closing head 6 has two closing head jaws 64, 66 which, as can also be seen, for example, from Figure 6 directly results, can be opened and closed. The closing head space 60, which in Figure 6 shown can be formed around the mouth 102 of the container 100 by a corresponding closing of the closing head jaws 64, 66. The closer 62 is arranged above the mouth 102 of the container 100 in order to enable the container 100 to be closed accordingly.

In the in Figure 6 The open position of the closing head jaws 64, 66 of the closing head 6 shown in FIG. 1, a container 100 can be introduced or discharged.

The filling process results accordingly in such a way that, as for example in Figure 7 shown schematically, the closing head 6 is closed and keeps the container 100 sealed in such a way that the mouth 102 of the container 100 lies in the closing head space 60. By advancing the filling product line 3 in such a way that the centering bell 30 with its seal 300 is pressed sealingly onto the mouth 102 of the container 100, a direct connection of the filling product line 3 and thus the interior of the container 100 with a filling product reservoir 2, with a vacuum device, can be established 4 and be formed with a tensioning gas device 5.

The actual filling process then runs accordingly on the already to the Figures 2 and 3rd described way. In particular, first of all, it is particularly preferred to rinse the Container 100 made with CO ₂ , for which purpose an evacuation first takes place via the vacuum device 4 and then the container 100 is flooded _{with CO 2.} Thereafter, the filling product is pumped out again via the vacuum device 4 and then the filling product is introduced into the vacuum created in this way or the negative pressure in the container 100 by opening the filling product valve 32. Accordingly, the container 100 is suddenly filled with the filling product 110.

If the filling product valve 32 is closed again after the end of filling, a tensioning gas is applied via the tensioning gas device 5 in such a way that any foam in the foam space is completely pressed into the container 100 and an overpressure is accordingly built up in the head space of the container 100.

When the desired overpressure is reached in the container 100, the sealing of the centering bell 30 with the interior of the container 100 is broken, for example by lifting the centering bell 30. Then the filling product line 3 is withdrawn in such a way that the centering bell 30 is in the, for example, in Figure 4 shown parking position is withdrawn.

The closing head space 60 is now also acted upon by the tensioning gas, since when the filling product line 3 is withdrawn, the filling product line 3 then enters into fluid connection with the closing head space 60. Correspondingly, in the retracted position of the centering bell 30, as shown in FIG Figure 4 is shown, the closing head space 60 can also be acted upon by _{the tensioning gas, for example CO 2, via the filling product line 3.} In a variant, the closing head space 60 can also be charged with tensioning gas before the container 100 is filled, this preferably being achieved via a centering bell 30 which is not yet sealingly attached to the container 100.

Correspondingly, when the centering bell 300 is released, there is no relaxation of the pressure present in the container 100, but the pressure applied by the tensioning gas device 5 continues to be maintained and applied to the interior of the container 100. This is achieved in particular in that the interior of the container 100 communicates with the closing head space 60. This can accordingly ensure that the CO _{2 is} prevented from being released or the filling product is prevented from being shot out of the container 100 through the mouth 102 and that the same state is maintained that was obtained after the container 100 was suddenly filled and the Headspace of the container 100 is reached with the tensioning gas. In other words, the filling product can be prevented from overflowing or foaming over or spilling out, since the pressure level in the container 100 is not changed even when the connection between the filling product line 3 and the mouth 102 is released.

If the filling product line 3 is then withdrawn and the centering bell 30 is in the corresponding position in FIG Figure 4 Arranged in the parking position shown, the closer 62 can be lowered and the container closure 104, for example the crown cap, can be applied to the container 100. The closing of the container 100 takes place accordingly under the pressure that is present in the closing head space 60, that is to say under an overpressure.

As soon as the container closure 104 is applied to the container 100, the pressure in the closure head space 60 can be released. In the exemplary embodiment shown, this is achieved in that the closing head jaws 64, 66 are opened. Then the completely filled and closed container 100 can be discharged.

As already described above, the sealing head jaws 64, 66 are provided with a large number of seals which make it possible to provide both a secure seal for the mouth area 102 of the container 100 and a secure seal for the movable filling product line 3 or for the closer 62 when the sealing head jaws 64, 66 are in the closed position, such as for example in FIG Figure 5 shown are arranged. The respective components are accommodated in the closing head jaws 64, 66 via corresponding recesses.

The filling product line 3 with the centering bell 30 and the closer 62 remain relatively in the same position when the closing head jaws 64, 66 are opened and closed. In the open position of the closing head jaws 64, 66, not only can the container 100 to be filled be picked up, but a new container closure 104 can also be transferred to the closer 62.

By arranging the closing device 62 and the filling product line 3 with the centering bell 30 in the closed closing head space 60, it can accordingly be achieved that after the container 100 has been filled, the container 100 can be closed without the Container 100 is relieved or without changing the pressure conditions between filling and closing.

In the closing head space 60 there is preferably an overpressure. This overpressure can preferably be at an absolute pressure of 2 bar to 9 bar, particularly preferably at an overpressure with an absolute pressure of 2.5 bar to 6 bar, or at an overpressure which corresponds to the saturation pressure of the filling product 110, preferably at an absolute pressure of 1.1 bar to 6 bar, or at an excess pressure which is above the saturation pressure of the filling product 110, preferably at an absolute pressure of 1.6 bar to 9 bar. The above-mentioned excess pressures can prevent the CO _{2 from being released from the carbonized, abruptly filled filling product 110, especially when using CO 2} as tension gas, and thus prevent the filling product 110 from foaming over, leaking or shooting out of the mouth 102 of the container 100 after removal the centering bell 30 can be prevented.

The arrangement described provides a combined system of closer and filler, in which the number of filling organs essentially corresponds to the number of closing organs. The number of filling points particularly preferably corresponds to 1 to 2 times the number of closing points. In a further development, filling elements and closing elements can also be provided in different rotary carousels, but the number of filling elements and closing elements is essentially the same.

The different process steps, for example opening and closing valves, advancing or retracting or pivoting the centering bell 30, raising and lowering the closer 62 or opening and closing the closing head jaws 64, 66 are all, or at least to a large extent, via the Control device 7 controlled. The control device is set up and designed such that the method steps run as described.

Figure 8 shows a variant of a closing head 6 in which the filling product line 3 is not, as in FIG Figures 4 to 7 shown, is displaceable along its length, but is pivotable about an axis of rotation 320 around. Correspondingly, the filler bell 30 with its respective seal 300 with the mouth 102 of the container 100 can be filled by appropriately positioning the centering bell 30 over the mouth 102 and, after the filling process has been completed, the filling product line 3 can move around the pivot axis 320 in the Closing head space 60 can be pivoted into a parking position, whereupon the closer 62 can close the container 100.

In the embodiment shown, there is also a filling product valve 32, which is designed as a cone seat valve, and a shut-off valve 34, also designed as a cone seat valve, which shuts off the combined gas line 45, which enables either the provision of a vacuum or the provision of a tensioning gas via the filling product channel 3. The lines and valves extend along the axis of rotation 320 in order to achieve the simplest possible connection of the fluid-carrying lines.

If the filling product line 3 is in the in Figure 8 The embodiment shown is pivoted into its parking position, the closing head space 60 can in turn be charged with the tensioning gas via the filling product line 3. Here, too, the closing head space 60 can be charged with the tensioning gas before the start of the filling process.

Due to the arrangement of the filling product valve 32 and the shut-off valve 34 very close to the centering bell 30, the foam space C can only have a small volume, which on the one hand enables precise filling of the container 100 and, on the other hand, enables the filling product channel 3 to be completely cleared with the tensioning gas, and thus also a drip-free filling.

Figure 9 shows a further embodiment of a closing head 6, the filling product line not being shown here. Two closing head jaws 64, 66 are provided which can be pivoted relative to one another and which enable the closing head space 60 to be opened quickly and easily to accommodate the container 100. For this purpose, the front sealing head jaw 66 is pivoted upwards in the direction of the arrow, whereby the front sealing head jaw 66 can be pivoted out to the side via a vertical toggle clamp 680 in order to pick up a container 100 or to eject a completely filled container 100. The opening also serves to transfer a container closure 104 to the closer 62.

In the in Figure 9 The embodiment shown, only the container 100 or the mouth 102 of the container 100 is received by pivoting the closing head jaws 64, 66. The remaining components, such as the closer 62 and the not However, the filling product feed shown are not enclosed by the wear head jaws 64, 66 together, but are located in the stationary wear head jaw 64. This can improve the wear behavior and sealing behavior of the respective seals.

In an exemplary embodiment not shown, a separate chamber is provided for each container 100, which, independently of the closure head space 60, receives the container 100 in a space sealed off from the environment, but leaves at least the mouth 102 of the container 100 free in such a way that it can dip into the closing head space 60.

In the separate chamber in which the container 100 is received, a negative pressure can also be applied, which preferably corresponds to the negative pressure generated in the container 100. In this way, the same pressure conditions can be created on the inside and the outside of the container 100 to be filled, so that containers 100 with soft or flexible walls can also be evacuated and the filling product can accordingly be filled into the container subjected to negative pressure.

The proposed method is described below in a particularly preferred embodiment based on Figures 10-21 shown again.

In Figure 10 a device 1 for filling a container 100 with a filling product is shown schematically, the container 100 having an opening 102 through which the filling product is to be introduced into the interior of the container 100.

The device 1 comprises a filling product line 3 which has a centering bell 30 which is provided for receiving the mouth 102 of the container 100. The filling product line 3 is displaceable in a displacement direction X in order to be positionable over the mouth 102 of the container 100 and, in the manner shown in FIG Figure 10 shown, retracted position, to give a closer 62 the possibility of applying a container closure 104.

The closer 62 is in Figure 10 also shown in a retracted position, in which a container closure 104, which is shown here in the form of a crown cap, can be fed to the closure device 62. The closer 62 is in the lifting direction Y of the closer can be raised and lowered to switch between the in Figure 10 retracted position shown and a locking position to be movable to and fro.

The filling product line 3 and the closer 62 extend into a schematically illustrated closing head 6 which encloses a closing head space 60. A pressure-tight seal of the feedthrough of the filling product line 3 is achieved by means of a filling product line seal 620, a pressure-tight passage of the closer 62 is achieved by a closer seal 640 and a pressure-tight receptacle of the mouth 102 of the container 100 is achieved by a container seal 600. In the in Figure 10 In the exemplary embodiment shown, the closing head 6 is opened in such a way that both the container closure 104 can be fed to the closer 62 and a container 100 with its mouth 102 can be introduced. The mouth 102 is received by the container seal 600 in such a way that the interior of the container 100 is continuously sealed with the closure head space 60 and accordingly forms a common volume that is sealed off from the environment.

Accordingly, in Figure 10 A state of the device 1 is shown in which the closing head 6 is open, for example by opening the closing head jaws not explicitly shown here, such that the closer 62 can be loaded with the container closure 104 and the container 100 to be filled with its mouth 102 can also be loaded can be incorporated sealingly. In this state, both the closer 62 and the filling product line 3 are preferably arranged in a retracted position, for example in a parking position in which they do not interfere with one another and also do not block the picking up of the container 100 to be filled.

The closer 62 naturally moves in the stroke direction Y of the closer 62 along the container axis 106 in order to enable the container closure 104 to be applied to the mouth 102 of the container 100 in a known manner. The closer 62 can, as in the Figures 10-21 shown to be such a closer, by means of which a crown cap is applied. In an alternative embodiment, however, the closer 62 can also apply roll-up closures, screw closures or stoppers. The closer 62 in the exemplary embodiments shown is to be understood here only schematically and is not limited to the crown cap closer shown. Rather, any possible type of closure can be applied by means of a corresponding closer 62.

In order to enable a corresponding application of the container closure 104 to the container 100 or to its mouth 102, the container receptacle 68 of the closing head 6 is designed so that, together with the container seal 600, it holds the container 100 so that the container can be closed without problems 102 is made possible by the closer 62. On the one hand, the container receptacle 68, which is only indicated schematically here, is designed in such a way that the mouth 102 is arranged essentially centered to the closer 62, in such a way that by lowering the closer 62 in the lifting direction Y, the container closure 104 directly hits the mouth 102 can be applied. Furthermore, the container receptacle 68 is designed such that a closing force exerted by the closer 62 can be transferred to the closing head 6 without the container 100 being significantly displaced in the container receptacle 68. In the case of the closer 62 designed as a crown cap closer, the container 100 is held in the container receptacle 68 in such a way that a force exerted by the closer 62 on the mouth 102 of the container 100 in the direction of the stroke direction Y can be absorbed.

If the capper 62 is designed as a screw capper for applying screw caps or as a roll-on capper for applying roll-up closures, the container receptacle 68 is designed in such a way that it can also transfer the torque entered via the screw capper in such a way that the container 100 is in the container receptacle 68 does not rotate or only rotates insignificantly.

Furthermore, the container receptacle 68 is designed in such a way that the mouth 102 of the container 100 protrudes so far into the closing head space 60 that a problem-free closing is made possible without the closer 62 or the container closure 104 on structures or inner surfaces of the closing head 6 defining the closing head space 60 would toast.

As already described above, the filling product line 3 is connected via a filling product valve 32 to a filling product feed in the form of a filling product reservoir 2, via a vacuum valve 40 to a vacuum device 4 and via a tensioning gas valve 50 to a tensioning gas device 5.

A particularly preferred method for filling a container 100 with a filling product, in particular with a carbonized filling product, such as beer, carbonized soft drinks, mineral water, sparkling wines, etc., is now described below.

In Figure 10 the container 100 is fed to the container receptacle 68 and the container closure 104 is fed to the closer 62. The sealing head 6 is then closed in such a way that the sealing head space 60 is sealed gas-tight and pressure-tight from the environment.

In Figure 11 A further step is shown in which the container 100 is connected to the filling product line 3, the vacuum valve 40 is open and accordingly the vacuum device 4 is in communication via the filling product line 3 with the interior of the container 100 and the interior of the container 100 is evacuated accordingly . In this way, the ambient air still present in the container 100 is drawn off from the interior of the container 100.

In Figure 12 the vacuum valve 40 is closed and the tensioning gas valve 50 is opened to allow an inert gas, preferably CO ₂ , into the interior of the container 100 via the tensioning gas device 5. This means that the in Figure 11 In the step shown, ambient air still located in the container volume of the container 100 is diluted by the inert gas.

In the next step, which is in Figure 13 is shown, the vacuum valve 40 is again opened in order to set the interior of the container 100 via the filling product line 3 with the vacuum device 4 in communication. In this way, the residual air remaining in the container volume of the container 100 _{is withdrawn together with the inert gas, for example the CO 2} , in such a way that a negative pressure is generated in the container 100 to be filled, an absolute pressure of 0.5 bar to 0 here .05 bar, preferably from 0.3 bar to 0.1 bar, particularly preferably from 0.1 bar. In this way, the residual oxygen content in the container volume V can be reduced even further in order to achieve a reduction in atmospheric oxygen, for example 99% compared to the initial state, in the container which is then under negative pressure. Such a low-oxygen state in the container volume V of the container 100 to be filled is particularly important when filling products that are sensitive to oxygen are to be filled, for example when filling beer or fruit juices. After reaching the negative pressure in the container 100 in the in Figure 13 The step shown in the figure, the filling product valve 32 is now opened in such a way that the filling product supply 2 is in communication with the filling product line 3 and the container 100. The excess pressure in the filling product feed 2 is preferably an absolute pressure of 1 bar to 9 bar, preferably at an absolute pressure of 2.5 bar to 6 bar, particularly preferably at an absolute pressure of 2.8 bar to 3.3 bar.

If now in the process step in Figure 14 the filling product valve 32 is opened, the filling product 110 suddenly shoots through the filling product line 3 into the volume V of the container 100. The container 100 is filled with the filling product correspondingly suddenly and extremely quickly. When the end of filling is reached, the filling product valve 32 is correspondingly closed again.

Since the container 100 was not evacuated with an absolute vacuum, but is at an absolute pressure of preferably 0.5 bar to 0.05 bar, the negative pressure in the container 100 is gradually reduced by the filling with the filling product. However, because there is an overpressure of 1 bar to 9 bar in the filling product supply 2, the pressure gradient between the container 100 and the filling product supply 2 is also ensured towards the end of the filling process.

The end of filling and, accordingly, the closing of the filling product valve 32 can be determined using different methods. For example, a volume filling can be represented using a flow meter or a time filling in which the filling product valve 32 is closed again after a certain opening time.

In an alternative, the pressure increase in the container 100 is determined to determine the end of filling, and when a certain pressure in the container 100 is exceeded, the filling product valve 32 is closed.

After closing the filling product valve 32, the container 100 is filled with the filling product. However, a carbonized filling product will also _{show a very strong foaming tendency due to the filling of the CO 2} released under negative pressure, such that a foam is present in the filling product line 3 and in the head space K of the container 100.

In Figure 15 the tensioning gas valve 50 is opened accordingly in order to bring the container 100 into communication with the tensioning gas device 5. The tensioning gas is preferably introduced under an absolute pressure of 2 bar to 9 bar, preferably under an absolute pressure of 3.5 bar to 7 bar, particularly preferably under an absolute pressure of 3.8 bar to 5.5 bar, the The pressure of the tensioning gas, which is provided via the tensioning gas device 5, can be identical to the pressure in the filling product supply 2.

By loading the filling product line and the container 100 and in particular the head space K of the container 100 with the tension gas, on the one hand the foam which is still in the filling product line 3 is pressed into the container 100 in order to largely empty the filling product line in this way 3 reach. Furthermore, the head space K of the container 100 is acted upon by the tension gas, whereby the foam present is also pushed back here. Furthermore, due to the high tension gas pressure, the renewed release of the CO ₂ in the filling product, which is located in the container 100, is supported, so that the filling product calms down more quickly.

In the in Figure 14 As shown in the state shown, the filling of the filling product into the container 100 to be filled, which is under negative pressure, has partially released the CO ₂ . Correspondingly, a large number of microbubbles of released CO _{2 are present} in the filling product which is filled into the container 100. By applying the pressurized tensioning gas, a faster calming of the filling product can be achieved accordingly.

After in the in Figure 15 In the step shown, both the filling product line 3 and the head space K of the container 100 are exposed to the tensioning gas when the tensioning gas valve 50 is open, the filling product line 3, as in FIG Figure 16 shown, slightly lifted from the mouth 102 of the container 100, in such a way that the closing head space 60 is also acted upon with the tensioning gas. Correspondingly, when the pressure equilibrium is set, the same gas is present under the same pressure both in the head space K and in the closing head space 60. The closing head space 60 is thus also under a pressure with the inert gas, for example CO ₂ , which is at an absolute pressure of 2 bar to 9 bar, preferably at an absolute pressure of 3.5 bar to 7 bar, particularly preferably at an absolute pressure of 3.8 bar to 5.5 bar, and particularly preferably at the same pressure that also prevails in the filling product feed 2.

In Figure 17 the next step is shown, in which the filling product line 3 is completely lifted from the mouth 102 of the container 100 and the tensioning gas valve 50 is still open. Correspondingly, the pressure in both the head space K of the container 100 and in the sealing head space 60 of the sealing head 6 is maintained via the filling product line 3. In this way the filling product line 3 can be lifted from the mouth 102 of the container 100 without the filling product shooting out of the mouth 102 or the filling product foaming over, since the pressure applied in the closing head space 60 keeps the foam in the head space K of the container 100 pushed back, as well as a renewed dissolution of the CO ₂ in the container 100 is supported.

Correspondingly, due to the loading of the closing head space 60 with the tensioning gas under an increased pressure, even with the preceding sudden filling of the container 100 with carbonized filling products, for example also with beer, foaming over even after a short dwell time of the filling product and a Filling product that has not yet calmed or has not yet calmed down completely, in which part of the CO ₂ volume has not re-dissolved, the fill product line 3 can be lifted without the fill product emerging from the opening 102.

In Figure 18 it is shown schematically that the filling product line 3 has been withdrawn along the displacement direction X and has accordingly been brought into the parking position. The pressure of the clamping gas in the closing head space 60 continues to be maintained via the opened clamping gas valve 50.

Correspondingly, as in Figure 19 schematically shown, the closer 2 can now be lowered along the lifting direction Y in such a way that the container closure 104 can be applied to the mouth 102 of the container 100. The sealing head space 60 is still under pressure, since the tensioning gas is still present in the sealing head space 60. The head space K of the filled container 100 is also still under pressure, specifically under the same pressure that also prevails in the closing head space 60. Correspondingly, the container 100 can be closed by the closing device 62 applying the container closure 102 under an overpressure without the filling product escaping.

After completion of the closing process, as in Figure 20 As shown, the sealing head space 60 is vented via a vent valve 602 in such a way that the overpressure in the sealing head space 60 is released to ambient pressure.

Then the capping head can be opened, as in Figure 21 shown, and the now filled container, which is closed with the container closure 104, can be discharged. The next container 100 to be filled can then be started, as is Figure 10 shown, can be refilled using the same procedure.

Before venting the closing head space 60 in Figure 20 the clamping gas valve 50 is also closed again.

In Figure 22 is a further embodiment based on the Figure 1 Device 1 described is shown. In addition to the in Figure 1 According to the features provided, an aroma metering device 39 is provided, by means of which aromas and / or beverage additives and / or beverage additives can be metered into the interior of the container 100. In this context, drink additives are also understood to mean syrup and / or preservatives.

In the exemplary embodiment shown, the aroma meter 39 opens into the filling product line 3 in such a way that the supplied aroma and / or the beverage additive and / or the beverage component reaches the interior of the container 100 via the same route as the filling product supplied via the filling product line 3.

In the exemplary embodiment shown, the aroma meter 39 opens into the filling product line 3 downstream of the filling product valve 32, so that aromas and / or beverage additives and / or beverage components can also be metered in when the filling product valve 32 is closed. The metering in can therefore be carried out before the filling product is introduced from the filling product feed 2, during the filling of the filling product or after the filling process has been completed. The metering in after the completion of the filling process and after the filling product has settled in the container 100 is preferred here.

The aroma meter 39 can be designed, for example, in the form of a hose pump, by means of which precise metering of the respective aroma or the respective beverage additive from a corresponding reservoir is possible.

A plurality of aroma dispensers 39 can also be provided or different aromas and / or beverage additives and / or beverage components can optionally be supplied by means of an aroma dispenser 39, so that the aroma dispenser (s) 39 are set up and can be controlled so that a different aroma concentration for each individual filling process , Beverage additive concentration or composition of flavors and / or beverage additives and / or beverage components can be selected. In the regular filling operation, however, for operational reasons, batches of a first flavor are usually filled before the flavor is changed. The same applies to a change between beverage types such as, for example, between beverages with fruit fibers and beverages without fruit fibers.

In Figure 23 is a further embodiment based on the in Figure 2 Shown embodiment shown. Here, too, the aroma meter 39 opens into the filling product line 3 downstream of the filling product valve 32.

In Figure 24 is a further embodiment based on the in Figure 4 device 1 shown. In addition to the schematically indicated and displaceable or pivotable filling product line 3, the inlet of a flavor meter 58 is also provided in the closer head 6.

The aroma meter 39 can be positioned accordingly over the mouth of the container 100 in order to dose aromas and / or beverage additives and / or beverage components into the container 100. The aroma meter 39 can be positioned over the mouth before the container 100 is filled with the filling product or after the filling process has been completed. The filling product line 3 and the aroma meter 39 alternate accordingly in their position above the mouth of the container 100.

List of reference symbols

1

Device for filling a container

100

container

102

mouth

104

Container closure

106

Container axis

110

Filling product

2

Filling product supply, preferably filling product reservoir or line

20th

Gas compartment

22nd

Pressure line

3

Filling product line

30th

Centering bell

32

Filling product valve

34

Shut-off valve

36

Throttle valve

38

Pressure sensor

39

Flavor dispenser

300

poetry

320

Axis of rotation

4th

Vacuum device

40

Vacuum valve

45

combined gas pipe

5

Tensioning device

50

Clamping gas valve

6th

Capping head

60

Sealing head space

62

Capper

64

Capping head jaw

66

Capping head jaw

68

Container holder

600

Container seal

602

Vent valve

620

Filling product line seal

622

magnet

640

Capper seal

660

Sealing head gasket

680

vertical toggle clamp

7th

Control device

A.

maximum fill level

K

Headroom

N

Filling level

C.

Foam room

V

Container volume

X

Direction of displacement of the filling product line

Y

Direction of stroke of the closer

d

Mouth cross-section

Claims (8)

1. Method for filling a container (100) with a filling product (110) in a beverage filling plant, comprising
   providing the filling product (110) under a positive pressure or ambient pressure and
   evacuating the container (100) to be filled to a negative pressure at an absolute pressure of 0.5 bar to 0.05 bar, wherein
   the filling product (110) under positive pressure or ambient pressure is introduced into the container (100) under negative pressure, and
   the filled container (100) is capped with a capper (62) without prior relief or pressure equalisation of the container (100) to ambient pressure.
2. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that, before the filling product (110) is introduced, the container (100) is evacuated to a negative pressure at an absolute pressure of 0.3 bar to 0.1 bar, preferably 0.1 bar,
   and/or the filling product (110) is provided under a positive pressure or ambient pressure with an absolute pressure of 1 bar to 9 bar, preferably under an absolute pressure of 2.5 bar to 6 bar, most preferably under an absolute pressure of 2.8 bar to 3.3 bar.
3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the filling product (110) is provided under ambient pressure, preferably under an absolute pressure of 1 bar, or is provided under a positive pressure corresponding to the saturation pressure of the filling product (110), preferably at an absolute pressure of 1.1 bar to 6 bar, or at a positive pressure which is above the saturation pressure of the filling product (110), preferably under an absolute pressure of 1.6 bar to 9 bar, wherein the filling product preferably contains dissolved carbonic acid.
4. Method according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the filled container (100), preferably after the filling product (110) is introduced, is subjected to a pressurising gas under an absolute pressure of 2 bar to 9 bar, preferably under an absolute pressure of 3.5 bar to 7 bar, most preferably under an absolute pressure of 3.8 bar to 5.5 bar,
   and/or the filled container (100), preferably after the filling product (110) is introduced, is subjected to a pressurising gas which is provided under a positive pressure which preferably corresponds to the positive pressure of the filling product (110).
5. Method according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that, before evacuation of the container (100) to be filled, the container (100) to be filled is first initially evacuated, then purged with a purge gas, and then the container (100) to be filled is evacuated in order to subsequently introduce the filling product (110) under positive pressure or ambient pressure into the container (100) under negative pressure,
   and/or the filling product is a carbonated filling product, preferably a carbonated beverage, most preferably beer, a carbonated soft drink, or mineral water.
6. Method according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the filled container (110) is capped under a positive pressure at an absolute pressure of 2 bar to 9 bar, preferably under a positive pressure at an absolute pressure of 2.5 bar to 6 bar, or under a positive pressure corresponding to the saturation pressure of the filling product (110), preferably at an absolute pressure of 1.1 bar to 6 bar, or under a positive pressure which is above the saturation pressure of the filling product (110), preferably under an absolute pressure of 1.6 bar to 9 bar.
7. Method according to claim 4, characterised in that the container (100) is capped after being filled with the filling product (110) under a positive pressure corresponding to the positive pressure of the pressurising gas.
8. Method according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the container (100) is placed in an evacuable chamber before evacuation, and during evacuation of the interior of the container (100) the chamber is also evacuated, preferably to the same pressure level,
   and/or before evacuation the container (100) is fluid-tightly connected to a filling product line (3) for supplying the vacuum, the filling product and the pressurising gas, and the container is kept sealed off from the ambient atmosphere until a cap is applied in a gas-tight manner,
   and/or a flavouring and/or a beverage additive and/or a beverage ingredient is metered into the container (100) before and/or during and/or after introduction of the filling product (110) into the container (100).

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