EP3030513A1

EP3030513A1 - Method and system for flushing containers

Info

Publication number: EP3030513A1
Application number: EP14747873.9A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Ludwig Clüsserath
Original assignee: KHS GmbH
Current assignee: KHS GmbH
Priority date: 2013-08-09
Filing date: 2014-07-22
Publication date: 2016-06-15
Anticipated expiration: 2034-07-22
Also published as: US9862584B2; DE102013108638A1; WO2015018633A1; SI3030513T1; US20160194188A1; RU2016108024A; EP3030513B1; RU2635076C2

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for flushing containers (2, 102) with a flushing gas prior to filling said containers using a treatment head (1, 1a, 104), on which the respective container is arranged in a sealed manner during the flushing process and via which the flushing gas is introduced into the container and the flushing gas and a gaseous and/or vaporous medium that is displaced by the flushing gas, for example air, is discharged from the container. The container is evacuated or the vacuum of a vacuum source (19, 130) is applied to the container prior to introducing the flushing gas.

Description

Method and system for rinsing containers

The invention relates to a method for rinsing containers with a purge gas according to the preamble of claim 1 and to a system for rinsing containers with a purge gas according to the independent claim 14.

Methods for filling, even pressure filling of containers are known in different designs. It is also known in this case to evacuate the respective container or its interior before filling and then to rinse with a purge gas formed by an inert gas (eg CO2 gas or serine air) to existing ambient air or another gas and / or vapor Remove medium from the container interior.

The object of the invention is to provide a method which allows a particularly effective rinsing of the respective container interior with low consumption of purge gas. To solve this problem, a method according to claim 1 and a system for rinsing containers with a purge gas according to the independent claim 14 is formed. A special feature of the invention is that when purging in a first process step, the container interior is evacuated by connecting to a vacuum source and then takes place in a second process step, the actual rinsing of the container by blowing the purge gas, wherein the container interior is further connected to the vacuum source, so that the blowing of the purge gas takes place in a vacuum or high vacuum in the container interior. The evacuation of the container in the first process step of purging is carried out, for example, so that in the container, a pressure of about 0.05 to 0.4 bar, preferably a pressure of about 0.05 to 0.25 bar sets, ie a negative pressure of about 0.6 bar - 0.95 bar, preferably 0.75 to 0.95 bar relative to the ambient pressure. The introduction or injection of the purge gas then takes place with such a pressure and / or with such a volume flow that in this case a pressure in the container interior of 0.46 bar - 0.9 bar, preferably pressures of 0.5 bar, 0.55 bar, 0.6 bar, 0.65 bar, 0.7 bar, 0.75 bar or 0.8 bar.

By introducing or blowing in the purge gas, it is preferable that only a slight increase in pressure in the interior of the container results, for example a pressure increase of, for example, at most 0.1 bar-0.2 bar. As a result, the load on the container is greatly minimized by high pressure fluctuations.

The advantage of the method according to the invention consists u. a. in an effective flushing of the bottle interior and in a significant reduction of the

Consumption of purge gas. Thus, the method described above, compared to rinsing processes, which are carried out under atmospheric or ambient pressure or at a pressure above atmospheric or ambient pressure, with up to 5 times lower Spülgasdichte or Spülgasmenge.

The lower consumption of purge gas or inert gas further represents a significant cost savings. Furthermore, with the rinsing method according to the invention, an oxygen uptake during the subsequent filling can be considerably reduced.

For the purposes of the present invention, containers are in particular those made of glass, also glass bottles or similarly stable containers made of metal or plastic, such as kegs, party kegs, reusable plastic bottles, etc. It is essential that the containers used in the method according to the invention have sufficient stability so that they are not deformed during evacuation to an undesirable extent or even destroyed.

In sealing position with the treatment head or filling element befindlicher container means in the context of the invention that the respective container in the manner known to those skilled with its container mouth tightly pressed against the treatment head or to the filling element or to a local seal. The expression "essentially" or "approximately" in the sense of the invention means deviations from the exact value by +/- 10%, preferably by +/- 5%, and / or deviations in the form of changes insignificant for the function. Further developments, advantages and applications of the invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments and from the figures. In this case, all described and / or illustrated features alone or in any combination, in principle, the subject of the invention, regardless of their summary in the claims or their

Dependency. Also, the content of the claims is made an integral part of the description.

The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the figures of an embodiment. Show it:

Figure 1 in a simplified representation and partly in section a filling element of a

Continuous-type filling machine, together with a container in the form of a bottle arranged in a sealing position on the filling element; Figure 2 in an enlarged partial view and in section the bottom of the

Filling element of Figure 1 together with a local centering;

Figure 3 very schematically a cross section through the filling element in the region of a discharge opening and a tubular valve stem and return gas pipe;

Figure 4 in a simplified representation and partly in section a filling element of a

A continuous-type filling machine, together with a container in the form of a bottle arranged in a sealing position on the filling element, in a further embodiment of the invention; FIG. 5 shows a controllable gas valve for use with a filling element of FIGS. 1 and / or 4;

Figure 6 in a simplified representation and in vertical section one in one

Filling container at least partially received filling element of a filling system according to the invention;

Figure 7 in a simplified representation and in vertical section the inventive

Filling system according to FIG. 6 during the rinsing process;

FIG. 8 shows the second gas valve of the filling system according to the invention according to FIGS. 6 and 7 in a detailed view;

Figure 9 in a simplified representation and in vertical section the inventive

Filling system according to Figures 6 and 7 during the vacuuming of the container.

Figure 10 in a simplified representation and in vertical section the inventive

Filling system according to Figures 6 and 7 during the pretensioning of the container.

Figure 1 1 in a simplified representation and in vertical section the inventive

Filling system according to Figures 6 and 7 during the filling of the container.

Figure 12 in a simplified representation and in vertical section the inventive

Filling system according to Figures 6 and 7 at the end of the filling process.

Figure 13 in a simplified representation and in vertical section the inventive

Filling system according to Figures 6 and 7 with a closed liquid valve. Figure 14 in a simplified representation and in vertical section the inventive

Filling system according to Figures 6 and 7 when unloading the container. FIG. 15 shows, in a simplified illustration and in vertical section, a first alternative embodiment of the filling system according to the invention according to FIGS. 6 and 7; and FIG. 16 in a simplified representation and in vertical section a second alternative

Embodiment of the filling system according to the invention according to FIGS. 6 and 7.

The generally designated 1 in the figures filling element is together with a plurality of similar filling elements on the circumference of a vertical

Machine axis MA circumferentially driven rotor 2 is provided and forms together with a container carrier 3 a filling for filling, for example, pressure filling of containers 4 in the form of bottles 4. These are made of glass, metal or plastic with sufficient strength. On the rotor 2 a common Füllgutkessel 5 is provided in the form of a ring boiler for all filling elements 1 of the filling system or filling machine, during the

Partial filling is filled with the liquid product, namely to form a lower liquid space 5.1 and an upper gas space 5.2, which is filled with an inert gas (for example, CO2 gas or nitrogen) under filling pressure. Of the

Liquid space 5.1 is connected to a formed in the housing 6 of the filling element 1 liquid channel 7, which at the bottom of the filling element a vertical Füllelementachse FA concentrically enclosing annular

Dispensing opening 8 forms. In the liquid channel 7, a liquid valve 9 is further provided, which is formed on a valve stem 10 formed valve body 1 1 controlled by an actuator axially movable, namely to open and close the liquid valve 9. The valve stem 10 is formed by a piece of pipe, which is coaxially with the Füllelementachse FA arranged at its upper and at its lower, via the discharge opening 8 down

protruding end is open and forms a first gas channel 12, which at the top End of the valve stem 10 opens into a housing 6 formed in the first gas chamber 13.

Axelgleich with the Füllelementachse FA is still a return gas pipe 14th

arranged, which serves as the fill level in the bottle 4 determining element when filling and a second at the bottom and at the top of the

Return gas tube 14 open forms. The gas channel 15 opens at the upper end of the return gas pipe 14 in a second formed in the housing 6 gas space 16. The gas chambers 13 and 16 are part of different, the control valves 17.1 - 17.4 of the filling element 1 contained gas paths through which the gas channels 12 and 15 controlled by the Gas chamber 5.2 and can be connected to two annular channels 18 and 19, which are provided for all filling elements 1 of the filling machine or the filling system together. The annular channel 18 serves, for example, to relieve the filled bottles 2 at the end of the respective filling process. The annular channel 19 is acted upon during the filling operation with a vacuum or negative pressure, for example at a pressure of 0.05 bar - 0.25 bar or deviating therefrom. The gas chamber 5.2 is charged during filling with the inert gas under pressure.

20 is a Zentriertulpe shown sealed by a seal against the underside of the housing 6 and abuts against the respective bottle 4 pressed against the edge of its bottle opening in sealing position, so that the

Outlet opening 8 and the lower opening of the first gas channel 12 open into the upper region of the bottle interior. The return gas pipe 14 projects beyond the lower end of the valve tappet 10 into the interior of the bottle 4.

The peculiarity of the filling element or of the method carried out with this filling element consists in the special type and embodiment of purging the interior of the respective bottle 4 arranged in sealing position on the filling element 1 for displacing ambient air entrained in the bottle from the interior of the bottle. The subsequent process steps of the filling process, such as Biasing the interior of the bottle with inert gas from the gas chamber 5.2 to the filling pressure, the pressure filling of the bottle 2 and the unloading of the filled bottle 2 to atmospheric pressure, for example, in the annular channel 18, for example

usual, known methods.

The aim is effective flushing of the bottle interior at low

Consumption of purge gas or inert gas. For this purge includes at least two steps. In a first method step is evacuated with closed liquid valve 9 and closed control valves 17.1, 17.2 and 17.4 via the open control valve 17.3, the gas space 13 and the gas channel 12, the interior of the bottle 2, for example, to a 95% vacuum or on a pressure in the range of 0.05 to 0.4 bar, preferably to a pressure in the range of 0.05 to 0.25 bar. In a second method step, the control valve 17.1 is then opened while the control valve 17.3 is still open, so that inert gas from the gas chamber 5.2 via the open control valve 17.1 and via a throttle 21 (fine throttle) in the gas chamber 16 and from this via the gas channel 15 centrally, ie in the direction of the filling element axis FA down as flushing gas into the interior of the bottle 4 and in the local high vacuum is blown. Since the return gas pipe 14 extends far into the interior of the bottle 4 down, that gets out of the

Return gas tube 14 exiting purge gas u.a. also to the bottom of the bottle 4. About the gas channel 12, the gas chamber 13 and the open control valve 17.3, the purge gas and the displaced from this from the interior of the bottle 4 air are discharged into the annular channel 19. With the help of the throttle 21, the purge gas flow or the flow rate of the purge gas are throttled so far that the negative pressure which has set during flushing in the bottle 4 at the end of the first process step, only slightly increases, for example by about 0.1 bar - 0.4 bar, preferably by 0.1 bar - 0.2 bar, so that in the second process step results in an internal pressure or scavenging pressure in the bottle, which is still considerably below the

Ambient pressure is, for example, about 0.46 bar - 0.8 bar. To intensify the flushing, the supply of purge gas in the second step can be timed and without interruptions. Alternatively, the supply of purge gas but also at intervals, ie in several

Sub-steps take place.

In both variants of the purge gas supply, it is of particular advantage that the connection of the interior of the bottle 4 with the vacuum leading

Ring channel 19 is always open, as the flushing of the interior of the bottle is particularly intense. However, this is not mandatory.

It is also possible to repeat the rinsing several times in total, in which case the method step 2 is repeated on a repetition of the method step 1, the options described above being available with regard to method step 2.

4 shows, as a further embodiment, a filling element 1 a, which differs from the filling element 1 only in that the control valve 17.1 is not connected on the input side to the gas chamber 5.2, but to a source 22 which supplies the flushing gas at least with a certain overpressure provides. Due to the separate source 22, the pressure of the purge gas can be selected independently of the filling pressure, in such a way that the desired low purge pressure is easily achieved.

Regardless of whether as inert gas CO2 gas or nitrogen is used, it is expedient to regulate the purge pressure in the interior of the bottle 4 via a pressure control to the desired pressure level and this with a arranged in the respective filling element, for example in the gas chamber 16 pressure sensor to monitor and / or control, as indicated in Fig. 1 and 4 with 23. The regulation or control of the scavenging pressure then takes place, for example, by a control valve which is arranged in the corresponding gas path for the purge gas and acts as a throttle and which has at least two operating states. namely an operating state of low throttling and an operating state of higher throttling, but preferably also a third blocking state.

Such a control valve 24 is shown very schematically in FIG. The control valve 24 has a valve body 25 with a throttle-like

narrowing flow channel 26 and an axially movable valve member 27, which releases the flow channel 26 depending on its position or additionally narrows or completely closes. FIGS. 6 to 16 show further embodiments of the flushing system according to the invention, specifically in the form of a flushing and filling system.

In FIGS. 6 to 16, 101 a product vessel of a single-chamber filling system or a single-chamber filling machine of the circumferential design designed as a ring vessel for filling containers 1022, which are shown as bottles, with a liquid filling material is shown. The product vessel 101 is part of a vertical

Machine axis revolving driven rotor. During the filling operation, the product vessel 101 is partially filled with the contents, so that in the

Interior of the product container 101 a lower, occupied by the contents

Liquid space 101 .1 and above a gas space 101 .2 form, the

for example, with an inert gas, e.g. CO2 gas or nitrogen or sterile air is filled.

On the underside of the Füllgutkessels 101 are preferably offset at uniform angular intervals about the vertical axis of the machine, filling positions 103 are formed, each having a filling element 104 and a container carrier 105, on which the container 102 with its bottom and with which the container 102 during filling with its container opening via a ring seal a

Centering tulip 106 are pressed in sealing position on the filling element 104 pressed. Each filling element 104 comprises in the embodiment shown a flat plate-like Füllelementgehäuse 107, in which, inter alia, a liquid channel 108 is formed, which is connected via an opening 109 in the bottom of the Füllgutkessels 101 with the local liquid space 101 .1 and at the bottom of the Füllelementgehäuses 107 one of the ring seal enclosed

Füllgutabgabeöffnung 1 10 forms, via which the filling material flows into the respective container 102 during filling. Within the liquid channel 108, a liquid valve 1 1 1 controlling the discharge of the liquid contents to the respective container 102 is provided. This consists essentially of a valve body 1 12, which rests with a closed liquid valve 1 1 1 against a formed in the Flüssigkeitsskanal108 valve seat and on a tubular and coaxial with a vertical

Filling element axis FA arranged valve tappet 1 13 is provided. To open and close the liquid valve, the valve body 1 12 is moved in the manner described in more detail below in the Füllelementachse FA up and down.

In the valve tappet 1 13, a first gas channel 1 14 is formed, which continues in a gas pipe 1 15, which extends at sealing in the filling element 104 arranged container 102 through the container opening into the headspace of the container 102 and there at its lower end the lower opening of the first gas channel 1 14 forms. In the first gas channel 1 14, a first gas valve 1 16 is provided, which is partially received by a in an upper part length of the gas channel 1 14 and coaxially with the Füllelementachse FA

arranged, hollow needle-shaped gas valve body 1 17 is formed, which is raised to open the first gas valve 1 16 relative to the valve stem 1 13 and the

Closing of the first gas valve 1 16 relative to the valve stem 1 13 is lowered so that a preferably arranged at the lower end of the gas valve body 1 17 arranged valve surface against a valve seat formed in the first gas channel 1 14 and thereby the first gas valve 1 16 blocks. The hollow needle-like gas valve body 1 17 has an outer cross-section, which is selected so that the gas channel 1 14 this valve body 1 17 spaced from enclosing to the upper, open end of the valve stem 1 13 continues.

In the interior of the gas valve body 1 17, a second gas channel 121 is formed, which is coaxially with the first gas channel 1 14 and preferably the Gas valve body 1 17 extends over one of its entire length. The gas valve body 1 17 thus forms a tubular valve body which opens fluid-tight at a first, lower free end with the first gas valve 16 closed in the first gas channel and at its second, upper free end an opening 124 which forms a second gas valve 123, which can be opened or closed in the manner described in more detail below.

For controlling the first and second gas valves 1 16, 123 is preferably at the top of the product container 101 and further preferably outside this Füllgutkessels 101, an actuating element 1 18 is provided, which is preferably a pneumatic actuator 1 18. The actuator 1 18 acts on a coaxial with the Füllelementachse FA arranged ram 1 19 and an adapter 120 to the upper end of the gas valve body 1 17 a. In particular, at this upper end of the gas valve body 1 17 a control section 1 17.1

provided that extends the gas valve body 1 17 freiendseitig radially outwards, so that an outside gradation of the gas valve body 1 17 results.

The actuating element 1 18 is controlled for example by not shown electro-pneumatic control valves for a controlled, two-stage axial movement of the plunger 1 19 and thus of the adapter 120 in the Füllelementachse FA

formed and consists for this purpose of two control chambers forming pneumatic lifting elements, which are formed in the illustrated embodiment as a piston-cylinder assemblies 1 18a and 1 18b. The piston 1 18.1 of the piston-cylinder assembly 1 18a is provided directly on the plunger 1 19, i. the latter forms the piston rod of this piston-cylinder assembly 1 18a. The piston 1 18.2 of the upper piston-cylinder arrangement 1 18b is provided on a further piston rod, which is also arranged coaxially with the Füllelementachse FA. A

Bellows seal seals the passage area of the plunger 1 19 through the

Top of the product chamber 101 from.

The piston rod of the upper piston-cylinder assembly 1 18b forms

Stop element for the piston rod of the lower piston-cylinder arrangement 1 18a, so that by the upper piston-cylinder assembly 1 18b of the stroke of the lower piston-cylinder assembly 1 18a is limited. In the event that the upper piston-cylinder assembly 1 18b assumes a lower position, the stroke of the

Piston rod of the lower piston-cylinder assembly 1 18a limited to the partial stroke H1. When the upper piston-cylinder assembly 1 18b is driven to assume an upper position, i. the upper piston-cylinder assembly 1 18b is raised by a partial stroke H2, the lower piston-cylinder assembly 1 18a can make an increased stroke, namely a stroke corresponding to the sum of the partial strokes H1, H2 (H1 + H2) ,

The arranged on the plunger 1 19 adapter 120 has a hook-shaped

Section 120a with a control surface 120.1, which for engaging behind the

Control section 1 17.1 of the gas valve body 1 17 is formed. Further, the adapter 120 has a surface portion 120.2, with the upper side on

Gas valve body provided opening 124 or one provided there

Sealing surface for forming the second gas valve 123 cooperates. At the

Concern of the surface portion 120.2 on the sealing surface of the opening 124 is the control section 1 17.1 of the gas valve body 1 17 engaging behind control surface 120.1 in the axial direction to the control section 1 17.1 spaced. This results in an axial clearance when lifting the plunger 1 19, in which the surface portion 120.2 is already lifted from the sealing surface of the opening 124 (i.e., the second gas valve 123 is already open), but the control surface 120.1 to the

Control section 1 17.1 is still spaced or just against this is applied, so that no lifting of the gas valve body 1 17 and thus no opening of the first gas valve 1 16 is carried out by the plunger 1 19. The axial distance between the control surface 120.1 and the surface portion 120.2 of the adapter 120 along the vertical Füllelementachse FA is preferably equal to or greater than the partial stroke H1.

In the event that the plunger 1 19 is advanced by means of the lower piston-cylinder assembly 1 18a in a lower position, that extends with a maximum part length in the product container 1 1, the surface portion 120.2 of the adapter 120 is opposite to the opening 124 provided seal, so that the second gas valve 123 is closed. The gas valve body 1 17 is thereby fully inserted into the first gas channel 1 14, so that the first gas valve 1 16 is closed, ie the second gas channel 121 is fluid-tightly connected to the first gas channel 1 14.

When positioning the piston rod of the upper piston-cylinder assembly 1 18b in the lower position of the plunger 1 19 is lifted by actuation of the lower piston-cylinder assembly 1 18a and thus the adapter 120 by the partial stroke H1. In this case, the surface portion 120.2 of the adapter 120 is lifted from the seal provided at the opening 124 and the second gas valve 123 is opened. Due to the arrangement of the opening 124 in the gas space 101 .2 of the product container 101, the gas located there can penetrate through the opening 124, the second gas channel 121, the first gas channel 1 14 and the gas pipe 1 15 in the head region of the container 102 arranged on the filling element 104 ,

Preferably, the second gas channel 121 has a reduced channel cross-section compared to the first gas channel 1 14. As a result, a throttled supply of the gas from the gas space 101 .2 is achieved in the container 102. Furthermore, a throttle may additionally be provided in the region of the opening 124, which also causes a throttling of the gas feed from the gas space 101 .2 into the container 102.

After positioning the piston rod of the upper piston-cylinder assembly 1 18b in the upper position of the plunger 1 19 can be raised by the lower piston-cylinder assembly 1 18a to the stroke corresponding to the sum of the partial strokes H1 and H2, wherein at the completion of this stroke of the gas valve body 1 17 pulled out by the engaging behind the control section 1 17.1 by the control surface 120.1 at least partially from the first gas channel 1 14 upwards and thus the first gas valve 1 16 is opened.

Furthermore, one between the upper end of the valve stem 1 13 and a tubular and spaced around the valve stem 1 13 extending, a Füllguteinlauf forming element 127 acting opening spring 124 is provided, which is received within the Füllgutkessels 101 and formed as a compression spring in the manner described below, an opening of the liquid valve 1 1 1 causes. 6 shows the filling element 104 and the actuating element 1 18 in a first operating state, ie in a state in which both the liquid valve 1 1 1 and the gas valves 1 16 and 123 are closed. The container 102 is pressed by means of the container carrier 105 from below to the annular seal in the region of the centering tulip 106, so that the container 102 in sealing position on

Fill element 104 is located.

Subsequently, by opening a control valve 128, a connection between a vacuum source 130 with the container interior via the in

Füllelementgehäuse 107 provided channel 129. The vacuum source 130 and the control valve 128 are in this case preferably controlled such that in the

Interior of the container 102 sets a pressure of 0.05 - 0.4bar. For example, the container 102 is evacuated to a 95% vacuum.

Subsequently, as shown in Figure 7 and in particular in Figure 8, the second gas valve 123 is opened in the manner described above, ie by lifting the plunger 1 19 by the actuator 1 18 to the partial stroke H1, so that the surface portion 120.2 of the Seal is lifted in the region of the opening 124. As a result, a continuous gas channel is released between the gas space 101 .2 and the container interior, via the opening 124, the second gas channel 121, the first gas channel 1 14 fluid-tightly connected to the second gas channel 121 and the gas tube 1 In the gas space 101 .2 inert gas contained, preferably CO2, in the container interior, a purging of the container 102 is effected. In this case, the container interior remains connected via the channel 129 with the vacuum source 130, so that the displaced by the incoming purge gas is sucked air. This results in a particularly intensive or effective flushing of the interior of the container 102. As the gas pipe 1 15 extends far into the interior of the container 102 down, the purge gas exiting from the gas pipe 15 also reaches the bottom of the container 102. Using the cross-sectional dimensioning of the second gas channel 121 in the gas valve body 1 17 and / or By means of the throttle arranged in the region of the opening 124, the purge gas flow or the volumetric flow of the purge gas are throttled to such an extent that the underpressure that has established during the vacuuming prior to introduction of the purge gas increases only slightly by the purge process, for example by about 0.05 bar - 0.2 bar. This results during the

Purge an internal pressure or scavenging pressure in the container 102, which is still significantly below the ambient pressure, for example, about 0.46 bar to 0.8 bar. To intensify the flushing, the supply of purge gas can be timed and without interruptions. Alternatively, the supply of purge gas but also at intervals, so take place in several sub-steps. As shown in Figure 9, after completion of the purging operation, closing the second gas valve 123, i. by advancing the plunger 1 19 in a lower position, the container interior continue to remain connected to the vacuum source 130 via the channel 129 and the control valve 128, so that the container 102 is preferably vacuumed to the original negative pressure before the beginning of the rinsing process. This further increases the efficiency of the rinsing process.

In order to achieve the fastest possible biasing of the subsequently to be filled container 102 to the filling pressure, as shown in Figure 10, the piston rod of the upper piston-cylinder assembly 1 18b moved to an upper position, so that the piston rod of the lower piston Cylinder arrangement 1 18b the maximum stroke, which is equal to the partial sum of the partial strokes H1 + H2, can perform, while the first gas valve 1 16 is opened, which is a considerably larger

Volume flow from the gas space 101 .2 in the container interior releases. The spring force of the pressure spring designed as opening spring 125 is dimensioned such that the spring force is slightly greater than the force acting on the valve body 1 12 and the valve stem 1 13 gravity or on the valve body 1 12 acting liquid column of the contents contained in the product container 101 (neglecting friction effects). As a result, in the pressure equality between the pressure in the container interior and the pressure prevailing in the product container 101 pressure by the opening spring 125 of the valve body 1 12 lifted from its valve seat in Füllelementgehäuse 107, so that in the

Fill container 101 contained contents on the liquid channel 108 and the Füllgutabgabeöffnung 1 10 can enter into the container interior. The inert gas used for biasing the container 102 can flow back into the gas space 101 .2 of the product container 101 via the gas pipe 15, the first gas channel 14 and the opened first gas valve 16.

The valve body 1 12 preferably has in the area immediately above the valve cone on a gas barrier 1 12.1, by means of the after immersion of the

Gas pipe 1 15 in the container 102 located Füllgutspiegel an automatic termination of the filling process is effected. The gas barrier 1 12.1 causes an increase of the gas from the headspace of the container 102 via the

Valve body 1 12 away in the liquid space 101 .1 of the product container 101 is prevented. The closing of the liquid valve 1 1 1 of the filling element 104 takes place actively by the action of the actuating element 1 18 on the valve stem 1 13. The action of the actuating element 1 18 on the valve stem 1 13 takes place by means of the adapter 120 and with one on the hook-shaped portion 120 a of the adapter 120 provided control surface 120.3, for example, parallel to the control surface 120.1 and this is opposite. The control surface 120.3 acts together with a flange-like upper side portion of the valve stem 1 13. When moving back the piston rod of the lower piston-cylinder assembly 1 18a in the lower starting position and thus the return parts of the plunger 1 19, the control surface 120.3 against the flange portion of the valve stem 1 13 comes to rest and thus causes an insertion of the

Valve body 1 12 against the spring force of the opening spring 125, so that the valve body 1 12 fluid-tight against the Füllelementgehäuses 107 rests. At the In addition, both the first and the second gas valve 1 16, 123 are closed again, so that the gas channels 1 14, 121 are separated from the gas space 101 .2. After closing the liquid valve 1 1 1 and the gas valves 1 16, 123 takes place, as shown in Figure 14, relieving the container interior to ambient pressure, for example, by connecting the container interior via the channel 129 and the control valve 131 with the ambient air. Relieving may in this case preferably take place stepwise over a plurality of expansion steps and / or using a throttle in the channel 129.

After discharge, the container 102 can be deducted from the sealing position of the filling element 104, for example by lowering the container carrier 105. Figure 15 shows an alternative embodiment of the filling system shown in Figures 6-14. The basic structure of the filling system is identical to the previously described construction of the filling system according to FIGS. 6 to 14, so that only the differences of the alternative embodiment to the previously described embodiment are explained below. By the way, that is

Filling system designed as described above.

The filling system has a further gas space 126, preferably by a gas contained in the gas space 101 .2 different gas, for example, nitrogen (N ₂ ), a vaporous medium o.ä. is included. Alternatively, CO ₂ may also be contained in the gas space 126. The gas chamber 126 is connected via a control valve 132 and via a preferably flexible conduit 133 with the

Piston rod of the actuating element 1 18 connected, in which an axially extending third gas passage 134 is introduced, ie, the third gas passage 134 extends through the piston rod in the longitudinal direction, preferably along the Füllelementachse FA. The third gas channel 134 is connected at its lower end via the opening 124 with the second gas channel 121, with the second gas valve 123 closed, in which the surface portion 120.2 of the adapter 120 with respect to the opening 124 is present. In this position of the adapter 120, the first gas valve 1 16 is also closed, so that a continuous gas channel from the other gas chamber 126 via the line 133, the third gas channel 134, the second gas channel 121, the first gas channel 1 14 and the gas pipe 1 15th consists in the container interior.

The essential advantage of this alternative embodiment is that a more favorable compared to CO2 process gas or inert gas can be stored in the other gas space 126, which is used in particular for biasing the container 102. The actuator 1 18 can hereby

be designed in particular for effecting a single-stage stroke only, wherein the stroke is dimensioned such that only an opening of the second gas valve 123 is effected by the actuating element 1 18, so that when lifting the

Tappet 1 19 and the associated opening of the second gas valve 123, the gas contained in the gas space 101 .2, as described above, when closed

Control valve 132 throttled is supplied to the container interior for rinsing, the biasing of the container 102 but with the first or second gas valve closed 16 16, 123 by opening the control valve 132, the process gas contained in the further gas chamber 126 is supplied to the container interior. As a result, a more cost-effective filling of the container 102 can be achieved.

The filling system according to the invention can also have a Trinox functionality, wherein a Trinox gas is supplied to the head space of the container 102 via a Trinox channel 135 coupled to the channel 129 from a Trinox gas space 136, in order to adjust the filling height within the container 102 reach, in such a way that the Füllgutspiegel within the container 102 of the lower edge of the gas pipe 1 15 corresponds. By feeding the Trinox gas, the filling material, which is located above the lower edge of the gas pipe 15, via the gas pipe 15, the first gas channel 14, the second gas channel 121 and the third gas channel 134 and the line 133 in the direction of Conveying passage 137 which controls the line 133 via a control valve with the interior of the

Filling container 101 connects. As a result, the contents 102 overfilling the container can be supplied to the product container 101 via this path. FIG. 16 shows a further alternative embodiment of the filling system according to the invention, similar to the embodiment according to FIG. 15. The essential difference from the embodiment according to FIG. 15 is that in the area of the second gas channel 121 of the gas valve body 17 there is no throttle for reducing the gas flow through the hollow needle-shaped gas valve body 1 17 is provided but the throttle is moved to the outside, in the region of the line 133 which connects the third gas passage 134 with the other gas chamber 126. Furthermore, the line 133 between the third gas channel 134 and the further gas chamber 126 at least one branch point 138, by means of which the channel formed in the conduit 133 branches into two or more mutually parallel channels 139, 140, wherein all of these parallel channels 139, 140 open into the further gas chamber 126. In each of these mutually parallel channels 139, 140 is one each

Control valve 132a, 132b provided by means of which the individual channels 139, 140 are each independently of one another obvious or closed, to a

Make connection between the third gas passage 134 and the other gas space 126 can. Throttles 141, 142 are respectively provided in the mutually parallel channels 139, 140, by means of which the volume flow through the respective channels 139, 140 is limited. Preferably, the throttles 141, 142 of the channels 139, 140 are dimensioned differently, so that in the channels 139, 140, a different volume flow can be effected. For example, the throttle 141 has a smaller bore than the throttle 142, so that the throttle 141 allows a lower volume flow than the throttle 142 (each at a constant pressure within the further gas chamber 126). As a result, the volume flow through the third gas channel 134 or the line 133 can be changed by the selection of the opened channel 139 or 140, depending on the type of rinsing method. This is of considerable advantage in particular if both filling of the containers with vacuum assistance (e.g.

Glass bottles) or without vacuum support (eg PET bottles), because, depending on the prevailing in the container to be filled rinsing the volume flow in the other gas space 126 can be changed.

The invention has been described above by means of exemplary embodiments. It is understood that numerous changes and modifications are possible without thereby departing from the inventive concept underlying the invention.

It has been assumed above that the rinsing of the bottles 2 or other containers takes place in a rinsing phase of a filling process with the filling elements 1 or 1 a. In principle, the rinsing of the containers can also be effected via other treatment heads which are not filling elements, for example in a machine or component of a system preceding a filling machine.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1, 1 a filling element

2 rotor

3 container carriers

4 containers or bottle

5 product boiler

5.1 liquid space

5.2 gas space

6 housing

7 fluid channel

8 discharge opening

9 liquid valve

10 valve tappets

1 1 valve body

12 gas channel

13 gas room

14 return gas pipe

15 gas channel

16 gas room

17.1 - 17.4 control valve

18, 19 ring channel

20 centering tulip

21 throttle

22 source of purge gas

23 pressure sensor

24 valve

25 valve body

26 flow channel

27 valve element

101 product container or ring bowl 101.1 Fluid space

101.2 gas space

102 containers

103 filling position

104 filling element

105 container carrier

106 centering tulip

107 filler housing

108 fluid channel

109 opening

110 contents discharge opening

111 fluid valve

112 valve body

112.1 gas lock

113 valve tappets

13.1 upper, flange-like portion of the plunger. 3

114 first gas channel

115 gas pipe

116 first gas valve

117 gas valve body

117.1 control section

118 actuator

118a, 118b piston-cylinder arrangement

118.1, 118.2 Pistons

119 pestles

120 adapters

120a hook-shaped section

120.1, 120.3 control surface

120.2 area section

121 second gas channel

122 throttle

123 second gas valve 124 opening

125 opening spring

126 more gas space

127 element

128 control valve

129 channel

130 vacuum source

131 control valve

132, 132a, 132b control valve

133 line

134 third gas channel

135 Trinox channel

136 Trinox gas space

137 connection channel

138 branch point

139 channel

140 channel

141 throttle

142 throttle

FA filler element axis

H1, H2 partial lift

MA machine axis

Claims

claims

1 . A method of purging containers (2, 102) with a purge gas prior to their filling using a treatment head (1, 1a, 104) to which the respective container (2, 102) is placed in a sealed position during rinsing and via which the purge gas introduced into the container (2, 102) and the purge gas and a displaced from this gas and / or vapor medium, for example air from the container (2, 102) is discharged, and wherein the container (2, 102) before the introduction evacuated the purge gas or with the vacuum of a

Vacuum source (19, 130) is acted upon,

characterized,

during the introduction of the purge gas into the container (2, 102), the latter is furthermore connected to the vacuum source (19, 130), and that the pressure and / or the volumetric flow of the purge gas introduced into the container (2, 102) and the negative pressure the vacuum source (19, 130) are set such that in the container (2, 102), a flushing pressure which is between 0.46 and 0.9 bar is established in the container (2, 102) flowing through the container interior.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that in a first

Step of the container (2, 102) is evacuated to a pressure in the range between 0.05 bar and 0.4 bar, and that in a second temporally following process step, the introduction or injection of the purge gas into the container (2, 102) takes place and Although preferably such that the pressure in the container (2, 102) by introducing or blowing the purge gas to 0.46 and 0.9 bar increases.

3. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connection of the container (2) with the vacuum source (19) via a first, in the treatment head (1, 1 a) formed gas channel (14) and the

Initiate the purge gas via a second, in the treatment head (1, 1 a) formed gas channel (15).

4. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the introduction of the purge gas in the container (2, 102) takes place centrally.

5. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the introduction of the purge gas into the container (2, 102) via a in the

Container interior in reaching gas or return gas pipe (14, 1 15) takes place.

6. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that as a purge gas CO2 gas or nitrogen is used, preferably from a purge gas having pressurized gas space and throttled by a throttle (21, 122).

7. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rinsing pressure in the container by means of a pressure sensor (23) is monitored and / or controlled.

8. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that at a

Treatment system with multiple treatment heads (1, 1 a, 104) of the flushing pressure for each treatment head (1, 1 a, 104) with a stand-alone pressure sensor (23) is monitored and / or controlled.

9. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that at a

Treatment system with multiple treatment heads (1, 1 a, 104) of the flushing pressure for all treatment heads (1, 1 a, 104) with a single, on one

Treatment head (1, 1 a, 104) provided pressure sensor (23) is monitored and / or controlled.

10. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the treatment head is a filling element (1, 1 a, 104) of a filling system for filling the container (2, 102) with a liquid product.

1 1 .Method according to claim 10, characterized in that in a filling system for pressure filling of the container (2, 102) from a below a

Filling pressure standing Füllgutkessel (5, 101), the purge gas from one of

Füllgutkessel (5, 101) independent source (22) is provided.

12. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that for biasing the container (2, 102) introduced before the filling process in the container interior volume flow of process gas is greater than the volume flow of the process gas during purging of the container (2, 102).

13. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the introduction of the process gas for biasing the container (2, 102) and the introduction of the process gas for purging the container (2, 102) by means of different gas valves (1 16, 123) ,

14. System for rinsing containers (2, 102) with a purge gas prior to filling using a treatment head (1, 1 a, 104), for the arrangement of the respective container (2, 102) when rinsing in sealing position and to initiate the Purge gas is formed in the container, wherein the treatment head (1, 1 a, 104) means are provided for discharging the purge gas and the displaced therefrom of gaseous and / or vaporous medium, for example air from the container, and wherein a means for evacuating the container is provided before the introduction of the purge gas,

characterized,

that the system is designed such that during the initiation of the

Purge gas in the container (2, 102) thereof further connected to the vacuum source (19, 130), and that the pressure and / or the volume flow of the introduced into the container (2, 102) purge gas and the negative pressure of

Vacuum source (19, 130) are set such that in the

Container interior flowing through purge gas in the container (2, 102)

Adjusting flushing pressure, which is between 0.46 and 0.9 bar.