EP3038971B1 - Method and filling system for filling containers - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a method according to the preamble of claim 1 and to a filling system according to the preamble of claim 10 or 12.

Methods and filling systems for filling containers in the form of bottles with a liquid product are known in various designs, in particular for pressure filling, wherein in these known methods and filling systems of the actual filling phase, the e.g. may consist of at least two sub-phases in the form of a rapid filling phase and at least one slow filling phase, preceded in time by at least one rinsing phase in which the interior of the containers is flushed with a purge gas, i. with inert gas, e.g. CO2 gas is flushed.

In particular, a method having the features of the preamble of patent claim 1 and a filling system having the features of the preamble of claim 10 are also known (US Pat. EP 1 270 499 A1 ), wherein in the known method during the flushing, the interior of the respective container is connected to a vacuum channel and is used as purge gas return gas from a return gas channel, in which a pre-unloading of the container takes place after filling.

A filling system according to the preamble of claim 12 is known from DE 38 25 093 A1 known.

The WO 2014/154332 A1 is an interim publication under Art. 54 (3) EPC which discloses a filling system according to the preamble of claim 10.

The WO 2015/004001 A1 is an interim publication under Art. 54 (3) EPC which discloses a filling system according to the preamble of claim 12. A method is also known for pressure filling of containers ( DE 100 08 426 A1 ), in which the container interior is repeatedly repeatedly evacuated before the actual pressure filling in each case and then rinsed with a purge gas. In this case, the pressure prevailing in the interior of the container is detected by at least one pressure sensor in order to control and control the filling process.

Also known is a method for pressure filling ( DE 42 25 476 A1 ), in which, after completion of the filling phase, first a pre-discharge of the respective container provided in the sealing position on the filling element to a still above atmospheric pressure Vorentlastungsdruck in one for all filling elements the filling system common Vorentlastungskammer takes place and only then in a Restentlastungsphase a residual unloading of the respective container Atmospheric or ambient pressure. In this known method is also provided to flush the container with the inert gas from the Vorentlastungskammer.

The use of inert gas, i. in particular of CO2 gas when rinsing the container represents a significant cost factor when filling containers.

The object of the invention is to significantly reduce the consumption of inert gas to reduce costs, without sacrificing quality. To solve this problem, a method according to claim 1 is formed. A filling system is the subject of claim 10 or 12. A fundamental feature of the invention consists firstly in that the purge gas with respect to the ambient or atmospheric pressure with no or with only a very small or negligible pressure, ie with an absolute pressure of about 1, 0 bar or 1.05 bar or 1.1 bar is introduced into the evacuated container interior, which in this case is connected to a vacuum or vacuum source or with a vacuum channel of the filling system. The negative pressure of the container interior is between 50 mbar and 200 mbar, for example at about 100 mbar. Alone by this rinsing in the vacuum results in principle, a considerable saving in spent purge gas. Another special feature of the method according to the invention, however, is also that the gas is taken from the discharge channel as purge gas, in which the containers and also parts of the filling elements of the respective filling system are relieved after completion of the filling phase to the ambient or atmospheric pressure and thus the inert gas or CO2 gas used as purge gas leads to atmospheric or ambient pressure. By suitable measures, for example by installing a throttle in the connecting line of the discharge channel to the free atmosphere of the environment, the pressure within the discharge channel can also be set to a value slightly above the atmospheric pressure, for example to a pressure of 1.05 bar to 1, 3 bar.

With the method according to the invention, a reduction in the consumption of purge gas can be achieved by about 70% compared to conventional methods. With this reduction in the purge gas but also results in a reduction of the intake volume and thus the required power of the vacuum channel connected to the vacuum pump, which not only reduces their operating costs for electricity and cooling, but also reduces investment costs.

For the purposes of the invention, "pressure filling" is generally to be understood as meaning a filling process in which the container to be filled in each case rests in a sealing position against the filling element and, as a rule, before the actual filling phase, i. is biased before opening the liquid valve via at least one controlled, formed in the filling gas path with a pressurized gas clamping gas (inert gas or CO2 gas), which is then displaced during filling of the inflowing the container contents increasingly as return gas from the container interior , also via at least one controlled gas path formed in the filling element. This preloading phase is preceded by further treatment phases, namely the evacuation and purging of the respective container interior with the inert gas, e.g. CO2 gas.

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. Further developments, advantages and applications of the invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments and from the figures.

"Container" are in the context of the invention in particular cans, bottles, each made of metal, glass and / or plastic.

"Filling machine revolving design" is in the context of the invention, a filling machine with a circumferentially driven transport element, preferably rotor, and with filling positions formed on the transport element for filling the container.

The term "essentially" or "approximately" or "approx." means for the purposes of the invention deviations from the respective exact value by +/- 10%, preferably by +/- 5% and / or deviations in the form of insignificant for the function changes.

Fig. 1

in schematischer Darstellung und im Schnitt ein Füllelement eines Füllsystems oder einer Füllmaschine zum Druckfüllen von Behältern in Form von Flaschen mit einem flüssigen Füllgut;

Fig. 2 und 3

in vergrößerter Darstellung Details des Füllelementes der Figur 1;

Fig. 4

in schematischer Einzeldarstellung das Spülrohr und den dieses Spülrohr umschließenden ringförmigen Rückgaskanal des Füllelementes der Figur 1;

Fig. 5

in vereinfachter Darstellung und im Schnitt eine weitere Ausführungsform des erfindungsgemäßen Füllsystems;

Fig. 6

in vergrößerter Darstellung Details des Füllelementes der Figur 5.

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

Fig. 1

in a schematic representation and in section a filling element of a filling system or a filling machine for pressure filling of containers in the form of bottles with a liquid product;

FIGS. 2 and 3

in an enlarged view Details of the filling element of FIG. 1 ;

Fig. 4

in a schematic individual representation of the flushing pipe and the this purge tube enclosing annular Rückgaskanal the filling element of FIG. 1 ;

Fig. 5

in a simplified representation and in section a further embodiment of the filling system according to the invention;

Fig. 6

in an enlarged view Details of the filling element of FIG. 5 ,

That in the FIG. 1 generally designated 1 filling system is part of a filling machine for filling, preferably pressure filling of containers 2 in the form of bottles with a liquid product.

The filling system 1 includes, inter alia, a plurality of filling elements 3, which are provided on a common Füllgutkessel 4 for all filling elements, which is designed in particular when forming the filling machine 1 as such a rotating design as a vertical machine axis annularly enclosing ring boiler. During the filling operation, the product vessel 4 is filled with the liquid product partially filled, so that in the interior of the boiler, a lower liquid space 4.1 and lying above an upper gas space 4.2 are formed, the latter of an inert gas (eg CO2 gas) under pressure (eg filling pressure) is filled.

Each filling element 3 comprises a filling element housing 5 with a liquid channel 6 which communicates with the liquid space 4.2 via a connection 7 and forms an annular Füllgutabgabeöffnung 8 on the underside of the Füllelementgehäuses 5, via the during the actual filling phase, the liquid product to the respective in sealing position on the filling element 3 arranged container 2 flows. For controlled delivery of the filling material into the respective container, a liquid valve 9 is provided in the flow direction of the filling material in front of the Füllgutabgabeöffnung 8, which consists essentially of a valve body 10 which is controlled to open and close the liquid valve 9 in a vertical Füllelementachse FA controlled and lowered and cooperates with a valve seat in the liquid channel 6. The valve body 10 is provided on an acting as a valve tappet return gas pipe 11 which is arranged with its axis coaxially with the Füllelementachse FA, during the respective filling phase extends with a lower partial length in the upper region (headspace) of the container 2 and with an actuator 12 for Opening and closing of the liquid valve 9 cooperates. A Spülrohr 13 is also the same as the return gas pipe 11 at the upper and lower end and is enclosed by the return gas pipe 11 at a distance, so on the one hand in the interior of the return gas pipe 11, an annular the flushing pipe 13 enclosing return gas channel 14 and on the other hand, in the flushing pipe 13, a flushing channel 15 are formed. The flushing pipe 13 protrudes with its lower open end over the lower open end of the return gas pipe 11.

At the upper end, the return gas channel 14 opens into a gas space 16 formed in the Füllelementgehäuse 5. Analogously, the upper end of the flushing channel 15 opens into a likewise formed in the Füllelementgehäuse 5 gas space 17. The two gas chambers 16 and 17 are part of formed in Füllelementgehäuse 5 controlled gas channels , which are generally designated 21 and on the in the manner described in more detail below, including the actual filling phase prior to pretreatments of the interior of the each arranged on the filling element 3 in sealing position container 2 performed and / or controlled.

The filling system 1 in the illustrated embodiment further comprises a vacuum channel 18 and a discharge channel 19 which are provided in common for all filling elements 3 of the filling system 1 and connected in the manner also described in more detail below with the controlled gas paths 21 of the respective filling element 3. When the filling system 1 is designed as a peripheral type of filling machine, the product vessel 4, vacuum channel 18 and the discharge channel 19 are provided on a rotor 20, which also carries the filling elements 3 and can be driven around a vertical machine axis.

To form the controlled gas paths 21, the filling element 3 in the illustrated embodiment comprises a total of six gas or control valves 21.1 - 21.6. These valves are preferably pneumatically actuated valves and arranged in gas paths 21, which allow a controlled connection of the gas chambers 16 and 17 with the gas space 4.2, with the vacuum channel 18 and with the discharge channel 19, as will be described below.

The vacuum channel 18 is connected to a vacuum source or vacuum pump, not shown, which in the vacuum channel 18, for example, a negative pressure between 90 mbar and 110 mbar, e.g. generated by about 100 mbar. The relief passage 19 in the illustrated embodiment serves to receive the inert gas, e.g. of the CO2 gas during the residual relieving of the respective container 2 at the end of the filling phase to ambient pressure.

In detail, the filling system 1 makes it possible to fill the containers 2 in a multi-stage filling process with the following method steps, whereby it is assumed below that the liquid valve 9 as well as the control valves 21.1 - 21.6 are each in their closed state, unless the opened state is expressly stated is indicated:

1. evacuate the respective container. 2

When arranged in sealing position on the filling element 3 container 2, the interior of this container is evacuated by opening the control valve 21.2, via the return gas channel 14. For this purpose, the gas chamber 16 is connected by opening the control valve 21.2 with the vacuum channel 18.

2. Rinse the respective container 2 with inert gas

For rinsing the interior of the arranged in sealing position on the filling element 3 container 2, the gas space 17 and thus the flushing channel 15 by opening the control valve 21.4 with the discharge channel 19 and the gas chamber 16 and thus the return gas channel 14 by opening the control valve 21.2 connected to the vacuum channel 18 , so that CO2 gas from the discharge channel 19 via the scavenging passage 15 in the evacuated interior of the respective container 2 flow and in this case from the container interior displaced gas via the return gas channel 14 into the vacuum channel 18 can flow. It has been found that the pressure level corresponding to the ambient pressure or substantially corresponding pressure in the discharge channel 19 at the negative pressure, which is set by the connection of the container interior with the vacuum channel, sufficient for flushing the container interior with the required quality.

3. End evacuation of the respective container 2

For the final evacuation of the further arranged in sealing position on the filling element 3 container 2 of the container interior is still open control valve 21.2 connected via the return gas channel 14 and the gas chamber 16 to the vacuum channel 18, namely with the control valve 21.4 closed.

4. biasing the respective container. 2

For biasing the container interior of the further arranged in sealing position on the filling element 3 container by opening the control valve 21.3, the gas chamber 16 and thus the return gas channel 14 connected to the gas chamber 4.2 of the product, so from the gas chamber 4.2 inert gas under filling pressure in the evacuated container interior can flow in.

5. Quick filling of the respective container. 2

For fast filling of the arranged in sealing position on the filling element 3 container 2, the liquid valve 9 is opened. At the same time, the control valves 21.3 and 21.5 are opened so that the inert gas displaced from the inflowing contents from the container interior can flow back into the gas space 4.2 via the return gas duct 14 and the gas space 16 and parallel thereto via the throttled gas path (throttle 22) having the control valve 21.5 ,

6. Lanasam fill the respective container. 2

In further arranged in sealing position on the filling element 3 container 2 and opened liquid valve 9, only the control valve 21.5 is open, so that the inflowing from the container interior displaced inert gas throttled only via the return gas channel 14, the gas chamber 16 and the throttle 22 in the gas space 4.2 can flow back.

7. Filling and calming the filled product

To complete the actual filling phase, the liquid valve 9 is closed with closed control valves 21.1 - 21.6.

8. Restentlasten the respective container. 2

After completion of the filling phase is carried out at still in sealing position on the filling element 3 arranged container 2, the residual relieving of the contents not occupied headspace and also the Rückgaskanales 14, the Spülkanales 15 and at least partially the controlled gas paths 21 of the filling element 3 by opening the control valves 21.1 and 21.4, ie by connecting the gas chambers 16 and 17 with the discharge channel 19th

In the method described above, it is also possible to flush the interior of the arranged in sealing position on the filling element 3 container 2 in addition to the inert gas from the gas chamber 4.2, by opening the control valve 21.6, creating a throttled connection (throttle 23) between the gas space 17 and the gas space 4.2 is produced, is introduced via the inert gas from the gas chamber 4.2 via the gas space 17 and the purge passage 15 into the container interior 2, namely with the control valve 21.2 open, ie at about the gas space 16 and the return gas channel 14 connected to the vacuum channel 18 Container interior. This optional or additional purging with inert gas from the gas space 4.2 takes place, for example, with a shortened purging time after purging with the inert gas from the discharge channel 19.

In order to enable the method steps described above, the control valves 21.1 and 21.4 are each connected on the input side to the discharge channel 19 and the control valves 21.3, 21.5 and 21.6 on the input side to the gas space 4.2. The control valves 21.1, 21.2 and 21.3 and 21.5 are connected on the output side to the gas space 16. The control valves 21.4 and 21.6 are connected on the output side to the gas space 17.

If the optional or additional purging of the container interior from the gas space 4.2 is dispensed with, then the control valve 21.6 is not required in the throttled gas path, so that only five control valves 21.1 to 21.5 are required on the respective filling element 3.

The fundamental advantage of the filling method described above, however, is that in each case for the purging of the container interior, the inert gas from the discharge channel 19 is used in evacuated and connected to the vacuum channel 18 container 2, which compared to conventional methods, a significant reduction of Consumption of rinsing or inert gas can be achieved when rinsing, for example, a reduction of up to about 70%.

The optional flushing from the gas chamber 4.2 via the open control valve 21.6 and the throttle 22 having gas path is preferably also when the amount of gas from the discharge channel 19 is not sufficient as the sole purge gas. It is also possible, with a gas deficit in the discharge channel 19 fed in this regulated inert gas from the gas chamber 4.2, via a connection 24 with a flow meter 25 and a pressure regulator circuit 26 with control valve 27, which in dependence on the flow meter 25 and is controlled by a pressure sensor 28, which monitors the gas pressure in the discharge channel 19.

The Figures 5 and 6 shows a single-chamber filling system 1a with filling elements 3a, which are each arranged at least partially in the Füllgutkessel 4a and whose Füllgutabgabeöffnung 8a are located directly below the Füllgutkessels 4a. The filling system 1a, for example, again serves for pressure filling of containers 2 in the form of bottles, which are arranged in a sealing position on the respective filling element 3a during the filling process. During the filling process, the filling material vessel 4a is partially filled with the filling material, so that in turn the liquid space 4.1 and the gas space 4.2 charged with the pressure (eg filling pressure) of an inert gas (eg CO2 gas) form.

Each filling element 3a has a liquid channel 6a, which is in communication with the liquid space 4.1 and forms on the underside of the filling element and below the Füllgutkessels 4a, the annular discharge opening 8a, via which the contents with open liquid valve 9a the container interior of the container 2 flows. The valve body 10a of the liquid valve 9a is provided on a return gas pipe 11a, which is arranged coaxially with the Füllelementachse FA a gas channel 14a, which opens via a designed as a needle valve return gas valve 29 into the gas space 4.2 and controlled by a needle-shaped valve body 29.1 of the return gas valve 29 to the gas space 4.2 can be opened and closed. For opening and closing the liquid valve 9a by raising and lowering the valve body 10a and also to open and close the return gas valve 29 by raising and lowering the needle-shaped valve body 29.1 relative to the return gas pipe 11a is an actuator 12a. This is designed, for example, as a lifting device such that in a first opening stroke first the valve body 29.1 is raised to open the return gas valve and the liquid valve 9a is opened only in a second opening stroke or further stroke.

The filling system 1a further has a vacuum channel 18a and a discharge channel 19a, which are provided in common for all filling elements 3a of the filling system 1a, specifically when the filling system 1a is designed as a filling machine of the peripheral design with the filling vessel 4a designed as a ring bowl at the bottom of this vessel or on a rotatably driven about a vertical machine axis rotor.

Controlled gas paths with control valves 31.1 - 31.4 are provided for each filling element 3a or a group of, for example, two filling elements 3a, with which the evacuation and purging of the interior of the container 2 arranged in sealing position on the filling element 3a takes place analogously to the filling system 1.

In order to allow flushing of the evacuated and associated with the vacuum channel 18 a container 2 with the gas from the discharge channel 19 a also in the filling system 1 a, the needle-shaped valve body 29.1 of the return gas valve 29 is formed with a further gas channel 32, the constantly, i. even with the return gas valve 29 closed, with the gas passage 14a in communication, i. forms the continuation of the gas channel 14a and is connected via a gas passage 33 and the control valve 30.3 with the discharge channel 19a.

The filling of the container 2 is carried out with the filling system 1a, for example in the following manner, wherein in the individual steps again the liquid valve 9a and all valves 29 and 31.1 - 31.4 are in the closed state, unless the open state is not explicitly stated:

1. evacuate the respective container. 2

The container 2 arranged in sealing position on the filling element 3a is evacuated from the vacuum channel 18a by opening the control valve 31.2 and by connecting a gas path 34 which opens at the filling material discharge opening 8a.

2. Rinse the respective container. 2

In further arranged in sealing position on the filling element 3a container 2 and in still open control valve 31.1 and open control valve 30.3 via the gas passage 14a, the introduction of purge gas from the discharge channel 19a into the container interior. This displaced gas is discharged via the gas path 34 and the open control valve 31.2 in the vacuum channel 18 a. The introduction of purge gas from the discharge channel 19a into the container interior can also be reduced by a throttle.

3. biasing the respective container. 2

In further arranged in sealing position on the filling element 3a container 2, the return gas valve 29 is opened by lifting the valve body 29.1 relative to the return gas pipe 11a, so that via the gas channel 14a inert gas can flow under pressure into the container interior.

4. filling the respective container. 2

In further arranged in sealing position on the filling element 3a container 2 is opened at further open return gas valve 29a and the liquid valve 9a by further lifting the return gas pipe 11a, so over the opened liquid valve 9a contents from the liquid space 4.1 flows into the container and this displaced inert gas over the open return gas valve 29 flows back into the gas space 4.2.

5. Filling and calming

In further arranged in sealing position on the filling element 3a container 2 all valves including the liquid valve 9a and the return gas valve 29 are closed.

6. Restentlasten the respective container. 2

To relieve in particular the headspace of the filled container 2, the gas path 34 is connected to the relief channel 19a by opening the control valve 31.1, so that inert gas flows from the headspace into the relief channel 19a and is then available for later rinsing.

In addition, the purging of the respective container 2 can also take place from an inert gas channel 30 with fresh inert gas, by opening the control valve 31.4, which then brings the inert gas via the gas connection 33 and the gas channels 32 and 14a in the respective container interior flows, which in this case via the gas path 34 and the open control valve 30.2 is connected to the vacuum channel 18a. This flushing with the inert gas from the inert gas channel 30 takes place especially if there is a gas deficit in the discharge channel 19a. Furthermore, in the filling system 1a, a gas deficit in the discharge channel 19a can in turn be compensated by controlled feeding of inert gas, for example, from the inert gas channel 30 or the gas space 4.2.

In the filling system 1a advantageously also the possibility not only the headspace of the respective filled container 2, but also to relieve the gas path inside the return gas pipe 11a by opening the control valve 30.3, thereby thereby any type of liquid pulses from the return gas pipe 11a in the Container 2 and a consequent unwanted foaming can be avoided.

As stated above, to realize the flushing of the container 2 with inert gas from the discharge channel 19 or 19 more gas or control valves are required, ie in the filling system 1 five to six control valves 21.1 - 21.6 and the filling system 1a at least four gas or control valves 31.1 - 31.4 per filling element 3 or 3a. In order to reduce the number of control valves of the entire filling system, it is expedient to provide at least some of the control valves for a respective group of filling elements 3 and 3a, for example for at least two filling elements 3 and 3a together.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1, 1a

filling system

2

container

3, 3a

filler

4,4a

Füllgutkessel

4.1

liquid space

4.2

headspace

5, 5a

filling element

6

liquid channel

7

connection

8,8a

discharge opening

9,9a

liquid valve

10,10a

valve body

11, 11a

Return gas pipe

12, 12a

actuators

13

flush pipe

14, 14a

Return gas channel

15

irrigation channel

16.17

headspace

18, 18a

vacuum channel

19, 19a

relief channel

20

rotor

21.1 - 21.6

Gas or control valve

22.23

throttle

24

connection

25

Flowmeter

26

Control or regulating circuit

27

Valve

28

pressure sensor

29

Return gas valve

29.1

valve body

30

Inert gas channel

31.1 - 31.4

Gas or control valve

32

gas channel

33

connection

34

gas path

FA

filling element

Claims (15)

1. Method for the pressure filling of containers (2) with a liquid filling product, making use of a filling system (1, 1a) with at least one filling element (3, 3a), wherein, before the initiating of a filling phase, the interior of the container (2) arranged in a sealing position at the filling element (3, 3a) is evacuated in at least one evacuation and flushing phase by connection to a vacuum channel (18, 18a), and then the evacuated container interior, still connected to the vacuum channel (18, 18a) is flushed with an inert gas, such as CO₂ gas, and wherein the container interior, after the evacuation and flushing phase, is pretensioned with an inert gas under pressure, filled, and, after the completion of this pre-tensioning and filling phase, is pressure-relieved into a pressure-relief channel (19, 19a), wherein the flushing of the respective container interior in the at least one evacuation and flushing phase is carried out at least partially with gas from the pressure-relief channel (19, 19a) as a flushing gas,
   characterised in that
   the container interior, during the at least one evacuation and flushing phase, is subjected to a pressure of between 50 mbar and 200 mbar.
2. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that the flushing gas is introduced at a pressure of some 1.0 bar or 1.05 bar or 1.1 bar into the container interior.
3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the gas pressure in the pressure-relief channel (19, 19a) is the same as or slightly higher than the ambient pressure.
4. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that, during the at least one evacuation and flushing phase, the container interior is subjected to a pressure of some 100 mbar.
5. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the flushing gas is introduced centred into the respective container interior (2).
6. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that, in addition to the flushing with the gas from the pressure-relief channel (19a), a flushing of the respective container takes place with fresh inert gas from a gas space (4.2) or gas channel (30) of the filling system.
7. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that, with the use of a filling system (1) with a flushing pipe (13) with a flushing channel (15) extending during the filling into the container interior, and a return gas pipe (11) with return gas channel (14) extending in the container interior, the flushing gas is introduced via the flushing pipe (13) or its flushing channel (15), and the container interior is connected via the return gas channel (14) of the return gas pipe (11) to the vacuum channel (18) of the filling system.
8. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that, with the use of a single-chamber filling system (1a) with at least one filling element (3a), with a return gas tube (11a) extending into the container during filling, the flushing gas is introduced via a return gas channel (11a) formed in the return gas pipe, and the container interior is in connection via at least one controlled gas path (31.2, 34) to the vacuum channel (18a) of the filling system (1a), wherein the gas path (31.2, 34) opens at the filling product outlet opening.
9. Method according to claim 8, characterised in that, with the configuration of the filling element (3a) with a return gas valve (29) which opens and closes the connection of the gas channel (14a) of the return gas tube (11a) to the gas space (4.2) of a filling gas tank (4), the flushing gas is conveyed via a connection (32, 33) leading through the valve body (29.1) of this return gas valve (29).
10. Filling system with at least one liquid valve (3) with a valve housing (5), in which a liquid channel (6) is formed, which is in connection with a liquid space (4.1) formed in a liquid tank (4), and forms on an underside of the filling element (3) a filling product discharge opening (8) for discharging the filling product into the container (2) arranged in a sealing position at the filling element (3), with a liquid valve (9) arranged in the fluid channel (6), with a flushing pipe (13) projecting downwards via the filling product discharge opening (8) and which during filling extends into the container (2), as well as with a return gas pipe (11), likewise extending into the container (2) during filling, which forms an annular return gas channel (14) surrounding the flushing pipe (13), with a first gas space (16) formed in the filling element housing (5), into which the return gas channel (14) opens with its end located remotely from the discharge opening (8), as well as with a second gas space (17), into which the flushing channel (15) opens, with a plurality of gas paths (21), controlled by gas valves and/or control valves (21.1 - 21.6), with a vacuum channel (18) common to all the filling elements (3), and a pressure-relief channel (19) likewise common to all the filling elements (3), wherein the pressure-relief channel (19) can be connected in a controlled manner by means of a first control valve (21.4) to the second gas space (17) and the flushing channel (15) of the flushing pipe (13), and the first gas space (16) and the return gas channel (14) can be connected via a second control valve (21.2) to the vacuum channel (18) during the evacuation and flushing phase, with a third control valve (21.1), by means of which, during the residual pressure relief, the first gas space (16) and the return gas channel (14) can be connected to the pressure-relief channel (19), characterised in that the filling system is suitable for carrying out the method according to any one of claims 1-9, as well as by a fourth control valve (21.3), by means of which, during the pre-tensioning, the first gas space(16) and the return gas channel (14) can be connected to a gas space (4.2) of the liquid tank (4), and by a fifth control valve (21.5), by which the first gas space (16) and the return gas channel (14) can be connected, in a choked manner, to the gas space (4.2) of the liquid tank (4) for a slow filling.
11. Filling system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised by a sixth control valve (21.6), by which the second gas space (17) and the flushing channel (15) can be connected to the gas space (4.2) of the filling tank (4).
12. Filling system in the form of a single-chamber system, with a filling product tank (4a), which during the filling is partially filled with the liquid filling product, with the formation of a lower liquid space (4.1) and an upper gas space (4.2), with a plurality of filling elements (3a) arranged at least partially in the liquid tank (4a), which in each case form a filling product discharge opening (8a) for the discharge of the filling product into the containers (2) arranged in a sealing position at the respective filling element (3a), and which comprise a valve body (10a) formed at a valve tappet, wherein the valve tappet is configured as a return gas pipe (11a) with a gas channel (14a), with a return gas valve (18a) controlling the connection between the gas channel (14a) and the gas space (4.2), with a vacuum channel (18a) common to all the filling elements (3a), with a pressure-relief channel (19a) common to all the filling elements (3a), as well as with a plurality of gas valves and/or control valves (31.1-31.4) forming controlled gas paths, characterised in that the filling system is suitable for carrying out the method according to any one of claims 1-9, wherein a first control valve (31.3) is configured for connecting the gas channel (14a) of the return gas pipe (11a) to the pressure-relief channel (19a), and a second control valve (31.2) is configured for connecting a gas path (34), opening at the discharge opening (8a), to the vacuum channel (18a).
13. Filling system according to claim 12, characterised in that a gas path (32, 33), connecting the gas channel (14a) of the return gas pipe (11a) to the first gas valve (30.1), leads through the valve body (29.1) of the return gas valve (29).
14. Filling system according to claim 12 or 13, characterised by a third control valve (31.1), which, at the residual pressure relief of the container (2) arranged in the sealing position at the filling element (3a), connects the head space of the container (2) to the pressure relief channel (19a).
15. Filling system according to claim 12 - 14, characterised by a fourth control valve (31.4), via which the gas channel (14a) of the return gas pipe (11a) can be connected to an inert gas channel (30), which conveys fresh inert gas and is common to all the filling elements (2a).

Images