EP3473587A1 - Method and device for filling a container to be filled with a filler - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for filling a container (120) to be filled with a filling product, comprising the steps:
- sealingly receiving the container (120) to be filled in a treatment chamber (2),
sealingly applying a filling member (3) to the container (120),
- after sealingly applying the filling member (3) to the container (120), rinsing the container (120) with a purge gas introduced into the container through a purge gas channel (80),
after rinsing the container (120) with the purge gas, filling the container (120) with the filling product,
- biasing the treatment chamber (2) with a clamping gas through a clamping gas channel (84),
after filling the container (120) and biasing the treatment chamber (2), removing the filling member (3) from the container (120),
after removal of the filling member (3) from the container (120), closing of the container (120) accommodated in the treatment chamber (2) with a container closure,
after the closure of the container (120), relieving the pretension pressure present in the treatment chamber (2) and removing the container (120) from the treatment chamber (2),
in which
the bias pressure present in the treatment chamber (2) is at least partially relieved into the purge gas channel (80).

Description

Technical area

The present invention relates to a method and a device for filling a container to be filled with a filling product, for example in a beverage filling plant.

Technical background

Filling methods and devices for carrying out a filling process are known in which a container to be filled with a treatment chamber is sealed, a filling valve is connected to the mouth of the container to be filled and the container interior of the container to be filled with a purge gas to reduce the oxygen content is rinsed. After rinsing the container interior with the purge gas, the container interior is then filled with the filling product. Before filling, depending on the filling method selected and the filling product to be filled, pretensioning or evacuation of the container to be filled can also be carried out.

Simultaneously with the filling of the container interior with the filling product, also before or after, the treatment chamber is brought to an overpressure and then removes the filling valve from the mouth of the container already filled with the filling product. Due to the overpressure present in the treatment chamber, when the filling valve is removed from the mouth of the container filled with the filling product, overflowing, splashing or foaming, in particular of a carbonated filling product, does not take place. The treatment chamber under the overpressure communicates with the container interior accordingly.

In a next treatment step, a container closure is then applied to the container in the treatment chamber, which is still under pressure, and the container is closed accordingly. Hereinafter, the present in the treatment chamber

Overpressure substantially reduced to ambient pressure and then removed the filled and sealed container from the treatment chamber. Such a device and such a method are for example from the EP 2 937 310 A2 known.

Presentation of the invention

Starting from the known state of the art, it is an object of the present invention to further develop the known method and the known apparatus in such a way that the filling process can be carried out even more efficiently.

This object is achieved by a method for filling a container to be filled with a filling product having the features of claim 1. Advantageous developments emerge from the subclaims, the present description and the figures.

Accordingly, a method for filling a container to be filled with a filling product is proposed, comprising the steps of sealingly receiving the container to be filled in a treatment chamber, the sealing applying a Füllorgans on the container, after the sealing application of the filling member to the container of the rinsing A container having a purge gas introduced into the container through a purge gas channel, after purging the container with the purge gas of filling the container with the product, biasing the treatment chamber with a sparge gas through a chuck channel, after filling the container and biasing the processing chamber of the container Removing the filling member from the container, after removing the filling member from the container closing the container received in the treatment chamber with a container closure, and after closing the container, relieving the container in the container Chamber has present biasing pressure and the removal of the container from the treatment chamber. According to the present invention, the biasing pressure present in the treatment chamber is at least partially relieved into the purge gas channel.

Characterized in that the relieving of the biasing pressure in the treatment chamber is at least partially achieved by the purge gas channel, a reuse of the gas used in the treatment chamber for biasing is made possible. The span gas used in the treatment chamber can be used in particular subsequently for rinsing a further container to be filled.

In particular, it is not necessary to carry out the rinsing with a high pressure due to the pressure conditions during rinsing of the container with the purge gas before the actual filling of the container with the filling product. Rather, the rinse is preferably carried out under a pressure which is below the pressure of the filling product. For example, rinsing with a purge gas at a low pressure, for example at 0.5 bar to 4 bar absolute pressure, preferably at an absolute pressure of 1.4 bar to 1.9 bar, are performed, the container at the same time via a vacuum channel with a Vacuum is in communication, which is less than the pressure of the purge gas. Accordingly, the purge gas is sucked out of the purge gas channel quasi through the container to be rinsed.

By "vacuum" of the vacuum channel is in this context only according understood that the pressure in the vacuum channel during flushing of the container with the purge gas is below the pressure present in the purge gas channel to a corresponding flow of purge gas from the purge gas channel out into the container and through to reach it through.

The treatment chamber, however, is, in order to provide a corresponding back pressure against the debinding of the gas from a carbonated filling product, with a pressure of 2 bar to 11 bar absolute pressure, preferably applied with an absolute pressure of 5 bar to 9 bar, with the clamping gas. By applying the tensioning gas to the treatment chamber, it can be achieved that, in particular, a carbonated filling product does not tend to discharge the CO ₂ bound in the filling product when the filling member is removed from the mouth of the then filled container.

As a result, it can be correspondingly achieved that the frothing tendency or any frothing and leakage of the filling product received in the container from the mouth of the filled container is suppressed by the prestressing pressure in the treatment chamber. Furthermore, possibly existing in the mouth region of the filled container foam is pushed back due to the pressure in the treatment chamber in the filled container. This overpressure in the treatment chamber is maintained until the container is securely closed by means of the capper with a container closure.

In order to achieve both the rinsing effect of the purge gas and the biasing effect of the clamping gas efficiently, the clamping gas channel is still under a higher pressure than the purge gas channel. This also ensures that the clamping gas from the pressurized with the clamping gas acted upon treatment chamber at least partially when opening a purge gas valve flows into the purge gas channel.

It can be achieved that a part of the gas volume of the clamping gas, which is under high pressure in the treatment chamber for bias, is introduced after closing the container for relieving the treatment chamber in the Spülgaskanal. In the purge gas channel is a lower pressure, so that a considerable part of the gas volume from the treatment chamber can flow into the purge gas channel. This gas volume can subsequently be used again to rinse the next container to be rinsed.

It should be noted that containers are flushed, for example, with twice the volume of their container volume with purge gas. By contrast, the treatment chamber typically has a significantly lower volume than the container volume.

In an exemplary embodiment, the treatment chamber has a volume of 100 ml, whereas a container to be filled has a volume of 500 ml to 1 l. This results in an absolute pressure of 5 bar in the prestressed with the clamping gas from the clamping gas channel treatment chamber and an absolute pressure of 1 bar in the purge gas channel that the span gas volume from the treatment chamber, which has flowed back into the purge gas channel to discharge the next rinse one to be filled Container is completely consumed in the container to be rinsed. Subsequently, then also fresh purge gas flows from a purge gas reservoir.

In this way, it can be achieved that the consumption of clamping gas and purging gas, which is usually CO _{2 in} each case, can be reduced, since the CO ₂ used in the treatment chamber as the clamping gas can subsequently be recycled as purge gas. Correspondingly, a recycling rate of about 80% of the CO ₂ used as the span gas in the treatment chamber results.

Preferably, subsequent to the relief of the biasing pressure in the purge gas channel, the biasing pressure remaining in the treatment chamber is further relieved by a relief channel in communication with the environment, preferably at ambient pressure. In this way it can be ensured that before removing the filled and sealed container from the treatment chamber, the treatment chamber further relieved is and according to a safe opening of the treatment chamber and a safe removal of the container is possible.

Preferably, after the removal of the closed container, rinsing of a container to be filled, which is subsequently received in the treatment chamber, is carried out with the flushing gas at least partially with the span gas flowing into the flushing gas channel. Thus, an efficient reuse of the gas can be achieved accordingly.

Preferably, a purge gas from a purge gas source is used for purge of the container in addition to the tension gas relieved in the purge gas channel. Thus, the supply of fresh purge gas can be ensured.

The purge gas channel is preferably under an absolute pressure of from 0.5 bar to 4 bar, more preferably under an absolute pressure of from 1.4 bar to 1.9 bar, and the gas-spout is under an absolute pressure of from 2 bar to 11 bar, preferably below an absolute pressure from 5 bar to 9 bar.

In a preferred refinement, after the relief of the pretensioning pressure of the treatment chamber into the purge gas channel, the pretensioning pressure remaining in the treatment chamber is further relieved by a negative pressure provided via a vacuum line, preferably to ambient pressure. By connecting the treatment chamber with the vacuum line can be provided according to a very fast discharge.

Preferably, after the discharge of the pretensioning pressure of the treatment chamber into the purge gas channel, the pretensioning pressure remaining in the treatment chamber is further relieved by retraction of the filling member and / or a closure member from the treatment chamber, preferably to ambient pressure.

This can be achieved with the accompanying by the retraction of the filling member and / or the closure member volume increase in the treatment chamber, a pressure reduction of the remaining in the treatment chamber biasing pressure, so that can be dispensed with the provision of a discharge line.

The retraction of the closing member after the partial relieving of the biasing pressure in the purge gas channel is necessary anyway, to the treatment chamber back to the starting position to prepare for receiving a new container to be filled. In this process, the defined discharge of the treatment chamber is also made at the same time.

During the introduction of the purge gas into the container to be filled, the container to be filled is preferably pressurized with a vacuum provided via a vacuum line, preferably in order to provide a purge gas stream in the container to be filled. This allows efficient flushing of the container.

Advantageously, prior to introduction of the filling product into the container to be filled, the container to be filled is brought to a reduced pressure and a filling product under overpressure is introduced into the container under negative pressure.

The above object is further achieved by a device for filling a container to be filled with a filling product having the features of claim 11. Advantageous developments emerge from the subclaims, the present description and the figures.

Accordingly, an apparatus for filling a container to be filled with a filling product is proposed, comprising a treatment chamber for sealingly receiving the container to be filled, a filling member for sealing application to the container sealed with the treatment chamber and for introducing a filling product into the container, a purge gas channel Introducing a purge gas in the container to be filled, a clamping gas channel for introducing a clamping gas into the treatment chamber, and a closure member for applying a container closure to a filled container within the treatment chamber. According to the invention, a controller is provided which is adapted to carry out, after closing the container, an at least partial relieving of the pretensioning pressure present in the treatment chamber into the purge gas channel.

By means of this device, the advantages described above for the method can be achieved.

Preferably, the controller is adapted to further relieve the pressure remaining in the treatment chamber biasing pressure by a relief communicating with the environment relief channel subsequent to the relief of the biasing pressure of the treatment chamber in the purge gas channel, preferably to ambient pressure.

In an advantageous development, the control is set up to relieve the remaining pressure in the treatment chamber by a pressure provided via a vacuum line further to relieve the bias pressure of the treatment chamber in the purge gas channel further, preferably to ambient pressure.

In a further advantageous development, the control is set up to relieve the remaining in the treatment chamber biasing pressure by retraction of the filling member and / or the Verschließorgans from the treatment chamber further to the relief of the biasing pressure of the treatment chamber in the purge gas channel, preferably to ambient pressure.

Preferably, the controller is adapted to at least partially perform the after the removal of the sealed container rinsing a subsequently received in the treatment chamber to be filled container with the relieved gas in the purge gas span gas.

Advantageously, the controller is adapted to use a purging gas from a purge gas source for purging the container in addition to the vent gas vented into the purge gas passage.

Brief description of the figures

Figur 1

eine schematische Schnittdarstellung einer Vorrichtung zum Befüllen eines Behälters mit einem Füllprodukt und einem nachfolgenden Verschließen des Behälters mit einem Behälterverschluss, wobei eine Behandlungskammer zur Aufnahme des Behälters, ein auf den in der Behandlungskammer aufgenommenen Behälter wirkendes Füllorgan und ein auf den in der Behandlungskammer aufgenommenen Behälter wirkendes Verschließelement vorgesehen sind;

Figur 2

eine schematische Darstellung der Vorrichtung aus der Figur 1, wobei das Verschließelement über den Mündungsbereich des befüllten Behälters geführt ist, um einen Behälterverschluss auf den befüllten Behälter aufzubringen; und

Figur 3

eine schematische Darstellung der Vorrichtung aus den vorhergehenden Figuren, wobei das Verschließelement wieder in die Ausgangsposition zurückgezogen ist und der befüllte und verschlossene Behälter nach unten hin aus der Behandlungskammer herausgeführt wurde.

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

FIG. 1

a schematic sectional view of an apparatus for filling a container with a filling product and a subsequent closure of the container with a container closure, wherein a treatment chamber for receiving the container, acting on the container received in the treatment chamber filling member and acting on the received in the treatment chamber container acting Closing element are provided;

FIG. 2

a schematic representation of the device of the FIG. 1 wherein the closure member is passed over the mouth region of the filled container to apply a container closure to the filled container; and

FIG. 3

a schematic representation of the device of the preceding figures, wherein the closing element is retracted back to the starting position and the filled and sealed container was led out down from the treatment chamber.

Detailed description of preferred embodiments

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

Shown schematically in the figures are different cut-outs, detailed representations and states of a device 1 for filling a container 120 with a filling product and for subsequently closing the container 120 filled with the filling product with a container closure.

The device 1 comprises a treatment chamber 2, a filling member 3 and a closure member 4, which will be described in detail below.

The treatment chamber 2 serves to provide predetermined pressure conditions and / or a predetermined atmosphere for the container 120 to be filled or its interior, when the mouth 122 of the container 120 to be filled is in communication with the treatment chamber 2.

The filling member 3 serves to fill the interior of the container to be filled 120 in a conventional manner with a predetermined amount of filling product.

The closing member 4 serves to finally close the container 120 filled with the filling product with a container closure.

The device 1 can be provided, for example, in a beverage filling plant, in which case a beverage is filled into a beverage bottle to be filled and the beverage bottle is closed after filling with the beverage with a container closure. But they are too Plants for filling other filling products, for example from the foodstuffs sector, the pharmaceutical sector, the hygiene sector or the mineral oil sector.

In such a system, a plurality of the devices 1 shown are usually arranged around the circumference of a treatment carousel. The devices 1 respectively revolve around the axis of rotation of the treatment carousel to provide, accordingly, continuous processing and, in particular, continuous filling and continuous closure of continuously fed containers 120 to be filled, for example in a beverage bottling plant. In this case, a stream of filled and sealed containers 120 is produced.

The treatment chamber 2 of the respective device 1 is intended to receive at least a portion of the container 120 to be filled. For this purpose, the treatment chamber 2 at its lower end to a container receiving opening 20, through which the respective container 120 to be filled with its container mouth 122 can be pushed ahead in the treatment chamber 2.

By introducing the container 120 to be filled with its container mouth 122 in the treatment chamber 2, the container receiving opening 20 - sealed, for example by means of a switchable seal 60 - gas-tight from the environment, so that the container receiving opening 20 of the treatment chamber 2 with inserted container 120 gas-tight relative to the environment is completed.

The container 120 is thus received in a sealing manner with the treatment chamber 2. In an alternative embodiment, not only a part of the container 120 - as in the embodiment shown, the mouth region - but the entire container 120 may be received in the treatment chamber 2.

The treatment chamber 2 further has a capper receiving opening 22 at its upper end. Through the Verschließeraufnahmeöffnung 22 through the closing member 4 and a closing element 40 of the Veschließorgans 4 can act on the container mouth 122 of a then filled container 120 to apply a container closure. By lowering the closing member 4 and a Verschließerflansches 42nd of the closure member 4, the capper receiving opening 22 can be sealed off from the environment in a gastight manner.

Thus, by inserting the container 120 into the container receiving opening 20 and by lowering the Verschließorgans 4 on the Verschließeraufnahmeöffnung 22, the interior of the treatment chamber 2 sealed gas-tight from the environment. Within the treatment chamber 2, a pressure which differs from the environment can correspondingly be applied and / or an atmosphere or gas mixture or a gas differing from the ambient atmosphere can be provided in the treatment chamber 2.

In the treatment chamber 2, for example, by introducing an overpressure, a pressure which is different from the environment can be provided, which is achieved in the treatment chamber 2 and thus also in the interior of the container 120 to be filled, sealed off from the environment with the treatment chamber 2, if the container mouth 122 protrudes unsealed into the treatment chamber 2 and, corresponding to the container interior, is in communication with the treatment chamber 2.

By subjecting the treatment chamber 2 with a gas or a gas mixture such as by introducing CO ₂ or other inert gas via a clamping gas channel 84 in communication with the treatment chamber 2, an atmosphere different from the environment can be provided in the treatment chamber 2.

In the treatment chamber 2, a filling product outlet 30 of the filling member 3 is provided, by means of which the filling product to be filled can be filled into the interior of the container 120 to be filled. The filling member 3 has a filling product outlet seal 300 surrounding the filling product outlet 30, to which the mouth 122 of the container 120 can be pressed and by means of which a sealing connection between the container interior and the filling member 3 can be produced.

In the interior of the sealed against the environment with the treatment chamber 2 to be filled container 120 is substantially the same pressure and in the Substantially the same atmosphere as provided in the treatment chamber 2, when the container mouth 122 opens open into the treatment chamber 2.

On the other hand, if the container mouth 122 of the container 120 to be filled is sealed in a gas-tight manner with respect to the treatment chamber 2, for example because the container mouth 122 is sealed with the filling member 3, the pressure present in the treatment chamber 2 and the atmosphere present in the treatment chamber 2 have no influence the pressure present in the interior of the container 120 or the present in this gas composition.

The filling member 3 and thus also the filling product outlet 30 can be moved in the illustrated embodiment in the direction of the arrow F, which indicates the Füllorganbewegungsrichtung, such that the Füllproduktauslauf 30 is disposed either in a treatment position so above the container receiving opening 20 that a to or filling member 3 and filling product outlet 30 are moved into a retracted parking position, such that closing member 4 comprises a container closure in a manner to be described below can then apply the filled container 120.

The closure member 4 has a closing element 40, by means of which the actual container closure can be applied to the container 120, which is still held in the treatment chamber 2 and filled but not yet sealed. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the closing element 40 is designed to apply a crown cap closure to the container 120 to be closed. However, the closure member 40 may be formed as needed and depending on the required container closure and may in particular, in addition to the training as Kronkorkenverschließer, as a screw capper for applying a molded part provided as a screw cap, as Aufroll- or Anrollverschließer for rolling or rolling a container closure sleeve on an external thread a filled container, be designed as a closing element for applying plugs, corks or in any other manner for closing the filled container 120.

Now, as soon as the gas-tight seal between the product outlet 30 and the container 120 is prepared, rinsing of the container 120 with a via a purge gas 80 fed purge gas, such as CO ₂ , take place. Preferably, a vacuum channel 88 may be provided, by means of which the container 120 is subjected to a negative pressure. In this way, a purge gas stream can sweep through the container 120 and displace in this way the remaining oxygen in the container 120. Or it can be achieved by alternately applying negative pressure and purge gas efficient flushing of the container 120.

In the purge gas channel 80 is preferably an absolute pressure of 0.5 bar to 4 bar before. The pressure present in the container 120 must be kept correspondingly by the switching of the vacuum channel 88 at a pressure which is below the voltage applied in the purge gas channel 80, if an inflow of the purge gas is to be made possible in the container 120.

A controller 9 serves to switch a purging gas valve 82 and a vacuum valve 89 so that the container 120 is purged with the purging gas in the manner described above and, accordingly, a predetermined purging gas concentration in the container 120 is achieved. Thus, for example, an oxygen-poor atmosphere in the container 120 can be achieved.

Then the filling product can be introduced into the then rinsed container 120. Prior to introduction of the fill product, in preferred embodiments, either a vacuum may be provided in vessel 120 into which the then relatively over pressurized fill product is introduced, or vessel 120 is biased to a pressure above the saturation pressure of the fill product with a biasing gas and the filling product is introduced into the prestressed container 120.

Furthermore, when the treatment chamber 2 is sealed pressure-tight relative to the container 120 by the pressing of the filling member 3, the treatment chamber 2 is biased with a clamping gas via a clamping gas line 84. The controller 9 controls this admission of the treatment chamber 2 with the clamping gas in accordance with the switching of a clamping gas valve 86th

In order to achieve both the rinsing effect of the purge gas and the biasing action of the clamping gas efficiently, the purge gas channel 80 is preferably under an absolute pressure of 0.5 bar to 4 bar, preferably an absolute pressure of 1.4 bar to 1.9 bar, and the clamping gas channel 84 under an absolute pressure of 2 bar to 11 bar, preferably an absolute pressure of 5 bar to 9 bar.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the method, the purge gas channel 80 is under an absolute pressure of about 1.7 bar and the clamping gas channel 84 is under an absolute pressure of about 7 bar.

In order to achieve both the rinsing effect of the purge gas and the biasing effect of the clamping gas efficiently, the clamping gas channel 84 is under a higher pressure than the purge gas channel 80.

If the desired pretensioning pressure is reached in the treatment chamber 2 and the container 120 is filled with the filling product, then the filling member 3 can be lifted off the mouth 122 of the container 120. The interior of the container 120 and the filling product present therein is then acted upon by the pretensioning pressure of the treatment chamber 2 by the treatment chamber 2 then being in communication with the container 120. In this way, the foaming of the filling product by the unbinding of the bound gas in the filling product - for example, CO ₂ - can be reduced or avoided when the filling member 3 is lifted.

Subsequently, the filling member 3 is retracted in the Füllorganbewegungsrichtung F and the capper 4 - as in FIG. 2 shown schematically - lowered to apply a closure on the mouth 122 of the then filled container 120. The container 120 or the container interior is in this case the whole time in communication with the container treatment chamber 2, which in turn is under the biasing pressure.

After closing the container 120, the treatment chamber 2 is then relieved to a lower pressure, in that the purge gas channel 80 is opened by means of the purge gas valve 82. Since the purge gas channel 80 at a low pressure, for example, in a preferred embodiment at an absolute pressure of 1.7 bar, which flows in the treatment chamber 2 under a high pressure, for example, in this embodiment, at an absolute pressure of 7 bar, present gas in the purge gas channel 80 when the purge gas valve 82 is opened. Accordingly, depending on the pressure conditions, at least part of the clamping gas present in the treatment chamber 2 will flow back into the flushing gas channel 80.

In the embodiment shown, the treatment chamber 2 is also in retracted filling member 3 in communication with this and in particular on the Füllproduktauslauf 30 with the purge gas channel 80 and the vacuum channel 88th

Since under certain pressure conditions a complete relieving of the treatment chamber 2 to ambient pressure into the purge gas channel 80 can not take place, a complete relieve of the pressure in the treatment chamber 2 to ambient pressure can be achieved, for example by connecting the treatment chamber 2 to the vacuum channel 88.

In an alternative or in addition, relieving the treatment chamber 2 to ambient pressure may also be achieved, or in addition, via a relief channel 800 in communication with the environment.

In a further alternative or in addition to one or both of the abovementioned possibilities for relieving the treatment chamber 2, the preload pressure remaining in the treatment chamber 2 can be reduced by withdrawing the filling element 3 and / or the discharge chamber 2 into the purge gas channel 80 Verschließorgans 4 are further relieved from the treatment chamber 2, preferably at ambient pressure.

In this case, after relieving the treatment chamber 2 into the purge gas channel 80, the purge gas valve 82 is closed again and then the closing element 40 is moved out of the treatment chamber 2. The resulting increase in volume of the free volume in the treatment chamber 2 also causes a release of the still present in the treatment chamber 2 biasing pressure. This retraction can be carried out to ambient pressure until relieved. The filled and sealed container can then be removed from the treatment chamber 2.

The respective operations are controlled via the controller 9, which in turn switches respective valves, for example the clamping gas valve 86 and / or the purge gas valve 82 and / or the vacuum valve 89 and / or the relief valve 802.

After the treatment chamber 2 has been brought to ambient pressure, the then filled and sealed container 120, as in FIG. 3 indicated schematically, are removed from the treatment chamber 2.

When rinsing a subsequently taken up in the treatment chamber 2, to be filled container 120 which has flowed back into the purge gas channel 80 clamping gas, which now acts as a purge gas, reused accordingly. The returned span gas is stored temporarily in the purge gas channel 80. The volume of Spülgaskanals 80 is designed accordingly and can be extended, for example, by an intermediate pressure accumulator.

Since the span gas flowing back into the purge gas channel 80 is possibly insufficient in volume for the next purge of a further container 120 to be filled, fresh purge gas can be supplied from a purge gas source 820, for example a purge gas tank. However, the consumption of fresh purge gas can be reduced by using the purge gas returned to purge gas channel 80 as the purge gas.

In this case, the purge gas channel 80 is preferably designed so that the entire span of span gas flowing back into the purge gas channel 80 can be received without any return gas flowing into the purge gas source 820 in order to exclude possible contaminants.

Where applicable, all individual features illustrated in the embodiments may be combined and / or interchanged without departing from the scope of the invention.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

device

120

container

122

container mouth

2

treatment chamber

20

Container receiving aperture

22

Closing receptacle opening

3

Filling head

30

Füllproduktauslauf

300

Füllproduktauslaufdichtung

4

A closure

40

closing

60

switchable seal

80

purge gas

82

purge gas valve

84

Span gas channel

86

Span gas valve

88

vacuum channel

89

vacuum valve

800

relief channel

802

relief valve

820

purge gas

9

control

Claims (15)

A method of filling a container (120) to be filled with a filling product, comprising the steps of: - sealingly receiving the container (120) to be filled in a treatment chamber (2), sealingly applying a filling member (3) to the container (120), - after sealingly applying the filling member (3) to the container (120), rinsing the container (120) with a purge gas introduced into the container through a purge gas channel (80), after rinsing the container (120) with the purge gas, filling the container (120) with the filling product, - biasing the treatment chamber (2) with a clamping gas through a clamping gas channel (84), after filling the container (120) and biasing the treatment chamber (2), removing the filling member (3) from the container (120), after removal of the filling member (3) from the container (120), closing of the container (120) accommodated in the treatment chamber (2) with a container closure, after the closure of the container (120), relieving the pretension pressure present in the treatment chamber (2) and removing the container (120) from the treatment chamber (2), characterized in that
the bias pressure present in the treatment chamber (2) is at least partially relieved into the purge gas channel (80). A method according to claim 1, characterized in that subsequent to the relief of the biasing pressure in the purge gas channel (80) in the treatment chamber (2) remaining bias pressure is further relieved by communicating with the environment relief channel (800), preferably to ambient pressure. A method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that after removal of the sealed container (120) rinsing a subsequent in the treatment chamber (2) recorded to be filled container (120) with the purge gas is at least partially carried out with the in the purge gas channel (80) relieved span gas. A method according to claim 3, characterized in that for flushing the container (120) in addition to the in the purge gas channel (80) relieved span gas, a purge gas from a purge gas source (820) is used. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the purge gas channel (80) under an absolute pressure of 0.5 bar to 4 bar, preferably under an absolute pressure of 1.4 to 1.9 bar, and the clamping gas channel (84) below an absolute pressure of 2 bar to 11 bar, preferably an absolute pressure of 5 bar to 9 bar, is. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the clamping gas channel (84) is under a higher pressure than the purge gas channel (80). Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that subsequent to the relief of the bias pressure of the treatment chamber (2) in the purge gas channel (80) in the treatment chamber (2) remaining bias pressure is further relieved by a provided via a vacuum line (88) vacuum , preferably at ambient pressure. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that subsequent to the relief of the biasing pressure of the treatment chamber (2) in the purge gas channel (80) in the treatment chamber (2) remaining biasing pressure by retraction of the filling member (3) and / or a Verschließorgans (4) from the treatment chamber (2) is further relieved, preferably to ambient pressure. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that during the introduction of the purge gas into the container (120) to be filled, the container (120) to be filled is subjected to a negative pressure provided by a vacuum line (88), preferably by a purge gas flow in the container ready to be filled container (120) to provide. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, prior to introduction of the filling product into the container (120) to be filled, the container (120) to be filled is brought to negative pressure and a pressurized filling product is introduced into the container under negative pressure ( 120) is introduced. Device (1) for filling a container (120) to be filled with a filling product, comprising a treatment chamber (2) for sealingly receiving the container (120) to be filled, - A filling member (3) for sealing application to the treatment chamber (2) sealed container (120) and for introducing a filling product in the container (120), a purge gas channel (80) for introducing a purge gas into the container (120) to be filled, - A clamping gas channel (84) for introducing a clamping gas into the treatment chamber (2), and a closure member (4) for applying a container closure to a filled container (120) within the treatment chamber (2), marked by
a controller (9), which is adapted after the closure of the container (120) at least partially relieve the present in the treatment chamber (2) biasing pressure in the purge gas channel (80) make. Apparatus according to claim 11, characterized in that the controller (9) is adapted, subsequent to the relief of the bias pressure of the treatment chamber (2) in the purge gas channel (80) in the treatment chamber (2) remaining bias pressure by a with the environment in Communication relieved discharge channel (800) on, preferably to ambient pressure. Apparatus according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the control (9) is adapted, after the relief of the biasing pressure of the treatment chamber (2) in the purge gas channel (80) in the treatment chamber (2). remaining bias pressure by a via a vacuum line (88) provided vacuum further relieve, preferably to ambient pressure. Device according to one of claims 11 to 13, characterized in that the controller (9) is adapted to, subsequent to the relief of the biasing pressure of the treatment chamber (2) in the purge gas channel (80) in the treatment chamber (2) remaining biasing pressure Retracting the filling member (3) and / or the closing member (4) from the treatment chamber (2) to relieve further, preferably to ambient pressure. Device according to one of claims 11 to 14, characterized in that the controller (9) is adapted to the after the removal of the sealed container (120) made rinsing a subsequently in the treatment chamber (2) received to be filled container (120) at least perform partially with the in the purge gas channel (80) relieved clamping gas, and / or characterized in that the controller (9) is adapted to purge the container (120) in addition to the in the purge gas channel (80) relieved span gas from a purge gas a purge gas source (820) to use.

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