EP3589576A1

EP3589576A1 - Device and method for filling a container with a filling product

Info

Publication number: EP3589576A1
Application number: EP18710388.2A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Florian Angerer; Manfred Ziegler
Original assignee: Krones AG
Current assignee: Krones AG
Priority date: 2017-03-02
Filing date: 2018-03-02
Publication date: 2020-01-08
Anticipated expiration: 2038-03-02
Also published as: US11148923B2; DE102017104343A1; US20210284517A1; EP3589576B1; SI3589576T1; WO2018158424A1; CN110582459B; CN110582459A

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (1) for filling a container (100) with a filling product, preferably for filling a glass container (100) with a beverage in a beverage filling system, comprising a filling valve (12) for introducing the filling product into the container (100) to be filled, a control device for controlling the filling valve (12), and a filling-height sensor (2), which communicates with the control device, for detecting the presence of a desired filling height (Hs) of the filling product in the container (100), the control device being designed to close the filling valve (12) when the desired filling height (Hs) is detected, the control device being designed to determine the presence of the desired filling height (Hs) again by means of the filling-height sensor (2) after the filling valve (12) has been closed and to initiate an ejection operation for the container (100) if it is detected that the desired filling height (Hs) has been fallen below.

Description

Apparatus and method for filling a container with a filling product

Technical area

The present invention relates to a device for filling a container with a

Filling product, in particular for filling a glass container with a carbonated beverage in a beverage filling plant. The present invention also relates to a method for filling a container with a filling product.

Technical background

In beverage filling plants it is known to fill containers to be filled in a filling device, for example in a filler in rotary construction, with a filling product. In this case, the flow of the filling product flowing into the container to be filled is controlled via a filling valve. In order to control or regulate the starting and stopping of the product flow of filling and to achieve a desired final level in the container to be filled, various ways of determining the filling end are known.

For example, to obtain a predetermined level and thus a uniform level

To achieve appearance of the filled containers, it is known to determine the level with a dipping into the container return gas pipe or a level probe and close the filling valve when reaching the desired target level.

It is also known to fill glass bottles and other containers with carbonated filling products in beverage filling plants. In order to reduce during the actual filling of the container with the filling product of an excessive debonding of the bonded in the carbonized filling product C0 ₂ and to reduce excessive foaming of the filling product or prevent, which could lead to a reduction of the filling speed, it is known, the containers before filling with a biasing gas, preferably C0 ₂ , bias and then fill the carbonated filling product in the prestressed container. Before the containers filled with the carbonated filling product are transferred via an outlet device, for example an outlet star, to a subsequent processing station, for example to a capper, a controlled unloading of the preloading pressure from the interior of the then filled container still takes place to ambient pressure, so that the containers unloaded can be passed to the downstream outlet device.

Not all containers that are fed to the filler are completely intact. It may happen, especially in glass containers, that small cracks or leaks are present in the containers to be filled. Accordingly, it may occur in such non-intact containers during the biasing of the container or during the filling of the container with the carbonated filling that due to then located in the container interior high pressure of the entire container bursts. Is the container already strong

pre-damaged, this bursting takes place predominantly already during the preloading with the biasing gas.

It is known to remove the occurring when a container bursting shards or container remains of the respective filling valve, for example by spraying with a sprayer. Furthermore, it is known in this context to also clean the filling valve and the filling product leading paths of the filling valve of possible shards or splinters of the burst container, for example by the leading the filling product paths are flushed with filling product.

When completely bursting or breaking the container, this can be detected mechanically. This mechanical detection can take place, for example, over that the pressing device, by means of which the container is pressed sealingly against the actual filling valve, responds accordingly to the breakage of the container. For example, the breakage of the container can also be detected by a dropping or sinking of a centering bell. It can also be detected by the sudden drop in a contact force of the container to the filling valve, the burst.

The mechanical detection of a complete container breakage is known for example from DE 21 07 226 C3, in which the integrity of the container is checked by a mechanical scanning. However, in some cases, a defective container will not fully collapse or burst the container, but the container will remain substantially intact in its outer dimensions - even if the biasing gas is filled under pressure. However, the defective container is leaky because, for example, it has a smaller or larger hole or a smaller or larger crack or a plurality of cracks in such a way that media can escape from the container interior to the outside. If such a defective container does not break during the pretensioning process, it is regularly filled within the filler. If it does not break even during the filling process, the container is in

conventional filling devices subsequently passed the outlet device. He can then break at any later time during further processing - for example, in the subsequent capper, which in turn applies high forces on the container for applying the closure. The container can also break at an even later stage of the process, for example during labeling, palletizing or even during transport. This can lead to high additional costs because, for example, a whole container must be disposed of.

From DE 42 03 786 A1 a filling device is known in which the occurrence of a container break is detected by a liquid-responsive probe which inadmissibly exiting the container filling due to the destruction of the container but also due to a hole or a crack in the container can detect. For this purpose, however, it is necessary that appropriate responsive to liquid detectors are present in the container.

From WO02 / 079036 A1 are devices for filling filling products in

Composite packages are known in which defects can be detected in the packaging material by means of optical, electrical / electronic or mechanical detectors or weighing devices.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Starting from the known prior art, it is an object of the present invention to provide a further improved apparatus and method for filling filling products into containers to be filled, which enables a simple detection of container errors. This object is achieved by a device for filling a container with a filling product with the features of claim 1. Advantageous developments emerge from the subclaims, the present description and the figures. Accordingly, an apparatus for filling a container with a filling product is proposed, preferably for filling a glass container with a carbonated beverage in a beverage filling plant. The apparatus comprises a filling valve for introducing the filling product into the container to be filled, a control device for actuating the filling valve and a filling height sensor communicating with the control device for detecting the presence of a desired filling level of the filling product in the container, the control device being adapted to Close filling valve when detecting the desired filling level. According to the invention

Control device adapted to after closing the filling valve by means of

Fill level sensor to determine the presence of the desired filling level again and to initiate a rejection process for the container upon detection of a falling below the target filling level.

Due to the fact that the control device is set up to re-detect the filling level of the filling product in the container by means of the filling height sensor after closing the filling valve and to initiate a discharging operation when the filling level falls below the desired filling level, a detection of Container errors can be achieved. In particular, it is not necessary in this way to associate with each filling valve a further sensor, by means of which possibly leaked filling product can be detected. A mechanical scanning of the presence or absence of the container to be filled is likewise not absolutely necessary. Rather, it may be about that

Fill level sensor after closing the filling valve again detects whether the desired filling level (still) is present, to check whether the filled container meets the requirements directed to him.

In the manner proposed, it can be detected, for example, when a container has a small leak or a crack over which filling product emerges, but the container per se still appears mechanically intact and has not yet been broken.

In particular, the filling process ends in that the filling valve is closed on the basis of the sensor signal of the level sensor, which signals the reaching of the desired filling level. At a later time, for example, after completion of a calming phase for the filling product, the filling height is then measured again by means of the same filling height sensor, but then, due to the faulty container and the emerging in this way Filling product, has dropped. The Füllproduktniveau within the container therefore due to the leaked filling product no longer corresponds to the predetermined desired filling level, which can be determined by the filling level sensor. This can be concluded from the decrease in the filling level that the container is defective.

The control device may also be adapted to close the filling valve after a normal filling time, even if the desired filling level has not yet been reached. Even then, it is determined at a later time after closing the filling valve by means of the filling level sensor that the desired filling level (at all) has not been reached. Also from this it can be concluded that a defective container. In this way, even the complete absence of a container can be detected, since the filling product then flows out through the filling valve until the normal filling time has expired and then the filling valve is automatically closed. The level sensor can then detect corresponding fill level after closing the filling valve, since no container is present.

The filling height sensor may be a filling height probe to be introduced into the interior of the container to be filled with a sensor region defining the nominal filling height, wherein the

Sensor area preferably a short-circuit sensor, a capacitive sensor and / or a

Resistance sensor is.

By using the fill level sensors already provided in a probe filler also to detect whether the container may not be the

Leakage requirements, a particularly efficient design of the device can be achieved. Accordingly, the provision of other sensors or others

Control devices as the anyway provided for the actual filling devices not necessary.

About the controller and the level sensor is rather after the actual

Closing the filling valve and thus again measured after the completion of the supply of the filling product into the container, the then existing level. In this way, it can be checked whether the predetermined desired filling level is held in the container or whether the filling product level drops. If, during the determination of the filling product level, the desired filling level is not reached (more) after closing the filling valve, then it can be concluded that the container is leaking and corresponding filling product has escaped. Preferably, the filling level sensor can also be formed by an optical filling height determination and in particular be formed by an optical filling height determination arranged outside the container to be filled, particularly preferably in the form of a camera and / or an optical scanning.

The filling level of the filling product in the container to be filled can thus be determined, for example, by the provision of optical sensors or, for example, a camera, by means of which the filling product level in the container to be filled is determined during the filling process. The signal of such a level sensor is first used to end the filling process when a predetermined target filling level is reached, then close the filling valve accordingly.

After closing the filling valve is then at a later date by means of this

Fill level sensor once again determines the then existing level in the filled container. If this is below the nominal filling level, then it is concluded that the container is leaking and has leaked corresponding filling product.

The measurement after closing the filling valve preferably takes place at a time after the filled filling product has calmed down and any caster from the filling valve, which may have dripped after closing the filling valve, has calmed down. Depending on the structure of the filling device, the re-determination of the filling level can take place, for example, 100 ms to 200 ms after closing the filling valve.

The control device preferably initiates a discharge operation in the detection of a container not properly filled, so that the improperly filled container, which is assumed to be defective, is not supplied to the subsequent processing stations. In particular, it can be prevented in this way that the filled but defective container breaks at a subsequent processing station due to the mechanical stresses applied there and nevertheless contaminates these subsequent regions with shards and with filling product.

Preferably, the control device is adapted to the Ausschleusvorgang by the

Mark the container in a shift register as being defective. Accordingly, the initiation of the Ausschleusvorganges can be achieved, for example, that in the corresponding shift register, in which the respective containers are noted during their passage through the filling device, an indication is entered that the container is defective and must be subsequently discharged accordingly. Preferably, a corresponding Ausschleusweiche is then provided after the filling device, by means of which the container can then be discharged due to its mark in the shift register.

Preferably, a container transport device is provided for transporting the container to be filled during the introduction of the filling product in the container to be filled and the control device is adapted to the Ausschleusvorgang by stopping the

Initiate container transport device, wherein the control device is preferably adapted to control the container transport device via a dynamic stop ramp to stop and more preferably to stop the container auszuschleusenden in a secure service position. Thus, the control device initiates a discharge operation in that the transport of the containers is stopped by the filling device, for example, by driving off a dynamic stop ramp for a rotary filler and stopping the transport device accordingly defined. In other words, in determining that a particular container is underfilled and assumed to have lost the missing filling product by leakage, the controller may initiate the discharge operation by stopping the filler carousel to be defective detected container comes to stand in a secure service position. In this safe service position, the faulty container can be removed by operator intervention. In the secure service position, the defective container can also be removed by a corresponding automated device, for example by a service robot. Subsequently, a cleaning or cleaning of the corresponding filling valve can be made. The secure service position is particularly preferably provided in a region in which the defective container has not yet been transferred to a subsequent transport device or even to a subsequent processing or processing device.

The control device therefore preferably holds the transport device in a defined manner such that the container is in the secure service position before being transferred to an outfeed transport device and especially before the transfer comes to an outlet star to be removed there. This reduces the risk that the non-intact container already breaks due to the mechanical stress during the transfer to the outlet conveyor. Preferably, an optical display is provided, via which the container detected as defective can be marked in order to make it easy for an operator to remove the container in a targeted manner.

In this way, it can be achieved that in subsequent processing sections of the defective container is not registered and accordingly no fragmentation freight is entered by a possibly bursting container in subsequent processing areas.

Preferably, the control device is adapted to close the filling valve after a normal filling time, even if the desired filling level has not (yet) been reached. This results in a closing of the filling valve in the normal case about that the desired filling level is reached. However, if the normal maximum filling time is not sufficient to reach the desired filling level, then the filling valve closes at the end of the normal filling time. The container is then already underfilled at this time. The subsequent re-determination as to whether the desired filling level is (still) results accordingly in the statement that the container is not in accordance with regulations and therefore has to be discharged.

The control device is preferably configured to redetermine the presence of the desired fill level only after a calming phase has elapsed, preferably after a settling phase of 50 ms to 500 ms, preferably from 100 ms to 200 ms, has elapsed after closing the filling valve. The settling phase is usually switched between the completion of the filling operation and the beginning of a discharge operation in order to reduce the undesired discharge of filling product together with the relief gas. In the calming phase, any foam that has occurred may at least partially coincide. By re-determining the filling level only after the end of the calming phase can in the presence of a defect in the container a

corresponding effect of the sinking of the filling level can be clearly detected.

The above object is also achieved by a method having the features of claim 8. Advantageous developments emerge from the subclaims, the description and the figures. Accordingly, a method for filling a container with a filling product, preferably for filling a glass container with a beverage in a beverage filling plant, proposed, wherein a filling valve for introducing the filling product in the container to be filled, a

Control device for driving the filling valve and a with the control device

communicating level sensor for detecting the presence of a desired filling level of the filling product is provided in the container and wherein the control device closes the filling valve upon detection of the desired filling level. According to the invention determines the control device after closing the filling valve by means of the filling height sensor, the presence of the desired filling level again and initiates upon detection of a falling below the target filling level a discharge process for the container.

This results in the advantages already outlined above for the device. Brief description of the figures

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

1 shows a schematic representation of a device for filling a container with a filling product, in which a container to be filled is just about to be supplied to a filling valve,

FIG. 2 shows a schematic representation of the device from FIG. 1, wherein the container is pressed against the filling valve, the container is filled with filling product and the inflow of filling product is complete,

FIG. 3 shows a schematic representation of the course of the filling level in an intact container to be filled over time,

FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of the course of the filling level in two different, non-intact containers to be filled over time,

FIG. 5 a schematic representation of the sensor signal of the filling level sensor during the filling of an intact container, Figure 6 is a schematic representation of the sensor signal of the filling level sensor in the filling of the two non-intact container of Figure 4, and

Figure 7 is a schematic representation of a filler carousel.

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.

1 shows schematically a sectional view through a portion of a device 1 for filling a container 100 shown schematically in the form of a glass bottle with a filling product. The filling product is present in a filling product reservoir 10 of the device 1 and can be filled through a filling valve 12 through the mouth 1 10 of the container 100 in this.

In FIG. 1, a container 100 to be filled is in the process of being overflowed

Container transport device in the form of a transport plate 14 to the filling valve 12 to be supplied. A centering of the mouth 1 10 of the container 100 with respect to the filling valve 12 is reached via a centering bell 16, in which the mouth 1 10 of the container to be filled 100 is introduced. By the upward movement of the container 100 in the direction of the filling valve 12 by the lifting of the transport plate 14 and the centering bell 16 is taken through the mouth 1 10 of the container 100.

In the centering bell 16, a seal 160 is provided in the illustrated embodiment, which is brought by the upward movement of the container 100 with the mouth 1 10 of the container 100 in sealing contact. The centering bell 16 is further raised so far together with the container 100 by means of the transport plate 14, that the seal 160 is also made sealing contact with the filling valve 12 and a fluid-and in particular gas-tight connection between the mouth 1 10 and the filling valve 12 is made accordingly , as it can be seen for example in Figure 2. In a bottling plant, there is usually a plurality of fill valves 12 disposed around the circumference of a filler carousel and co-circulating with the filler carousel to fill the containers 100 to be filled in a continuous process. In each case a container 100 to be filled is in each case held and transported below a respective filling valve 12 by the container transport device in the form of the transport plate 14. The filler carousel accordingly enables the production of a stream of containers filled with the filling product.

The Füllproduktreservoir 10 is carried out in the embodiment shown schematically in the form of a ring boiler, which is also connected to the Füllerkarussell and rotates together with this. However, the structure of the device 1 and in particular of the filler carousel can also follow other known structures, for example by the use of a rotating or stationary central boiler and the connection of the filling valves 12 by means of a loop.

During the upward movement of the container 100, a filling level sensor 2 is inserted through the mouth 110 into the interior of the container 100. The filling height sensor 2 comprises, in a manner known per se, a sensor region 20 which can determine the filling product level within the container 100. In particular, the sensor region 20 of the filling height sensor 2 may be designed such that it detects when the filling product level within the container 100 reaches the sensor region 20. Then, by the filling level sensor 2 is a corresponding

Shutdown signal output to a control device, not shown. The sensor region 20 of the filling level sensor 2 can be designed, for example, as a capacitive sensor, as a short-circuit sensor and / or as a resistance sensor.

In order to achieve a reliable filling of the container 100 with the filling product, the filling valve 12 is closed when the filling level sensor 2 of the control device correspondingly signals via the switch-off signal that the filling product has reached the sensor region 20. Due to the fixed geometric relationship of the filling height sensor 2 and especially of the sensor region 20 to the mouth 1 10 of the container 100 can be achieved so that the filled by means of the device 1 container 100 is substantially the same filling level and thus achieved a particularly uniform filling image can. The filling level of the filling product in the container 100, however, usually does not correspond exactly to the immersion depth of the sensor region 20 into the container 100, since a delay in the filling product level reaching the sensor region 20 is produced during the generation of the switch-off signal

Closing the filling valve 12 by its inertia occurs. Furthermore, the filling product already located below the filling valve 12 can no longer be influenced by the filling valve 12, so that a corresponding overrun occurs here. Assuming that both inertia and tail are substantially the same for all filling valves 12 of a dispenser, then a uniform filling image of the filled containers 100 will still be achieved. In Figure 2, the container 100 is shown in a pressed-on to the filling valve 12 position and the filling process is already completed. The filling level sensor 2 is still inserted into the interior of the container 100 and has caused the control device to close the filling valve 12 by the corresponding signaling since the filling product level has reached the sensor area 20. Due to the inertia of the filling valve 12 and due to the caster, the filling level is accordingly above the sensor region 20 after completion of the filling process.

Figure 2 thus shows the state in which the container 100 is located after closing the filling valve 12, when the filling valve 12 has been closed by a corresponding signaling of the level sensor 2 and the container 100 is intact. The filling level shown in Figure 2 is maintained accordingly.

FIG. 3 schematically shows the course of a curve A of the filling level of such a filling process over time, an intact container 100 being present here. It can be seen that, over the course of time, the filling takes place until the predetermined filling level H _s predetermined by the sensor region 20 is reached during the first sensor measurement Si. At this time, which corresponds to the normal filling time T _N , the filling valve 12 is closed on the basis of the predetermined by the filling level sensor 2 shutoff signal. It turns out that the filling level still rises slightly, as there is still a caster of filling product, and the closing of the filling valve 12 due to its inertia after reaching the filling height H _s requires a finite time. It takes place accordingly between the switching of the filling valve 12 and the actual reaching the maximum filling height, a slight caster, which results in the actual filling level H. After closing the filling valve 12 is at an intact container 100, as shown by the filling curve A, corresponding to the resulting filling level H | above the nominal filling height H _s , so that the filling height sensor ₂ still outputs a signal at a later, second sensor measurement S ₂ , which indicates that the sensor region 20 has been reached. In other words, with an intact container 100, the desired fill level H _{s will} not fall below even after a later time, even during a later measurement.

The second sensor measurement S ₂ is preferably carried out after a calming phase ΔΤ _{Β has been} completed. The calming phase ΔΤ _Β is usually between 100ms and 200ms. The relief phase is then followed by the unloading process in order to relieve the pressure present in the container in a controlled manner to normal ambient pressure

Shoot out the carbonated filling product from the filled container 100 when releasing the filling valve 12 to avoid. Accordingly, the sensor signal behaves at a level sensor 2, which has only a single sensor area 20, as shown schematically in Figure 5. Accordingly, the sensor signal of the sensor region 20 is always present after the predetermined filling level predetermined by the sensor region 20 has been reached. In Figure 4, two different filling curves B and C are shown, which may result in the presence of non-intact containers.

In the filling curve B, a non-intact container is shown, which has only a relatively small leak, so that the filling time substantially corresponds to the filling time of an intact container. Due to the small leak leakage of the filling product takes place, so that after closing the filling valve 12, which is triggered by the sensor measurement S-ι at time T _N , at a later time, the desired filling level H _{s is} no longer present. In other words, in the second sensor measurement S _2, the fill level sensor 2 can no longer output a positive sensor signal. The result is a schematic diagram of the sensor switching curve B shown in FIG. 6. In the second sensor measurement S ₂ , the filling height sensor 2 accordingly no longer delivers a positive sensor signal.

FIG. 4 shows yet another exemplary filling curve C, in which a particularly fast filling of the container 100 takes place, because a back pressure in the container 100 due to a larger leaks can not be built and the filling product can flow accordingly quickly. The filling valve 12 is corresponding to an earlier date in the

Sensor measurement S-ι moved to close. In the later sensor measurement S ₂ , however, no positive signal of the level sensor ₂ is detected more.

The result is a schematic diagram of the sensor switching curve C shown in FIG. 6. In the second sensor measurement S ₂ , the filling height sensor 2 accordingly no longer supplies a positive sensor signal.

Accordingly, based on the behavior of the fill level sensor 2 after closure of the fill valve 12, it may be determined whether the filled container 100 is intact or has a leak through which fill product exits the container 100, resulting in the second sensor measurement S ₂ Accordingly, an underfill is detected.

If such behavior of the filling product sensor 2 after the

Closing the filling valve 12 detected, it is concluded that the container 100 is faulty. The control device correspondingly initiates a reject action for this defective container 100 in order to remove the defective container 100 from the

Remove production process. For discharging, the container 100 can be marked by the control device, for example in a shift register as faulty, so that this then in a subsequent

Device can be ejected. For example, can be achieved by means of the shift register, that the container is removed by means of a subsequent rejection of a downstream transport device from the production process.

It can also when reaching a specific shift register position or already at

Detecting the faulty container by the control device a stop operation of a transport device - for example, a filler carousel - the device for filling the container to be initiated. The stopping operation of the transport device is preferably controlled to bring the defective container to a standstill in a secure service position, so that an operator of the device can safely remove the defective container and, if necessary, clean and sanitize the filling valve. For example, the control device may initiate a corresponding stop ramp as an ejection action, which stops the rotary carousel or another container transport device in such a way that the defective container comes to a stop in the secure service area. By stopping the dynamic stop ramp, the transport device stops smoothly, which results in a safe and product-friendly stop for the other containers.

In an alternative, instead of the operator, the removal of the defective container can also be achieved by a corresponding automated device, for example by a robot arm or another discharge device.

In Figure 7, a device 1 for filling a container is shown schematically, which the actual filler 4 or the filler carousel 40, an inlet star 42 for feeding the container to be filled to the filler carousel 40 and an outlet star 44 for discharging in the filler carousel 40 with the filling product includes filled container. On the circumference of the

Filler carousel is provided a plurality of filling valves 12 shown for example in Figures 1 and 2.

On the basis of this schematic representation of the device 1, an exemplary treatment of a container 100 to be filled will be described again.

By means of the inlet star 42 is a container to be filled to a corresponding

Handed container transport device of the filler carousel - for example, to a

Transport plate 14 as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

Immediately after the inlet star 42 can be determined by determining an upward movement of the centering bell 16, if ever a container was supplied to the respective filling member on the filler carousel 40. Namely, the centering bell 16 does not move together with the

Transport plate 14 upwards to press the container to be filled with its mouth 1 10 to the filling valve 12, it is already assumed here that no container was transferred to the corresponding transport plate and accordingly the filling valve 12 is not opened at all below. However, if an upward movement of the centering bell 16 takes place, it is assumed that a container to be filled is present.

In the biasing region, the container is then appropriately biased with a biasing gas to prepare it for subsequent filling. Accordingly, bottling of carbonated products into the prestressed container can be performed.

Breaks the application of the pressure by means of the biasing gas of the container, this breakage may then be detected by a decrease in the centering 16, when the container completely burst and drop the mouth of the container accordingly. In such a case, then appropriate measures for removing the broken pieces can be initiated.

However, if the container is only leaking, but does not lose its mechanical integrity, then the centering bell 16 does not decrease, so that detection of this defect of the container by means of the behavior of the centering bell 16 can not be detected. Rather, that goes

Control device of the device 1 for filling the container in such a case then assume that the container is present at the respective position and can be filled so that the filling process can be performed in the filling and the filling valve 12 is opened and closed according to the respective filling program becomes. In particular, at a

Filling program for performing a height filling the filling valve 12 then closed again when the filling level sensor 2 detects the reaching of a predetermined desired filling level of the filling product in the container. Accordingly, after the determination by the filling level sensor 2 that the container is filled to the desired filling level, the filling valve 12 is closed. After the end of a calming phase, which is, for example, in the range of 100 ms to 200 ms, the pressure present in the container 100 is then drained in a controlled manner in the discharge area and the container is then transferred via the outlet star 44 to the subsequent treatment devices.

In order to check whether the filled container is actually intact, or whether it has a leak, after closing the filling valve 12, more preferably after the end of the filling

Calming phase, by means of the already used to determine the filling end Level sensor 2, the filling level within the container measured again. In other words, the filling level is measured once again after the filling process has been completed.

In this way it can be determined, as already described above, whether the container initially filled with the filling product has in the meantime lost filling product again. If this is the case and detects the filling level sensor 2, that filling product has escaped from the container 100, it is assumed that the container is defective.

The filling process can also be terminated by the expiry of a predetermined maximum filling time, which is predetermined, for example, by the maximum possible filling angle of a rotary filler, without the filling height sensor 2 having reported a single reaching of the nominal filling height. Also in this case, after the completion of the scheduled for the Füllproduktberuhigung period by means of the filling height sensor 2, the filling height can be measured again. Accordingly, by an evaluation of the filling level by means of the filling level sensor 2 a

Underfilling of the container and thereby a faulty filled container or a non-intact container after completion of the filling operation can be detected.

If a stop of the movement of the container transport device and in particular of the filler carousel is triggered as possible ejection action by the control device, then the incorrectly filled container preferably comes to a stop in a secure service area before it has been transferred to the outlet star 44. In this way, it can be achieved that the mechanical loads on the non-intact and therefore fragile container 100 are kept low and accordingly in this way a potential fragmentation can be reduced in other areas of the system or even avoided.

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 REFERENCES

1 Device for filling a container 10 filling product reservoir

12 filling valve

14 transport plates

16 centering bell

100 containers

1 10 container mouth

160 seal

2 level sensor

20 sensor area

4 filling device

40 filler carousel

42 inlet star

44 outlet star

A filling curve of an intact container

B Fill curve of a non-intact container

C Fill curve of a non-intact container

H _s desired filling level

H, actual fill level

S-i first sensor measurement

S ₂ second sensor measurement

T _N normal filling time

ΔΤ _Β calming phase

Claims

claims

1. Device (1) for filling a container (100) with a filling product, preferably for filling a glass container (100) with a beverage in a beverage filling plant, comprising a filling valve (12) for introducing the filling product into the container (100) to be filled a control device for driving the filling valve (12) and a filling height sensor (2) communicating with the control device for detecting the

Presence of a desired filling level (H _s ) of the filling product in the container (100), wherein the control device is adapted to close the filling valve (12) upon detection of the desired filling level (H _s ), characterized in that the control device thereto is set up, after closing the filling valve (12) by means of the filling level sensor (2) to determine the presence of the desired filling level (H _s ) again and upon detection of falling below the target filling level (H _s ) a discharge process for the container (100 ) to initiate.

2. Device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the filling height sensor (2) to be inserted into the interior of the container to be filled (100)

Füllhöhen probe with the desired filling level (H _s ) defining sensor area (20), wherein the sensor area (20) is preferably a short-circuit sensor, a capacitive sensor and / or a resistance sensor.

3. Device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the filling level sensor (2) is formed by an optical filling height determination and in particular by an outside of the container to be filled (100) arranged optical filling height determination, particularly preferably in the form of a camera and / or an optical scan, is formed.

4. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control device is adapted to initiate the discharge process by the marking of the container (100) in a shift register as defective. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a container transport device for transporting the container to be filled (100) during the introduction of the filling product in the container to be filled (100) is provided and the control device is adapted to the discharge operation to initiate the stopping of the container transport device, wherein the

Control device is preferably adapted to control the container transport device via a dynamic stop ramp to stop and more preferably to stop the container to be ejected (100) in a secure service position.

Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control device is adapted to close the filling valve (12) after a normal filling time (T _N ), even if the desired filling level (H _s ) has not been reached ,

Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control device is adapted to determine the presence of the desired filling level (H _s ) only after a reassurance phase (ΔΤ _Β ) again, preferably after the expiration of a calming phase (ΔΤ _Β ) from 50ms to 500ms, preferably from 100ms to 200ms from closing the filling valve (12).

A method for filling a container (100) with a filling product, preferably for filling a glass container (100) with a beverage in a beverage filling plant, wherein a filling valve (12) for introducing the filling product into the container to be filled (100), a control device for driving the filling valve (12) and one with the

Controlling device communicating Füllhöhen sensor (2) for detecting the presence of a desired filling level (H _s ) of the filling product in the container (100) is provided and wherein the control device closes the filling valve (12) upon detection of the desired filling level (H _s ), characterized characterized in that the control device after closing the filling valve (12) by means of

Füllhöhen sensor (2) determines the presence of the desired filling level (H _s ) again and upon detection of a falling below the target filling level (H _s ) initiates a discharge process for the container (100). A method according to claim 8, characterized in that the control device the Ausschleusvorgang by an identification of the container (100) in a

Shift register initiated as defective.

A method according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that a

Container transport device for transporting the container to be filled (100) is provided during the introduction of the filling product in the container to be filled (100) and the control device initiates the discharge operation by stopping the container transport device, wherein the control device

Container transport device preferably via a dynamic stop ramp controls to stop and particularly preferably the auszuschleusenden container (100) stops in a secure service position.

Method according to one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that the control device closes the filling valve (12) after a normal filling time (T _N ), even if the desired filling level (H _s ) has not been reached.

Method according to one of claims 8 to 1 1, characterized in that the control device, the presence of the desired filling level (H _s ) only after expiry of a

Calming phase (ΔΤ _Β ) determined again, preferably after the expiration of a calming phase (ΔΤ _Β ) of 50ms to 500ms, preferably from 100ms to 200ms from the closing of the filling valve (12).