WO2024074439A1

WO2024074439A1 - Method and device for producing a container, filled with liquid filling material, from a thermally conditioned preform

Info

Publication number: WO2024074439A1
Application number: PCT/EP2023/077198
Authority: WO
Inventors: Rolf Baumgarte; David Gropmann; Marcus Wenig; Benjamin JAISER
Original assignee: Khs Gmbh
Priority date: 2022-10-05
Filing date: 2023-10-02
Publication date: 2024-04-11
Also published as: DE102022125665A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and a device for producing a container, filled with liquid filling material, from a thermally conditioned preform by introducing a filling material under pressure into the preform. The method comprises: moving a filling nozzle, which comprises a filling valve for introducing the filling material into a preform under pressure, from a neutral position, in which the filling valve does not bear tightly with its outlet against the preform, into a filling position, in which the filling valve does bear tightly with its outlet against the preform; arranging a valve body, which controls a flow volume of the filling valve, into an open position, in which a fluid connection exists between the flow volume and the preform; shaping and filling the container with the liquid filling material, the filling nozzle being arranged in the filling position and the valve body being arranged in the open position; moving the valve body inside the filling valve from the open position into a blocking position; moving the filling nozzle from the filling position into a relief position, which is arranged at a distance from the filling position; and then moving the filling nozzle from the relief position back into the filling position.

Description

Method and device for producing a container filled with liquid filling material from a thermally conditioned preform

The invention relates to a method for producing a container filled with liquid filling material from a thermally conditioned preform by introducing a filling material under pressure into the preform according to the preamble of claim 1. The invention further relates to a device for producing a container filled with liquid filling material according to the preamble of claim 14. The invention further relates to a system for producing containers filled with liquid filling material and to a use of a device and/or a system for producing containers filled with liquid filling material.

It is known to produce containers by blow molding from preforms made of a thermoplastic material, for example from preforms made of PET (polyethylene terephthalate), whereby the preforms are fed to different processing stations within a blow molding machine. Typically, a blow molding machine has a heating device for tempering or thermally conditioning the preforms and a blow molding device with at least one blow molding station, in the area of which the previously temperature-conditioned preform is expanded to form a container. The expansion takes place with the help of a compressed gas (compressed air) as a pressure medium, which is introduced into the preform to be expanded with a molding pressure. The process for such an expansion of the preform is explained in DE 43 40 291 A1. The basic structure of a blow molding station is described in DE 42 12 583 A1. Options for tempering the preforms are explained, for example, in DE 23 52 926 A1. Tempering or thermal conditioning means that the preform is heated to a temperature suitable for blow molding and, if necessary, a temperature profile is impressed on the preform in the longitudinal and/or circumferential direction. The blow molding of containers from preforms with the additional use of a stretching rod is also known.

According to a typical further processing method, the containers produced by blow molding are fed to a subsequent filling device and filled with the intended product or filling material. A separate blow molding machine and a separate filling machine are therefore used. It is also known to combine the separate blow molding machine and the separate filling machine into a machine block, i.e. a blocked blow-filling device, with the blow molding and filling still taking place on separate machine components and one after the other.

It has also already been proposed to produce containers, particularly in the form of bottles, from thermally conditioned or tempered preforms and to simultaneously fill them with a liquid filling material which is supplied as a hydraulic pressure medium for expanding the preform or for shaping the container with a forming and filling pressure, so that the respective preform is formed into the container at the same time as it is filled. Such processes, in which the respective container is formed and filled at the same time, can also be referred to as hydraulic forming processes or hydraulic container forming. Here too, it is known to support this forming by using a stretching rod. Here too, the preform is first temperature conditioned before the forming and filling process, i.e. heated to a temperature suitable for hydraulic forming and, if necessary, a temperature profile is imposed.

When the containers are formed from the preforms by the filling material itself, ie using the filling material as a hydraulic pressure medium, only one machine is required for forming and filling the containers, although this machine is more complex. An example of such a machine is shown in US 7,914,726 B2. Another example is shown in DE 10 2010 007 541 A1. The present invention relates to the forming of the containers from the preforms by the filling material itself and machines as disclosed in the examples, to which explicit reference is therefore made. When forming and filling containers, the preform in question is typically stretched by a stretch rod inserted into a preform opening. The opening of the preform is also the opening of the formed and filled container. During or after filling, the stretch rod is withdrawn from the container. This removes a volume from the container - the volume of the stretch rod immersed in the filling material - or no longer displaces filling material from the stretch rod. This can create a negative pressure in the area of the opening, which can inadvertently suck in additional liquid and/or deform the container. It can also happen that during forming and filling, excess pressure remains in the area of the opening, which can also cause undesirable effects.

If there is too much negative pressure or too much positive pressure in the head space (i.e. in the area of the opening that is not occupied by the filling material) of the container formed from the preform, an undesirable plastic - and thus irreversible - deformation of the container in the head space area can occur. Such plastic deformations can occur particularly with a relatively large head space volume, i.e. a relatively large volume in the head space of the formed and filled container, because there is then no stabilizing filling material in the head space area. For example, if there is too much negative pressure in the head space - and especially with thin-walled containers - the container can collapse in this area, i.e. undergo plastic deformation.

Before the stretch rod is retracted, there is typically an overpressure above the filling material level, because the filling material is introduced into the preform with a filling pressure. It is possible that an overpressure remains even after the stretch rod is retracted. Whether an overpressure, a negative pressure or the ambient pressure occurs depends on the volume that is displaced by the stretch rod and released again after retraction, the volume above the filling material level and the pressure in this volume after the filling material flow has ended and before the stretch rod is retracted. Regardless of whether an overpressure or a negative pressure remains, a pressure equalization usually takes place before the finished container is removed from the forming and filling station.

Negative or overpressure in the area of the container opening can also be a problem because it can cause the contents to escape from the container. This can lead to an undesirable loss of contents. In addition, parts of the device can become contaminated with contents when contents escape from the container. which is usually also undesirable, especially with regard to filling the containers as germ-free as possible.

A device with which a negative pressure in the area of the opening can be compensated is known from DE 10 2020 127 290 A1. Accordingly, it is known to provide ventilation accesses in the area of the outlet opening of the filling valves. The ventilation accesses can, for example, be designed as holes with a valve arranged therein, for example in the form of a check valve. By ventilating the area of the opening of the container, pressure equalization can thus be achieved in this area. A disadvantage of such a device, however, is that sufficient space must be provided for the ventilation accesses and the production of these ventilation accesses can be complex. In addition, control of one or more valves may be necessary.

The invention is therefore based on the object of providing an improved solution that addresses at least one of the problems mentioned. In particular, the object of the invention is to provide a solution that makes it possible to achieve pressure equalization in the region of the opening of the container within a short time and in a reliable manner.

According to a first aspect, this object is achieved by a method having the features of claim 1. A method is provided for producing a container filled with liquid filling material from a thermally conditioned preform, comprising the steps of: providing a device for producing a container filled with liquid filling material from a thermally conditioned preform, providing a thermally conditioned preform, moving a filling nozzle, which comprises a filling valve for introducing the filling material into the preform under pressure, from a neutral position in which the filling valve with its outlet does not rest sealingly against the preform, into a filling position in which the filling valve with its outlet rests sealingly against the preform, arranging a valve body, which controls a flow volume of the filling valve, into a release position in which there is a fluid connection between the flow volume and the preform, shaping and filling the container with the liquid filling material, wherein the filling nozzle is arranged in the filling position and the valve body is arranged in the release position, moving the valve body within the filling valve from the release position into a blocking position, i.e. Position closing the connection between the flow volume and the preform. According to the invention, the method comprises the step of moving the filling nozzle from the filling position to a relief position which is arranged at a distance from the filling position, whereby the interior of the container is pressure-connected to a gas present outside the interior of the container, and then moving the filling nozzle from the relief position back to the filling position, and removing the container produced from the preform.

According to the invention, pressure equalization is achieved by moving the filling nozzle from the filling position to the relief position. This movement preferably takes place at a time when the container made from the preform has been formed and filled with the filling material.

Preferably, the steps specified in the method are performed in the order specified.

First, a thermally conditioned preform and a device for producing a container filled with liquid filling material from the thermally conditioned preform are provided. Such a device is preferably designed to produce a container filled with liquid filling material from the thermally conditioned preform by introducing a filling material under pressure into the preform.

The filling nozzle is moved from the neutral position, in which the filling valve with its outlet does not seal against the preform, to the filling position, in which the filling valve with its outlet seals against the preform. In particular, before the container is formed and filled, the filling nozzle is moved from the neutral position to the filling position. Preferably, the filling nozzle is spaced apart from the preform in the filling position.

In the filling position of the filling nozzle, the filling valve with its outlet lies sealingly against the preform or against the container made from the preform, depending on whether a container has already been made from the preform.

The valve body is arranged in the release position in particular for introducing the filling material into the preform. In the release position, there is a fluid connection between the flow volume and the preform, so that filling material can be introduced along the fluid connection. The valve body can be moved from the blocking position to the release position. In the blocking position, the connection between the Flow volume within the filling valve and the preform is closed. In the release position, the connection between the flow volume and the preform is open, so that a fluid connection exists between the flow volume and the preform. In the release position, the filling material can be guided into the preform via the flow volume. A flow volume is understood to mean in particular a cavity, whereby the filling valve can be opened and closed by moving the valve body, thus establishing a fluid connection between this cavity and the preform.

The forming and filling of the container with the liquid filling material preferably takes place simultaneously, at least in sections. The filling nozzle is arranged in the filling position and the valve body is in the release position.

In particular, after the container has been formed and filled, the valve body inside the filling valve is moved from the release position to the blocking position. The fluid connection between the flow volume and the preform is thus blocked so that no more filling material can be introduced along the fluid connection.

The filling nozzle is then moved, particularly after the container has been formed and filled, from the filling position to the relief position, which is arranged at a distance from the filling position, so that pressure equalization can take place in the area of the head space of the container. Preferably immediately after the filling nozzle has been moved from the filling position to the relief position and pressure equalization has taken place, the filling nozzle is moved back to the filling position, in which the filling valve with its outlet lies sealingly against the container made from the preform.

In the relief position of the filling nozzle, the filling valve is in particular not in a sealing manner against the preform. When the filling nozzle is arranged in the relief position, there is preferably a gap between the outlet of the filling valve and the container made from the preform, whereby compensation can take place through this gap, e.g. by allowing air or another gas, e.g. an inert gas such as CO2, to flow. If there is a pressure difference between the head space of the container and a space outside the container and the filling nozzle is arranged in the relief position, air or another gas that is present outside the interior of the container formed from the preform can flow through the gap, whereby pressure compensation can be achieved between these spaces. Such a space can, for example, be a space surrounding the container or a sterile room or a room in a workshop. in which the device is installed, or the environment or any other space in which ambient air or air or another gas is present.

The movement of the filling nozzle from the filling position to the relief position and back to the filling position preferably takes place within a maximum of 1 second, particularly preferably within a maximum of 0.4 seconds, in particular within a maximum of 0.2 seconds.

The movement of the filling nozzle from the filling position to the relief position and back to the filling position preferably takes place within at least 0.05 seconds.

The movement of the filling nozzle from the filling position to the relief position and back to the filling position is to be understood in particular to mean that these steps are carried out immediately one after the other and within one cycle, i.e. the production of exactly one filled container from exactly one preform.

Preferably, a lid is placed on the formed and filled container before removal from the forming and filling station. The filled and formed container, which was made from the preform, can then be removed from the device.

A first advantage of such a method is that by moving the filling nozzle into the relief position, a pressure equalization in the head space of the container and in the outlet area, i.e. in the area of the filling nozzle, is made possible in a particularly advantageous manner, without additional ventilation accesses or the like being necessary for the pressure equalization.

A further advantage of such a process is that undesirable plastic deformations of the container made from the preform, particularly in the area of the head space, can be reliably avoided. The pressure equalization that takes place in the relief position of the filling nozzle reduces the mechanical stress caused by the pressure difference, so that no undesirable elastic and/or plastic, irreversible deformations occur. This makes it possible in particular to produce relatively thin-walled (and thus relatively light) containers with a relatively large head space volume, which could collapse without such pressure equalization. A further advantage of such a method is that it can be used to achieve pressure equalization in a reliable manner and within a relatively short time. Pressure equalization preferably takes place exclusively via a movement of the filling nozzle, so that the ventilation point is defined via the precisely positionable filling nozzle. Venting can also take place very quickly, since pressure equalization can take place across the entire gap between the raised filling nozzle and the container mouth. The corresponding ventilation stroke can be very small.

A further advantage of such a method is that the leakage of the filling material can be avoided due to pressure equalization. In addition, the device remains free of contamination, particularly in the outlet area, since the filling material does not spray out of the container due to pressure.

Advantageous embodiments and concretizations of this general technical teaching according to the invention are specified in the subclaims or emerge from the description of the figures.

It is particularly preferred that the movement of the filling nozzle from the neutral position to the filling position takes place along a longitudinal axis.

The filling nozzle is preferably moved from the filling position to the relief position axially along the longitudinal axis. The longitudinal axis is preferably an axis along which the filling nozzle is movable between the filling position and the relief position. The longitudinal axis is in particular a straight line that extends along the direction of movement of the filling nozzle. The filling nozzle can be moved from the filling position to the relief position, for example, by lifting the filling nozzle, whereby the container made from the preform and filled does not change its position, so that the filling nozzle moves away from the container relative to the container. The filling nozzle is preferably moved axially in the direction of and along the longitudinal axis. However, it is also conceivable that no axial movement or at least not an exclusively axial movement is carried out.

Preferably, the filling nozzle is moved from the relief position back to the filling position axially along the longitudinal axis. The filling nozzle is moved from the relief position back to the filling position, for example, by lowering the filling nozzle, whereby the position of the container remains unchanged, so that the filling nozzle moves relative to the container in the direction of the container. Preferably, the movement of the filling nozzle is axial in the direction and along the longitudinal axis. However, it is also conceivable that no axial movement is carried out or at least a movement that is not exclusively axial.

In particular, the movement of the filling nozzle from the filling position to the relief position and/or the movement of the filling nozzle from the relief position to the filling position can take place on a partial section of the movement path that the filling nozzle covers when moving from the neutral position to the filling position and/or when moving from the filling position to the neutral position.

Preferably, the valve body is moved axially along the longitudinal axis. The valve body can then release or block the fluid connection between the flow volume and the preform or between the flow volume and the container made from the preform, in particular by means of an axial movement along the longitudinal axis.

It is particularly preferred that the relief position is arranged between the filling position and the neutral position. The relief position is preferably several times further away from the neutral position than from the filling position. The relief position is preferably arranged close to the filling position.

It is particularly preferred that the relief position is at most 10 mm, preferably at most 5 mm, particularly preferably at most 3 mm, away from the filling position. Preferably, the relief position is at least 0.1 mm, preferably at least 0.5 mm, particularly preferably at least 1 mm, away from the filling position.

The relief position is particularly preferably spaced from the filling position within a range of 1 mm and 3 mm, in particular approximately 2 mm. The filling nozzle is preferably moved approximately 2 mm from the filling position to the relief position and/or approximately 2 mm from the relief position to the filling position.

Such a distance between the position of the filling nozzle in the filling position and the position of the filling nozzle in the relief position is particularly advantageous because the size of the resulting gap enables efficient and rapid pressure equalization in the head space of the container. In addition, the movement from the filling position to the relief position and back can be carried out within a relatively short time due to the relatively short path. time, so that the cycle time from the provision of the preform to the removal of the container made from this preform and filled is not significantly or not at all extended.

It is particularly preferred that the valve body is arranged in the blocking position during the movement of the filling nozzle from the filling position to the relief position. Preferably, the movement of the filling nozzle to the relief position and/or the movement of the filling nozzle from the relief position to the filling position takes place while the valve body is in the blocking position, so that while there is a short-term gap between the outlet of the filling valve and the container made from the preform, no filling material can flow through the flow volume. This can prevent filling material from escaping from the filling nozzle during this pressure equalization.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the filling nozzle has a stretching rod for stretching the preform, which carries out a stretching movement, wherein the movement of the filling nozzle from the filling position to the relief position takes place before the stretching rod has completely completed the stretching movement and preferably after the stretching rod has completely stretched the preform.

A stretching movement includes in particular a movement of the horizontal bar from a rest position to a final stretching position and from the final stretching position back to the rest position.

The stretching movement comprises in particular the following steps: moving the stretching rod from a rest position, i.e. a starting position, into the preform until the stretching rod tip rests on the bottom of the preform in order to stretch the preform axially along the longitudinal axis, into a final stretching position. Preferably, the bottom of the stretched preform is then held in position by means of the stretching rod and the bottom of the preform or the container made from the preform is held against an external mold. The stretching rod is then moved from the final stretching position out of the container made from the preform. The stretching rod is then moved back to the rest position.

The stretch rod preferably extends along the longitudinal axis. It is preferred if the stretch rod is arranged inside the valve body. The stretch rod is preferably axially movable relative to the valve body. For a section of the stretching movement, the stretching rod is preferably moved along the longitudinal axis along a stretching path. A stretching path is understood to mean in particular the path of the stretching rod on which the stretching rod exerts a stretching force and/or a guiding force on the preform. This is equivalent to the path of the stretching rod that begins when the stretching rod tip rests on the base of the preform and ends when a final stretching position is reached, whereby in this final stretching position the base of the fully stretched preform is usually clamped between the stretching rod tip and the surrounding mold. The stretching path therefore describes the path that the stretching rod covers when stretching and/or guiding the preform, starting with the first contact between the stretching rod tip and the preform.

It is particularly preferred that the filling nozzle is moved from the filling position to the relief position before or during a movement of the stretch rod from an end position of the stretch rod to a starting position of the stretch rod. The end position of the stretch rod can also be referred to as the end stretch position. The filling nozzle is preferably moved to the relief position when the stretch rod has completed the stretching path, for example while the stretch rod is arranged in the end position. The filling nozzle can, for example, be moved to the relief position while the stretch rod is being moved away from the end position, in particular in the direction of the starting position.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the method comprises the step of: moving the stretch rod into a position which cancels the sealing effect of a stretch rod seal which is arranged between the valve body and the stretch rod and which separates a space on the outlet side from a space facing away from the outlet, and which cancels the separation of the two spaces, wherein the stretch rod extends along the longitudinal axis within the valve body and has a stretch rod tip on the outlet side. By moving the stretch rod in this way, an additional pressure equalization option can be created in a particularly advantageous manner. In addition to a first pressure equalization, in particular a venting, by moving the filling nozzle into the relief position, a second pressure equalization, in particular a venting, can be made possible by moving the stretch rod into the position which cancels the sealing effect.

Preferably, when the stretch rod moves along the stretch path, a fluid-tight seal is provided at all times by means of the stretch rod seal between the space facing away from the outlet and the space on the outlet side. After the stretch rod has been moved into and out of the preform along the path of the stretching movement to form the container and then completely out of the preform, a venting stroke movement can then be carried out by moving the stretch rod even further in the direction of the space facing away from the outlet, whereby the sealing effect of the stretch rod seal can then be temporarily canceled in order to enable pressure equalization in the area of the outlet opening.

Preferably, pressure equalization is achieved by a targeted movement of the stretch rod from a sealing position to a position that cancels the sealing effect. This targeted movement usually takes place at a time when the filling and forming process is complete, but the filling valve - after the filling nozzle has been moved back from the venting position to the filling position - is resting sealingly on the container mouth and thus there is a volume in the mouth area of the container that is sealed off from the environment.

The stretch rod seal preferably extends along the longitudinal axis from the outlet-side space to the space facing away from the outlet. The stretch rod seal is preferably designed to be rotationally symmetrical about the longitudinal axis. The stretch rod seal preferably has a centrally arranged recess along the longitudinal axis for receiving the stretch rod. The space facing away from the outlet is preferably arranged between the valve body and the stretch rod on the side of the stretch rod seal facing away from the outlet. The outlet-side space is preferably arranged in the area of the outlet of the filling valve.

The stretch rod can preferably be moved into the position that cancels the sealing effect of the stretch rod seal. In this position, the separation between the space facing away from the outlet and the space on the outlet side is eliminated. The stretch rod can be moved into this position in particular when the filling valve is arranged in the filling position and the valve body is arranged in the blocking position. If the stretch rod is moved into this position that cancels the sealing effect, a gas connection can be provided between the outlet-side space and the space facing away from the outlet by canceling the sealing effect of the stretch rod seal, via which a pressure equalization can take place between the outlet-side space and the space facing away from the outlet. The pressure equalization is therefore controlled by the positioning of the stretch rod. Thus, a first pressure equalization can be achieved by moving the filling valve, in particular briefly, into the relief position and then preferably a further pressure equalization can be achieved by moving the stretch rod, in particular briefly, into the position that cancels the sealing effect.

Such a method, in which pressure equalization can take place at two different points in time during the production of a container filled with filling material from a preform, is particularly advantageous because it allows the pressures or pressure differences to be optimally controlled and limited to certain maximum values. It is particularly advantageous that the pressure equalization can take place without any significant loss of time or without any loss of time at all.

A particular advantage of this is that by moving the stretching rod into the lifting position, pressure equalization in the outlet area is made possible in a particularly advantageous manner, without additional ventilation access or the like being necessary for pressure equalization.

In addition, only minor structural adjustments are necessary based on existing processes and devices so that the stretch rod can cancel the sealing effect of the stretch rod seal in one position, thereby enabling pressure equalization in the outlet area. Existing processes and devices can therefore also be adapted and/or used in such a way that pressure equalization is possible via the positioning of the stretch rod.

It is particularly preferred that the movement of the stretch rod into the canceling position takes place after the filling nozzle has been moved from the filling position into the relief position and from the relief position back into the filling position. The canceling position is to be understood in particular as the position that cancels the sealing effect of the stretch rod seal and the separation of the two spaces, i.e. the space on the outlet side and the space facing away from the outlet.

It is further preferred that the stretch rod is moved into the lifting position by means of a venting stroke by moving the stretch rod in the direction away from the outlet, so that the outlet-side stretch rod tip is positioned relative to the longitudinal axis at the level of a section of the stretch rod seal adjacent to the space facing away from the outlet, in particular parallel to the section of the stretch rod seal adjacent to the space facing away from the outlet, or at a distance from a the section of the stretch rod seal adjacent to the space facing away from the outlet, in particular into the space facing away from the outlet. It is therefore preferred that the stretch rod tip is moved into the region of the section of the stretch rod seal adjacent to the space facing away from the outlet in order to cancel the sealing effect of the stretch rod seal. It can also be preferred that the stretch rod tip is moved completely out of the stretch rod seal in order to cancel the sealing effect of the stretch rod seal.

It is further preferred that the stretch rod is moved into the lifting position while the filling valve is positioned in the filling position and the valve body is positioned in the blocking position. The movement of the stretch rod into the lifting position generally takes place at a time when the filling and forming process is complete, but the filling valve is still sealingly resting on the container mouth and thus there is still a volume in the mouth area of the container that is sealed off from the environment. In this way, a pressure in the range of the ambient pressure, in particular a pressure that corresponds to the ambient pressure, can be generated in the opening area of the filled and formed container, while the filling valve, which is still sealingly resting on, acts as a splash guard. When the filling valve is then moved from the filling position to the neutral position, the filling material will not spray out of the container due to the pressure difference.

It is particularly preferred that the stretch rod seal has a recess on its inner circumference, which forms a section between the stretch rod and the stretch rod seal, where the stretch rod and the inner circumference of the stretch rod seal are not in contact. If the stretch rod is moved into a position in which the stretch rod tip is arranged in the area of the recess, the sealing effect of the stretch rod seal can be canceled. A gas connection between the space facing away from the outlet and the space on the outlet side can run via the recess along the recess, at least in sections, parallel to the stretch rod. With such a recess, it is therefore possible that the stretch rod, and in particular the stretch rod tip, does not have to be moved completely out of the stretch rod seal in order to cancel the sealing effect of the stretch rod seal. This makes it particularly advantageous to ensure that, in the position of the stretch rod that cancels the sealing effect, pressure equalization takes place in the outlet area and the stretch rod is simultaneously guided further axially by the stretch rod seal. It is further preferred that the recess is connected to the space facing away from the outlet in every position of the stretch rod. Preferably, the recess is connected to the space on the outlet side in the raised position of the stretch rod. A connection for pressure equalization can then be provided from the space facing away from the outlet via the recess to the space on the outlet side.

Such a recess can be designed, for example, in the form of a groove that runs parallel to the longitudinal axis on the inner circumference of the stretch rod seal from the space facing away from the outlet in the direction of the space on the outlet side, wherein the recess preferably does not extend to the space on the outlet side. The groove preferably runs in the upper region of the stretch rod seal. It is thus possible for a gas connection to be established between the space facing away from the outlet and the space on the outlet side via this groove if the stretch rod is only arranged in sections in the upper region of the stretch rod seal within the stretch rod seal.

The stretch rod seal preferably has several, in particular three, recesses, which are preferably arranged equidistant from one another and each on the inner circumference of the stretch rod seal. The plurality of recesses preferably have the same shape. The plurality of recesses preferably run parallel to the longitudinal axis and are in particular of the same length. By means of several recesses, a symmetrical air flow can be achieved when creating a pressure equalization, so that forces acting in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis due to such an air flow can be balanced out in total. It can also be advantageous for guiding the stretch rod in the stretch rod seal if several recesses are arranged along the inner circumference of the stretch rod seal, since this can prevent one-sided and/or asymmetrical force action between the stretch rod and the stretch rod seal.

According to a further embodiment, it is provided that the stretch rod has a cross-sectional taper which is designed to provide a connection between the outlet-side space and the space facing away from the outlet in the raised position. Such a cross-sectional taper can be provided in addition to or as an alternative to one or more recesses in the stretch rod seal. Via such a cross-sectional taper, similar to a recess in the stretch rod seal, a channel for air exchange between the space facing away from the outlet and the space on the outlet side. Thus, preferably in the raised position of the stretch rod, a gas connection can be created between the space facing away from the outlet via the cross-sectional tapering and/or via one or more recesses in the stretch rod seal.

Preferably, such a cross-sectional taper is arranged in the region of the stretch rod tip on the outlet side, wherein the cross-sectional taper is preferably designed in the form of a circumferential groove. The cross-sectional taper is preferably spaced at a maximum of 10 cm, particularly preferably at a maximum of 5 cm, in particular at a maximum of 3 cm from the stretch rod tip on the outlet side in the direction of the longitudinal axis. The cross-sectional taper can in particular be designed in the form of a waist of the stretch rod in the region of the stretch rod tip.

The stretching rod can have the same cross-section in the direction of the longitudinal axis on both sides of the cross-sectional taper, which is larger than the cross-section in the area of the cross-sectional taper. In the area of the cross-sectional taper, the cross-section of the stretching rod is therefore preferably smaller than the cross-section of the rest of the stretching rod.

According to an alternative embodiment, which is considered less advantageous, it is provided that the stretch rod seal is firmly connected to the stretch rod, so that the stretch rod seal can be moved along with the stretch rod along the longitudinal axis by moving the stretch rod along the longitudinal axis. For example, the valve body can have a diameter expansion on its inner circumference, which is designed to cancel the sealing effect of the stretch rod seal and cancel the separation of the two spaces when the stretch rod seal moves along the longitudinal axis into the area of the diameter expansion. Furthermore, the valve body can have the same inner circumference in the direction of the longitudinal axis on both sides of the diameter expansion, which is smaller than the inner circumference in the area of the diameter expansion. In this embodiment, in which the stretch rod seal is moved along with the stretch rod, the sealing effect of the stretch rod seal can be canceled in a certain position and/or in a certain area of the stretch rod seal by such a diameter expansion by providing a connection between the space facing away from the outlet and the space on the outlet side via the diameter expansion. According to a further aspect, the object mentioned at the outset is achieved by a device with the features of claim 14. A device is provided for producing a container filled with liquid filling material from a thermally conditioned preform by introducing a filling material under pressure into the preform, wherein the device is preferably designed to carry out a method as described here, comprising a filling nozzle which comprises a filling valve for introducing the filling material into the preform under pressure, wherein the filling nozzle can be moved from a neutral position in which the filling valve with its outlet does not rest sealingly against the preform, into a filling position in which the filling valve with its outlet rests sealingly against the preform, a valve body which controls a flow volume of the filling valve, wherein the valve body can be moved from a release position in which there is a fluid connection between the flow volume and the preform, into a blocking position, i.e. a position closing the connection between the flow volume and the preform.

According to the invention, the device comprises a control device for controlling the movement of the filling nozzle, which is designed to move the filling nozzle from the filling position into a relief position which is arranged at a distance from the filling position, and then from the relief position back into the filling position before the stretching rod has completely completed the stretching movement and preferably after the stretching rod has completely stretched the preform.

According to a further aspect, the object mentioned at the outset is achieved by a system with the features of claim 15. According to this, a system is provided for producing containers filled with liquid filling material from thermally conditioned preforms by introducing a filling material under pressure into the preforms with a device as described here, preferably comprising several forming and filling stations, each of the forming and filling stations having a device as described here.

According to a further aspect, the object mentioned at the outset is achieved by using a device and/or a system with the features of claim 16. According to this, use of a device as described here and/or a system as described here for producing containers filled with liquid filling material from thermally conditioned preforms by introducing a filling material under pressure into the preforms is provided, in particular for producing Bottles filled with liquids, for example drinking water, made of a thermoplastic material, in particular comprising or consisting of PET.

For the advantages, design variants and design details of the various aspects of the solutions described here and their respective possible further developments, reference is also made to the description of the corresponding features, details and advantages of the other aspects and their further developments.

Preferred embodiments are explained below purely by way of example with reference to the accompanying figures. They show:

Fig. 1 : a schematic partially sectioned view of a device for producing a container filled with liquid filling material,

Fig. 2: a schematic sectional view of a section of a device for producing a container filled with liquid filling material with a supplied preform,

Fig. 3: a schematic sectional view of a section of a device for producing a container filled with liquid filling material with lowered filling valve before filling and forming the container,

Fig. 4: a schematic sectional view of a section of a device for producing a container filled with liquid filling material with the filling valve open,

Fig. 5: a schematic sectional view of a section of a device for producing a container filled with liquid filling material with the filling valve open and with the stretching rod inserted into the preform,

Fig. 6: a schematic sectional view of a section of a device for producing a container filled with liquid filling material with the filling valve closed again after filling and forming the container,

Fig. 7: a schematic sectional view of a section of a device for producing a container filled with liquid filling material, wherein the filling nozzle is arranged in the relief position, Fig. 8: a schematic sectional view of a section of a device for producing a container filled with liquid filling material, wherein the filling nozzle has been moved from the relief position back to the filling position,

Fig. 9: a schematic sectional view of a section of a device for producing a container filled with liquid filling material with the stretch rod in a position that cancels the sealing effect of the stretch rod seal,

Fig. 10: a schematic sectional view of a section of a device for producing a container filled with liquid filling material with the filling valve raised after filling and forming the container,

Fig. 11: a schematic partially sectioned view of another embodiment of a device for producing a container filled with liquid filling material with a supplied preform,

Fig. 12: a schematic partially sectioned view of the embodiment of the device shown in Fig. 11 with the stretch rod in a position canceling the sealing effect of the stretch rod seal,

Fig. 13: a perspective view of a stretch rod seal with several recesses,

Fig. 14: a schematic representation of a method for producing a container filled with liquid filling material from a thermally conditioned preform,

Fig. 15: a schematic representation of a method for producing a container filled with liquid filling material from a thermally conditioned preform.

In the figures, identical or essentially functionally identical or similar elements are designated with the same reference numerals. A container is not shown in the figures, since such containers are known in many different forms from the prior art, e.g. in the form of a PET bottle, and the appearance of the container is irrelevant for the invention. The method for producing a container filled with liquid filling material from a thermally conditioned preform is described below by way of example, in particular with reference to Fig. 1 to Fig. 10. The method preferably takes place in the order shown in Fig. 2 to Fig. 10.

Fig. 1 shows a device 1 for producing a container filled with liquid filling material. A stretch rod 11 is arranged in the valve body 13. The stretch rod 11 and the valve body 13 extend along a longitudinal axis A. In the example shown, the stretch rod extends coaxially in the valve body 13 along the longitudinal axis A. The section of the device 1 shown here below is referred to as the filling nozzle 10, which is described in more detail with reference to the following figures, in particular Figs. 2 to 10.

Fig. 2 to Fig. 10 each show a detailed view of the device 1 shown in Fig. 1, wherein the filling nozzle 10 of the device is shown in each case. Fig. 2 to Fig. 10 show different states of a preferred embodiment of the device, based on which a typical sequence of a method for producing a container filled with liquid filling material from a thermally conditioned preform is described.

The device is designed to produce a container filled with liquid filling material F from a thermally conditioned preform 90 (here and in the other figures only partially shown by means of the mouth area provided with a thread) by introducing a filling material F under pressure into the preform. The preform 90 is arranged in the position shown in Fig. 2 at a distance from the filling nozzle 10 of the device. The preform 90, which can consist of PET, for example, has a mouth area 91 with a thread onto which a lid can be placed. In a manner not shown and known from the prior art, the preform is held by a surrounding mold, against the inner contour of which the area of the preform not shown in Fig. 2 is expanded in the axial and circumferential direction.

A filling valve 18 is arranged in the filling nozzle 10, which is formed here by a sleeve 14, a valve body 13 arranged in the sleeve 14 and axially movable along the longitudinal axis A, and a cone seal 15 which is connected to the sleeve 14 and functions as a valve seat. A valve seat is to be understood in particular as the area of the cone seal 15 at which the valve body 13 comes into contact with the cone seal 15 in the closed position shown here. In the blocking position of the The filling valve 18 is closed when the valve body 13 is closed. The cone seal 15 of the filling valve lies sealingly against the valve body 13 so that no filling material can be guided between the valve body 13 and the sleeve 14 in the direction of the preform 90. The filling valve 18 is movable along the longitudinal axis A. The filling nozzle 10 is in the neutral position shown in Fig. 2, in which the filling valve 18 is arranged at a distance from the preform 90.

The valve body 13 controls a flow volume 20 of the filling valve 18. The valve body 13 can be brought from a blocking position, in which a connection between the flow volume 20 and the preform 90 is closed, into a release position relative to the filling valve 18. In the position shown in Fig. 2, the valve body 13 is arranged in the blocking position. A stretch rod 11 extending along the longitudinal axis A is arranged within the valve body 13 and is axially movable along the longitudinal axis A relative to the valve body 14, e.g. for stretching the preform 90. The stretch rod 11 has a stretch rod tip 11a on the outlet side. A stretch rod seal 16 is arranged between the stretch rod 11 and the valve body 13. The stretch rod seal is shown here in two parts, but it can also be designed in one part (see Fig. 13). The stretch rod seal 16 separates an outlet-side space 30 from a space 12 facing away from the outlet. In the position of the stretch rod 11 shown in Fig. 2, there is no fluid connection between the outlet-side space 30 and the space 12 facing away from the outlet, so that no pressure equalization between these two spaces is possible by means of a connection between these two spaces.

Fig. 3 shows the filling nozzle 10 of the device, wherein the filling valve 18 has now been lowered, i.e. moved in the direction of the preform 90, and is arranged in the filling position in which the filling valve 18 with its outlet 19 lies sealingly against the preform 90. The filling nozzle 10 has thus been moved from the neutral position shown in Fig. 2 to the filling position shown in Fig. 3. A sealing fit of the filling valve against the preform 90 in the filling position is made possible by means of an outlet seal 17 which is connected to the sleeve 14. The mouth region 91 of the preform 90 lies sealingly against the outlet seal 17 so that when filling material is introduced, it can be completely introduced into the preform and does not escape outside the mouth region 91.

In Fig. 4, the valve body 13 is arranged in the release position. For this purpose, the valve body 13 was raised relative to the sleeve 14 along the longitudinal axis A. Now filling material F, for example water, can be pumped under pressure via the flow volume 20 into the outlet-side space 30 and thus into the preform 90. The flow direction of the filling material F can be seen from the arrow direction shown. For the sake of completeness, it should be noted with regard to this Figure 4 that as a rule and contrary to what is shown, at the time shown in Figure 4 the stretching rod 11 has been moved into the preform 90 and is stretching the preform in the direction of the longitudinal axis A or can immediately begin stretching.

Fig. 5 shows in a next step that now parallel to the introduction of the filling material F into the preform 90, the stretching rod 11 is moved along the longitudinal axis A in the direction of the preform 90 in order to stretch the preform 90, i.e. to stretch it in the direction of the longitudinal axis A. As already explained in relation to Fig. 4, the flow of the filling material F into the preform takes place simultaneously with the stretching of the preform and thus slightly deviates from the state shown.

Fig. 6 shows the stretch rod 11 in a position moved into the preform 90. After the container has been formed and filled, the valve body 13 has now been moved back in the direction of the outlet and thus from the release position to the blocking position, so that the connection between the flow volume 20 and the container is closed again. At this point, the preform has usually been completely formed into the container and the stretch rod 11 has completely covered the stretching path.

Fig. 7 shows a state in which the filling nozzle 10 has been moved from the filling position shown in Fig. 6 to the relief position shown in Fig. 7. The relief position is arranged at a distance from the filling position. The filling nozzle is therefore raised in the direction of the longitudinal axis A during the movement from the filling position to the relief position, so that a gap is created between the filling nozzle, in particular the outlet seal 17, and the container made from the preform, in particular the mouth region 91. The gap thus formed can be used to exchange air between the head space of the container and the environment. If there is a negative pressure in the area of the head space relative to the ambient pressure, a relief flow E occurs, which is shown schematically here using dashed arrows. Pressure equalization therefore occurs by moving the filling nozzle 10 from the filling position to the relief position. This movement preferably takes place (as described in this example) at a time when the container made from the preform is formed and filled with the filling material. Starting from the relief position shown in Fig. 7, the filling nozzle 10 is then moved from the relief position back into the filling position shown in Fig. 8. The filling nozzle 10 is then arranged relative to the container produced from the preform as in Fig. 6, but with pressure equalization taking place in between during the position shown in Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 shows how the stretch rod 11 performs a venting stroke. To do this, the stretch rod 11 is raised or moved in the direction away from the outlet along the longitudinal axis A, while the filling nozzle 10 is positioned in the filling position and the valve body 13 is positioned in the blocking position. The stretch rod 11 is moved so far that the stretch rod is arranged in a position that cancels the sealing effect of the stretch rod seal 16 and cancels the separation of the two spaces (space 30 on the outlet side and space 12 facing away from the outlet). Due to the canceled sealing effect of the stretch rod seal 16, there is a gas connection between the outlet-side space 30 and the space 12 facing away from the outlet, so that if there is a pressure difference between the pressures in the two spaces, a pressure equalization D takes place, wherein, for example, in the case of an overpressure in the outlet-side space 30, a gas transfer takes place in the direction of the space 12 facing away from the outlet, as shown by the arrow directions.

In the embodiment shown here, the stretch rod seal 16 has recesses 16a, which are arranged on the inner circumference of the stretch rod seal 16 in the area of the stretch rod seal 16 facing away from the outlet. Due to the recesses 16a, the stretch rod 11 does not have to be moved completely out of the stretch rod seal 16, because already in the position of the stretch rod 11 shown here in Fig. 9, in which the stretch rod tip is arranged parallel to an area of the stretch rod seal facing away from the outlet with respect to the longitudinal axis, a gas connection can be established from the outlet-side space 30 via the recesses 16a between the stretch rod 11 and the stretch rod seal 16 to the space 12 facing away from the outlet, which enables gas exchange and thus pressure equalization.

Subsequently, as shown in Fig. 10, the stretch rod 11 is moved back into a position in which the sealing effect of the stretch rod seal is restored. The filling nozzle 10 is then moved into the neutral position in which the filling valve is arranged at a distance from the then filled and formed container. Following the process steps described by way of example with reference to Fig. 2 to Fig. 10, a closure cap can be placed or pressed onto the formed and filled container.

Fig. 11 and Fig. 12 show an alternative embodiment of a device, wherein only the stretching rod is designed differently from the embodiment shown in Fig. 2 to Fig. 10.

The device shown in Fig. 11 thus corresponds to the device shown in Fig. 2 and described with reference to Fig. 2, with the only difference that the stretch rod 11 in the embodiment shown in Fig. 11 has a cross-sectional taper 11b in its tip region. This cross-sectional taper 11b here has the form of a section-wise waisting of the stretch rod 11. The cross-sectional taper is arranged in the outlet-side region of the stretch rod and close to the stretch rod tip 11a.

In Fig. 12, the stretch rod 11 has been moved out of the filled and formed container according to a method as described in Fig. 2 to Fig. 10. Due to the cross-sectional tapering 11b, the stretch rod 11 does not have to be moved as far upwards (venting stroke) as in the embodiment shown in Fig. 9 in order to provide a gas connection between the outlet-side space 30 and the space 12 facing away from the outlet for pressure equalization. The pressure equalization can be made possible here along a connection from the outlet-side space 30 between the stretch rod 11 and the stretch rod seal 16 via a connection provided by the cross-sectional tapering 11b and the recesses 16a to the space 12 facing away from the outlet.

As an alternative to the embodiment shown here, in which the stretch rod seal has recesses and the stretch rod has a cross-sectional taper, an embodiment with a stretch rod seal without recesses and a stretch rod with a cross-sectional taper is also conceivable.

Fig. 13 shows an example of a stretch rod seal 16, namely a stretch rod seal 16 with three equidistantly arranged recesses 16a, which are arranged on the inner circumference of the stretch rod seal 16 and in the upper area, i.e. a section of the stretch rod seal adjacent to the space facing away from the outlet. The recesses shown here as examples are groove-shaped. Using Fig. 14 and Fig. 15, two methods for producing a container filled with liquid filling material from a thermally conditioned preform are described by way of example.

Fig. 14 shows a flow of an exemplary method 100 with the following steps:

In a step 110, providing a device for producing a container filled with liquid filling material F from a thermally conditioned preform 90. Such a device can be constructed in particular as shown in Fig. 1 and have a filling nozzle as described with reference to Fig. 2 to Fig. 10. In a step 120, providing a thermally conditioned preform 90.

In a step 130, a filling nozzle 10, which comprises a filling valve 18 for introducing the filling material F into the preform 90 under pressure, is moved from a neutral position in which the filling valve 18 with its outlet does not seal against the preform, into a filling position in which the filling valve 18 with its outlet 19 seals against the preform 90. The filling nozzle 10 is arranged in the neutral position in Fig. 2 (and in an alternative embodiment in Fig. 11) and is then moved into the filling position shown in Fig. 3 (or in Fig. 12).

In a step 140, arranging a valve body 13, which controls a flow volume 20 of the filling valve 18, in a release position in which a fluid connection exists between the flow volume 20 and the preform 90. The valve body is arranged in the blocking position in Fig. 3 and is then moved into the release position shown in Fig. 4.

In a step 150, the container is formed and filled with the liquid filling material F, the filling nozzle 10 being arranged in the filling position and the valve body 13 being arranged in the release position. In Fig. 5, the fluid is introduced into the preform through the inflow lumen and the stretching rod is moved in the direction of the preform to stretch the preform.

In a step 160, the valve body 13 is moved within the filling valve 18 from the release position into a blocking position, i.e. the position closing the connection between the flow volume 20 and the preform 90. The valve body is thus moved back into the position shown in Fig. 6. In a step 170, the filling nozzle 10 is moved from the filling position to a relief position which is arranged at a distance from the filling position, whereby the interior of the container is pressure-connected to a gas present outside the interior of the container. The relief position is shown in Fig. 7.

In a step 171, the filling nozzle 10 is then moved from the relief position back into the filling position. The filling nozzle is moved back again and is again in the filling position, as shown in Fig. 8.

Before removing the container, a closure cap can be added and the closure cap can be placed and pressed onto the formed and filled container.

In a step 190, removing the container made from the preform.

Fig. 15 shows a sequence of an exemplary method 100, which has the steps described with reference to Fig. 14 and additionally comprises step 180 between steps 171 and 190. In step 180, moving the stretch rod 11 into a position which cancels the sealing effect of a stretch rod seal 16, which is arranged between the valve body 13 and the stretch rod 11 and which separates an outlet-side space 30 from a space 12 facing away from the outlet, and cancels the separation of the two spaces 30, 12, wherein the stretch rod extends within the valve body 13 along the longitudinal axis A and has an outlet-side stretch rod tip 11a. This position of the stretch rod which cancels the sealing effect of the stretch rod seal is shown in Fig. 9 (and in an alternative embodiment in Fig. 12). This movement can be referred to as a venting stroke.

1 device

10 Filling nozzle

11 Horizontal bar

11 a horizontal bar tip

11 b Cross-sectional tapering

12 Room facing away from the outlet

13 Valve body

14 Sleeve

15 Cone seal

16 Stretch rod seal

16a Recesses

17 Outlet seal

18 Filling valve

19 Outlet

20 flow volume

30 outlet side space

90 Preform

91 Mouth area

100 procedures

110-190 process steps

A Longitudinal axis

D Pressure equalization

E relief flow

F Filling material

Claims

Claims Method (100) for producing a container filled with liquid filling material (F) from a thermally conditioned preform (90), comprising the steps:

Providing (110) a device for producing a container filled with liquid filling material (F) from a thermally conditioned preform (90),

Providing (120) a thermally conditioned preform (90),

Moving (130) a filling nozzle (10), which comprises a filling valve (18) for introducing the filling material (F) into the preform (90) under pressure, from a neutral position in which the filling valve (18) with its outlet (19) does not rest sealingly against the preform (90), into a filling position in which the filling valve (18) with its outlet (19) rests sealingly against the preform (90),

Arranging (140) a valve body (13) which controls a flow volume (20) of the filling valve (18) in a release position in which a fluid connection exists between the flow volume (20) and the preform (90),

Forming and filling (150) the container with the liquid filling material (F), wherein the filling nozzle (10) is arranged in the filling position and the valve body (13) is arranged in the release position,

Moving (160) the valve body (13) within the filling valve (18) from the release position into a blocking position, i.e. the position closing the connection between the flow volume (20) and the preform (90), characterized by

Moving (170) the filling nozzle (10) from the filling position to a relief position which is arranged at a distance from the filling position, whereby the interior of the container is pressure-connected to a gas present outside the interior of the container, and then moving (171) the filling nozzle (10) from the relief position back to the filling position,

Removing (190) the container made from the preform. Ahren according to the preceding claim, wherein the movement (130) of the filling nozzle (10) from the neutral position to the filling position takes place along a longitudinal axis (A), wherein preferably o the movement (170) of the filling nozzle (10) from the filling position to the relief position takes place axially along the longitudinal axis (A), o and/or the movement (171) of the filling nozzle (10) from the relief position back to the filling position takes place axially along the longitudinal axis (A), o and/or the movement (160) of the valve body (13) takes place axially along the longitudinal axis (A). Ahren according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the relief position is arranged between the filling position and the neutral position. Ahren according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the relief position is at most 10 mm, preferably at most 5 mm, particularly preferably at most 3 mm, from the filling position, and/or wherein the relief position is at least 0.1 mm, preferably at least 0.5 mm, particularly preferably at least 1 mm, from the filling position. Ahren according to one of the preceding claims, wherein during the movement of the filling nozzle (10) from the filling position to the relief position the valve body (13) is arranged in the blocking position. Ahren according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the filling nozzle (10) has a stretching rod (11) for stretching the preform (90), which carries out a stretching movement, wherein the movement of the filling nozzle from the filling position to the relief position takes place before the stretching rod has completely finished the stretching movement and preferably after the stretching rod has completely stretched the preform. Ahren according to the preceding claim, wherein the movement of the filling nozzle (10) from the filling position to the relief position takes place before or during a movement of the stretching rod from an end position of the stretching rod to a starting position of the stretching rod. Ahren according to one of the two preceding claims, characterized by

Moving (180) the stretch rod (11) into a position which cancels the sealing effect of a stretch rod seal (16) which is arranged between the valve body (13) and the stretch rod (11) and which separates an outlet-side space (30) from a space (12) facing away from the outlet, and which cancels the separation of the two spaces (30, 12), wherein the stretch rod extends within the valve body (13) along the longitudinal axis (A) and has an outlet-side stretch rod tip (11 a). Ahren according to the preceding claim, wherein the movement of the stretch rod (1 1) into the canceling position takes place after the movement of the filling nozzle (10) from the filling position to the relief position and from the relief position back to the filling position. Ahren according to one of the preceding claims 8 or 9, wherein the stretch rod (11) is moved into the lifting position by means of a venting stroke by moving the stretch rod (11) into the position facing away from the outlet Direction is moved so that the outlet-side stretch rod tip (11a) is moved relative to the longitudinal axis (A) o at the level of a section of the stretch rod seal (16) adjacent to the space (12) facing away from the outlet, in particular parallel to the section of the stretch rod seal (16) adjacent to the space (12) facing away from the outlet, or o at a distance from a section of the stretch rod seal (16) adjacent to the space (12) facing away from the outlet, in particular into the space (12) facing away from the outlet. Ahren according to one of claims 8 to 10, wherein the stretch rod (11) is moved into the lifting position while the filling valve (18) is positioned in the filling position and the valve body (13) is positioned in the blocking position. Ahren according to one of claims 8 to 1 1, wherein the stretch rod seal (16) has a recess (16a) on its inner circumference, which forms a section between the stretch rod (11) and the stretch rod seal (16) at which the stretch rod (1 1) and the inner circumference of the stretch rod seal (16) are not in contact. Ahren according to the preceding claim, wherein the recess (16a) is connected to the space (12) facing away from the outlet in every position of the stretch rod (1 1), and/or wherein the recess (16a) is connected to the space on the outlet side (30) in the position of the stretch rod (11) which cancels the sealing effect of the stretch rod seal (16) and cancels the separation of the two spaces. Device for producing a container filled with liquid filling material from a thermally conditioned preform (90) by introducing a filling material under pressure into the preform, wherein the device is preferably designed to carry out a method according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a filling nozzle (10) which comprises a filling valve (18) for introducing the filling material (F) into the preform (90) under pressure, wherein the filling nozzle can be moved from a neutral position in which the filling valve (18) with its outlet (19) does not rest sealingly against the preform (90) into a filling position in which the filling valve (18) with its outlet (19) rests sealingly against the preform (90), a valve body (13) which controls a flow volume (20) of the filling valve (18), wherein the valve body (13) can be moved from a release position in which there is a fluid connection between the flow volume (20) and the preform (90) into a Blocking position, i.e. position closing the connection between the flow volume (20) and the preform (90), characterized by a control device for controlling the movement of the filling nozzle (10), which is designed to move the filling nozzle (10) from the filling position into a relief position which is arranged at a distance from the filling position, and then from the relief position back into the filling position before the stretching rod has completely ended the stretching movement and preferably after the stretching rod has completely stretched the preform. System for producing containers filled with liquid filling material (F) from thermally conditioned preforms (90) by introducing a filling material (F) under pressure into the preforms (90) with a device according to the preceding claim, preferably comprising a plurality of forming and filling stations, each of the forming and filling stations having a device according to the preceding claim. Use of a device according to claim 14 and/or a system according to the preceding claim for producing containers filled with liquid filling material from thermally conditioned preforms by introducing a filling material under pressure into the preforms, in particular for producing containers filled with liquid Bottles filled with a filling material, for example drinking water, made of a thermoplastic material, in particular comprising or consisting of PET.