EP0341626B1 - Method and apparatus for filling bottles with liquid - Google Patents

Method and apparatus for filling bottles with liquid Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0341626B1
EP0341626B1 EP89108237A EP89108237A EP0341626B1 EP 0341626 B1 EP0341626 B1 EP 0341626B1 EP 89108237 A EP89108237 A EP 89108237A EP 89108237 A EP89108237 A EP 89108237A EP 0341626 B1 EP0341626 B1 EP 0341626B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
filling
bottle
opening
tube piece
liquid
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP89108237A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0341626A1 (en
Inventor
Egon Ing.Grad. Ahlers
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
KHS Maschinen und Anlagenbau AG
Original Assignee
Seitz Enzinger Noll Maschinenbau AG
KHS Maschinen und Anlagenbau AG
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Seitz Enzinger Noll Maschinenbau AG, KHS Maschinen und Anlagenbau AG filed Critical Seitz Enzinger Noll Maschinenbau AG
Publication of EP0341626A1 publication Critical patent/EP0341626A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0341626B1 publication Critical patent/EP0341626B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
    • B67C—CLEANING, FILLING WITH LIQUIDS OR SEMILIQUIDS, OR EMPTYING, OF BOTTLES, JARS, CANS, CASKS, BARRELS, OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; FUNNELS
    • B67C3/00—Bottling liquids or semiliquids; Filling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus; Filling casks or barrels with liquids or semiliquids
    • B67C3/02—Bottling liquids or semiliquids; Filling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus
    • B67C3/22—Details
    • B67C3/28—Flow-control devices, e.g. using valves
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
    • B67C—CLEANING, FILLING WITH LIQUIDS OR SEMILIQUIDS, OR EMPTYING, OF BOTTLES, JARS, CANS, CASKS, BARRELS, OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; FUNNELS
    • B67C3/00—Bottling liquids or semiliquids; Filling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus; Filling casks or barrels with liquids or semiliquids
    • B67C3/02—Bottling liquids or semiliquids; Filling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus
    • B67C3/06—Bottling liquids or semiliquids; Filling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus using counterpressure, i.e. filling while the container is under pressure
    • B67C3/10—Bottling liquids or semiliquids; Filling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus using counterpressure, i.e. filling while the container is under pressure preliminary filling with inert gases, e.g. carbon dioxide
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
    • B67C—CLEANING, FILLING WITH LIQUIDS OR SEMILIQUIDS, OR EMPTYING, OF BOTTLES, JARS, CANS, CASKS, BARRELS, OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; FUNNELS
    • B67C3/00—Bottling liquids or semiliquids; Filling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus; Filling casks or barrels with liquids or semiliquids
    • B67C3/02—Bottling liquids or semiliquids; Filling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus
    • B67C3/22—Details
    • B67C3/26—Filling-heads; Means for engaging filling-heads with bottle necks
    • B67C3/2614—Filling-heads; Means for engaging filling-heads with bottle necks specially adapted for counter-pressure filling
    • B67C3/2617—Filling-heads; Means for engaging filling-heads with bottle necks specially adapted for counter-pressure filling the liquid valve being opened by mechanical or electrical actuation
    • B67C3/2622—Filling-heads; Means for engaging filling-heads with bottle necks specially adapted for counter-pressure filling the liquid valve being opened by mechanical or electrical actuation and the filling operation stopping when probes, e.g. electrical or optical probes, sense the wanted liquid level
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
    • B67C—CLEANING, FILLING WITH LIQUIDS OR SEMILIQUIDS, OR EMPTYING, OF BOTTLES, JARS, CANS, CASKS, BARRELS, OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; FUNNELS
    • B67C3/00—Bottling liquids or semiliquids; Filling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus; Filling casks or barrels with liquids or semiliquids
    • B67C3/02—Bottling liquids or semiliquids; Filling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus
    • B67C3/22—Details
    • B67C3/26—Filling-heads; Means for engaging filling-heads with bottle necks
    • B67C2003/2651—The liquid valve being carried by the vent tube
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
    • B67C—CLEANING, FILLING WITH LIQUIDS OR SEMILIQUIDS, OR EMPTYING, OF BOTTLES, JARS, CANS, CASKS, BARRELS, OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; FUNNELS
    • B67C3/00—Bottling liquids or semiliquids; Filling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus; Filling casks or barrels with liquids or semiliquids
    • B67C3/02—Bottling liquids or semiliquids; Filling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus
    • B67C3/22—Details
    • B67C3/26—Filling-heads; Means for engaging filling-heads with bottle necks
    • B67C2003/266—Means for centering the container with the filling head
    • B67C2003/2662—Means for centering the container with the filling head with means for detecting the presence of a container
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
    • B67C—CLEANING, FILLING WITH LIQUIDS OR SEMILIQUIDS, OR EMPTYING, OF BOTTLES, JARS, CANS, CASKS, BARRELS, OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; FUNNELS
    • B67C3/00—Bottling liquids or semiliquids; Filling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus; Filling casks or barrels with liquids or semiliquids
    • B67C3/02—Bottling liquids or semiliquids; Filling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus
    • B67C3/22—Details
    • B67C3/26—Filling-heads; Means for engaging filling-heads with bottle necks
    • B67C2003/2685—Details of probes

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a method for filling liquid contents, namely still or carbonated drinks in bottles according to the preamble of claim 1 and to a filling machine according to the preamble of claim 5.
  • a method for filling air or. oxygen-sensitive filling material (DE-AS 12 07 230), in which (method) the bottle to be filled is evacuated, then pre-stressed with an inert gas and finally filled in the filling phase with the liquid filling material from a liquid container of the filling machine, which (filling material) when it flows into the bottle, the inert gas there, together with the remaining air, is displaced into the gas space of the liquid container. From time to time, a certain amount of the air / inert gas mixture collecting in the gas space is released and replaced by pure inert gas. The vented air-inert gas mixture is then preferably used for purging the bottles in a purging phase preceding the evacuation and pre-stressing.
  • the purging gas formed by the air / inert gas mixture is fed to the respective bottle via a pipe section which projects beyond the underside of the filling element and which extends through the bottle opening into the interior of the bottle and has radial openings on its underside for the purging gas to exit.
  • the interior of the bottle is connected to the environment via the bottle opening during this rinsing (rinsing phase).
  • the air displaced by the purge gas, but also the purge gas itself, can thus flow outwards through the bottle opening.
  • a disadvantage of this known method is, among other things, that in addition to rinsing, evacuation of the bottles is also necessary, which requires a not inconsiderable outlay in terms of process technology and apparatus and reduces the filling capacity.
  • each filling element of this filling machine has an annular gas outlet opening for inert gas or steam, which encloses a discharge opening for the filling material provided in the region of the filling element axis.
  • the filling of the cans includes purging of the respective can with the inert gas or steam is also provided, with the aid of the annular gas outlet opening arranged at a distance above the can.
  • a filling result with only a small amount of residual air in the respective can is not achieved; on the contrary, it is necessary for inert gas or steam to emerge from the outlet opening when the respective can is filled, and thus a jacket of inert gas or surrounding the filling material during filling Steam is directed at the respective can.
  • this known method for filling cans is, among other things, disadvantageous the high consumption of inert or. Purge gas.
  • the object of the invention is to improve the rinsing preceding the actual filling phase in a method for filling liquid contents into bottles in such a way that the flushing time and the residual air quantity remaining in the bottle are decisively reduced with a low procedural and apparatus expenditure.
  • the object of the invention is also to demonstrate a filling machine which is suitable for carrying out the method according to the invention.
  • the inert purging gas emerges at an annular, preferably circular opening, concentrically surrounding the filling element axis, which opening in the interior of the bottle, the inner surface of the bottle base is provided opposite.
  • the purge gas emerges from the annular opening as a relatively sharp jet and largely strikes the inner surface of the bottle base in a region surrounding the filler element axis, so that at least a considerable amount of purge gas runs radially outward along the inner surface of the bottle base and towards the bottle circumference then flows upwards before the purge gas escapes at the bottle opening together with the entrained or displaced air. Angles or corners of the interior of the bottle in the "bottle bottom-bottle peripheral wall" area are also detected by the purge gas.
  • the annular opening for the discharge of the purge gas is formed in that the tube piece concentrically surrounds a rod-shaped element at a distance, so that an annular gas channel with the ring-shaped opening is formed between this rod-shaped element and the inner surface of the tube piece is.
  • the lower end of the rod-shaped element is approximately flush with the lower end of the pipe section, ie the rod-shaped element protrudes as little as possible or as little as possible beyond the annular opening in order to form a vortex that emerges at the annular opening Avoid purge gas.
  • the rod-shaped element can be an element without any further function.
  • the rod-shaped element can preferably also be a probe that controls the liquid valve of the filling element, for example a conductivity probe, an opto-electrical probe, etc.
  • the liquid valve of the filling element it is expedient to design the liquid valve of the filling element as a "foot valve". In the sense of the invention, this means that the valve body of the liquid valve, which closes the discharge opening of the filling element when the liquid valve is closed and releases it for opening the liquid valve, is provided directly on the discharge opening in such a way that the filling element in the flow direction after the liquid valve or its valve body is practical there are no liquid channels.
  • the length with which the rod-shaped element designed as a probe extends over the underside of the Feeding the pipe section serving the purge gas is short, which ensures an optimal purge effect.
  • the gas channel formed in the tube piece is preferably also used for other purposes, ie as a return gas channel during the filling phase and, if appropriate, as a clamping gas channel during a tensioning of the respective bottle prior to the actual filling phase.
  • Fig. 1 shows a filling element 1, which is designed as a filling tube-less filling element for counter-pressure filling and is arranged together with several similar filling elements 1 on the circumference of a rotor 2 rotating around a vertical axis (e.g. liquid ring channel) of a bottle filling machine, which is otherwise not shown in detail.
  • a liquid channel 4 is formed, which in the embodiment shown in the lower part of the filling element 1 or the housing 3 is formed as an annular channel surrounding the filling element axis VA (section 4 'of the liquid channel 4) and in which the usual , Liquid valve, not shown, is provided.
  • the section 4 On the underside of the filling element 1 or the housing 3, the section 4 'forms the annular dispensing opening 5 which likewise surrounds the filling element axis VA and via which the liquid filling material 6 flows into the bottle 7 to be filled when the liquid valve is open.
  • a tube piece 8 which has its axis aligned with the filling element axis VA and is open on its underside, which has a circular outer and inner cross section and a rod-shaped element 9, which is also a circular one Has outer cross-section and is arranged with its axis coaxially with the filling element axis VA, concentrically encloses such that an annular gas channel 10 is formed between the outer surface of the rod-shaped element 9 and the inner surface of the pipe section 8.
  • the gas channel 10 opens in the interior of the housing 3 into a channel 11 which leads to a control valve device 12, via which the channel 11 and thus also the gas channel 10 are not only connected to a tension gas and / or return gas channel formed in the rotor 2, but also can also be charged with a purge gas, ie with an inert gas-air mixture, preferably CO2 being used as the inert gas.
  • a purge gas ie with an inert gas-air mixture, preferably CO2 being used as the inert gas.
  • the length of the rod-shaped element 9 is adapted to the length of the pipe section 8 such that the lower end of the rod-shaped element 9 is approximately flush with the lower, open end of the pipe section 8, the latter in the housing 3 from the section 4 'of the liquid channel 4 and is enclosed by the discharge opening 5.
  • the filling element 1 also has a known centering bell 13 with an annular seal 14, the latter enclosing the pipe section 8 concentrically and with such a distance that an annular channel 14 'is formed between the seal 14 and the outer surface of the pipe section 8, which in the flow direction of the liquid Filling material 6 follows the discharge opening 5 and forms the continuation of the liquid channel 4 when the bottle 7 is filled.
  • this upright bottle 7 is first raised from below against the filling element 1 to such an extent that the pipe section 8 and the element 9 extend through the bottle opening or mouth into the interior 15 of the bottle 7, the bottle 7, however, is still arranged at a distance from the seal 14.
  • the interior 15 is flushed with a flushing gas or inert gas, for example with CO2, for which by appropriate control of the control valve device 12 this purge gas is supplied via the channel 11 to the gas channel 10 and from the latter on the underside of the pipe section 8, ie at the annular opening 16 formed there between this pipe section 8 and the element 9 into the interior 15 emerges as a purge gas stream, as indicated by the arrows 17.
  • a flushing gas or inert gas for example with CO2
  • the air present there is displaced or flushed out, ie this air and the flushing gas can be formed at the annular gap formed between the mouth of the bottle 7 and the underside of the seal 14, which for example has a width of 6 mm, emerge to the outside, as indicated by the arrow 18 in FIG. 1.
  • the purging gas is supplied to the interior 15 in the area of the filling element axis VA (arrows 17), it is possible that this purging gas flows through the entire interior 15 of the bottle 7 and entrains or flushes out existing air without causing any significant mixing of the in the purge gas entering the interior 15 (arrows 17) and the purge gas or purge gas / air mixture flowing from the interior 15 to the mouth of the bottle 7.
  • the purge time is relatively short, which for example in the case of so-called “Euro bottles” is only one second, and thus with low purge gas consumption a particularly intensive flushing of the interior 15 of the bottle 7 is possible, ie despite an extremely short flushing time only an extremely small amount of residual air remains in the interior 15.
  • this is obviously due to the fact that by using the between the Pipe piece and the rod-shaped element 9 formed gas channel 10, to which the purging gas is supplied, for example, at a pressure of about 2.7 bar, this purging gas emerges at the narrow opening 16 as a relatively sharp jet, which is nevertheless in the direction due to the annular design of the opening 16 perpendicular to the filling element axis VA a relatively large has osse expansion and especially evenly distributed around the filling element axis VA, so that this purge gas jet to The majority also strikes the inner surface of the bottom of the bottle, in an almost uniform distribution in a region of this inner surface of the bottom surrounding the filling element axis VA.
  • the purging gas can then flow uniformly radially outwards and from there upwards on this inner surface of the floor, whereby the entire interior 15 is covered by the purging gas.
  • the liquid valve provided in the liquid channel 4 is opened so that the liquid filling material 6 flows into the interior 15 of the bottle 7.
  • the pipe section 8 or its partial length arranged in the interior of the housing 3 has a section 8 'in the region of the discharge opening 5, on which the outer diameter of the pipe section is facing downward increases conically and which is surrounded by a correspondingly shaped surface 19 of the housing 3 concentrically surrounding the filling element axis VA.
  • the liquid valve provided in the liquid channel 4 is closed in the usual manner after the level 20 of the liquid filling material 6 flowing into the bottle 7 has reached the lower end of the pipe section 8 that determines the filling height.
  • the closing of the liquid valve can also be probe-controlled, for which purpose, for example, the rod-shaped element 9 is designed as a probe and in this case, with a probe section (for example when the probe is designed as a conductivity probe with a probe contact), projects slightly beyond the underside of the tube piece 8, as is the case here is indicated in Fig. 1 with broken lines at 9 '.
  • the rod-shaped element 9 is designed as a probe and in this case, with a probe section (for example when the probe is designed as a conductivity probe with a probe contact), projects slightly beyond the underside of the tube piece 8, as is the case here is indicated in Fig. 1 with broken lines at 9 '.
  • the aim should be that the axial length of the section 9 ′ projecting beyond the underside of the tube piece 8 is as small as possible, in such a way that the probe forming the rod-shaped element 9 responds at a level of the mirror 20 which (level) lies just so far below the open end of the pipe section 8 that even after the section 4 'of the liquid channel 4 has been emptied, the mirror 20 which the liquid filling material in the bottle 7 has reached, still has a sufficient distance from the lower end of the pipe section 8 so that the filling material 6 does not get into the gas channel 10. It is expedient to design the projecting section 9 'in a flow-favorable manner.
  • Fig. 2 shows a similar representation as Fig. 1, a filling element 1 a, which is characterized by a particularly simple, inexpensive and robust construction and differs from the filling element 1 first of all in that the filling element 1 a has a filling tube 22.
  • This filling tube 22, which concentrically surrounds the filling element axis VA, is fastened directly to the rotor 2 of the bottle filling machine, stands over the underside of the rotor 2 and forms the discharge opening for the liquid at its lower end Product.
  • the filling tube 22 is connected to a hose 21 for supplying the liquid filling material.
  • the filling element 1 a has a pipe section 23 corresponding to the pipe section 8, which is surrounded concentrically by the filling pipe 22 and forms an annular liquid channel 24 between its outer surface and the inner surface of the filling pipe 22, which is connected to the hose 21.
  • the pipe section 23 lying coaxially with the filling element axis VA encloses a rod-shaped element 25 corresponding to the element 9, which is designed as a probe and, with its lower end 26, which has a probe contact, projects only very slightly beyond the underside of the pipe section 23 open there.
  • the pipe section 23 is arranged at the upper end of the filling pipe 22 so as to be displaceable in the direction of the filling element axis VA by a certain amount, as indicated by the double arrow A in FIG. 2. Furthermore, the tube piece 23 and the rod-shaped element 25 are mechanically firmly connected to one another at their sections projecting above the upper end of the filling tube 22. There, the gas channel 27, which corresponds to the gas channel 10 and is formed between the inner surface of the tube piece 23 and the outer surface of the rod-shaped element 25, is connected to a hose 27 ', which leads to a control valve arrangement, for example corresponding to the control valve arrangement 12.
  • the gas channel 27 for purging the respective bottle 7 can also be acted upon by the purging gas, which emerges from the gas channel 27 at the lower end of the tube piece 23 at the annular opening 28 provided there and corresponding to the opening 16.
  • the gas channel 27 also serves as a return gas channel in the case of the filling element 1a.
  • a seal 29 surrounding the filling tube 22 is provided directly on the underside of the rotor 2, the mouth of the respective bottle 7 from the frustoconical underside thereof has a distance during the rinsing phase and against the underside of which the mouth of the bottle 7 lies tightly during the actual filling phase.
  • the filling element 1 a has a liquid valve 30, which is formed by a valve body 31 fastened to the lower end of the pipe section 23, which projects radially beyond the other outer surface of the pipe section 23 and is frustoconical on its upper and lower sides is trained.
  • the valve body 31 is partially inside the filling tube 22, lies with its peripheral surface sealingly against the inner surface of the filling tube 22 and covers openings 32 with a peripheral surface which are in the vicinity of the lower end of the filling tube 22 in the wall thereof are provided at uniform intervals around the filling element axis VA and form the dispensing opening.
  • the valve body 31 is prestressed into the upper, closed position or rest position by a compression spring 33 which interacts with the tube piece 27 or with the rod-shaped element 25.
  • magnet assembly 34 By a provided on the top of the filling tube 22 magnet assembly 34 is to open the liquid valve 30 of the valve body 31 together with the pipe section 23 and the rod-shaped element 22 from its rest position against the action of the compression spring 33 moves down a predetermined stroke, so that the Valve body 31 opens the openings 32 and thereby opens the liquid valve 30.
  • valve body 31 is provided directly at the discharge opening of the filling element 1 a, in such a way that when the liquid valve 30 is closed, there is no section of the liquid channel 24 in the flow direction behind this liquid valve which would have to be emptied or out of which after the liquid valve 30 had been closed after the liquid valve 30 has been closed, liquid filling material could flow or drip into the respective bottle 7, that is to say the level of the mirror 20 of the liquid filling material in the bottle 7 no longer changes after the probe forming the rod-shaped element 25 has responded changed, it is possible to keep the length with which the rod-shaped element 25 protrudes beyond the lower, open end of the pipe section 23 extremely small, so that ideal with respect to the purging or to the purge gas stream emerging from the opening 28 Relationships result, although the rod-shaped element is designed as a probe.
  • this foot valve which would then also allow the formation of the rod-shaped element 9 as a probe with an extremely small axial length of the section 9 ', could be formed in that the pipe section 8 together with the rod-shaped element 9 in the direction of Filler element axis VA in the housing 3 is displaceable by a certain stroke and a valve body is provided in the area of the discharge opening 5 on the pipe section 8, which, when the liquid valve is closed, bears sealingly against a surface delimiting the portion 4 'of the liquid valve in the area of the discharge opening 5 towards the outside .

Landscapes

  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Filling Of Jars Or Cans And Processes For Cleaning And Sealing Jars (AREA)

Description

Die Erfindung bezieht sich auf ein verfahren zum Abfüllen von flüssigem Füllgut, nämlich von stillen oder kohlensäurehaltigen Getränken in Flaschen gemäß Oberbegriff Patentanspruch 1 sowie auf ein Füllmaschine gemäß Oberbegriff Patentanspruch 5.The invention relates to a method for filling liquid contents, namely still or carbonated drinks in bottles according to the preamble of claim 1 and to a filling machine according to the preamble of claim 5.

Bekannt ist ein Verfahren zum Abfüllen von luft-bzw. sauerstoffempfindlichem Füllgut (DE-AS 12 07 230), bei dem (Verfahren) die jeweils zu füllende Flasche evakuiert, dann mit einem inerten Gas vorgespannt und schließlich in der Füllphase mit dem flüssigen Füllgut aus einem Flüssigkeitsbehälter der Füllmaschine gefüllt wird, welches (Füllgut) beim Zufließen in die Flasche das dortige Inertgas zusammen mit vorhandener Restluft in den Gasraum des Flüssigkeitsbehälters verdrängt. Von Zeit zu Zeit wird eine gewisse Menge des sich in dem Gasraum sammelnden Luft-Inertgas-Gemisches abgelassen und durch reines Inertgas ersetzt. Das abgelassene Luft-Inertgas-Gemisch wird dann bevorzugt zum Spülen der Flaschen in einer dem Evakuieren und Vorspannen vorausgehenden Spülphase verwendet. Das von dem Luft-Inertgas-Gemisch gebildete Spülgas wird hierfür der jeweiligen Flasche über ein über die Unterseite des Füllelementes wegstehendes Rohrstück zugeführt, welches durch die Flaschenöffnung in den Innenraum der Flasche hineinreicht und an seiner Unterseite radiale Öffnungen für den Austritt des Spülgases besitzt. Der Innenraum der Flasche steht während dieses Spülens (Spülphase) über die Flaschenöffnung mit der Umgebung in Verbindung. Die vom Spülgas verdrängte Luft, aber auch das Spülgas selbst können somit über die Flaschenöffnung nach außen strömen. Nachteilig bei diesem bekannten Verfahren ist u.a., daß zusätzlich zum Spülen auch ein Evakuieren der Flaschen notwendig ist, was einen nicht unerheblichen verfahrenstechnischen und apparativen Aufwand erfordert und die Fülleistung reduziert.A method for filling air or. oxygen-sensitive filling material (DE-AS 12 07 230), in which (method) the bottle to be filled is evacuated, then pre-stressed with an inert gas and finally filled in the filling phase with the liquid filling material from a liquid container of the filling machine, which (filling material) when it flows into the bottle, the inert gas there, together with the remaining air, is displaced into the gas space of the liquid container. From time to time, a certain amount of the air / inert gas mixture collecting in the gas space is released and replaced by pure inert gas. The vented air-inert gas mixture is then preferably used for purging the bottles in a purging phase preceding the evacuation and pre-stressing. For this purpose, the purging gas formed by the air / inert gas mixture is fed to the respective bottle via a pipe section which projects beyond the underside of the filling element and which extends through the bottle opening into the interior of the bottle and has radial openings on its underside for the purging gas to exit. The interior of the bottle is connected to the environment via the bottle opening during this rinsing (rinsing phase). The air displaced by the purge gas, but also the purge gas itself, can thus flow outwards through the bottle opening. A disadvantage of this known method is, among other things, that in addition to rinsing, evacuation of the bottles is also necessary, which requires a not inconsiderable outlay in terms of process technology and apparatus and reduces the filling capacity.

Bekannt ist weiterhin ein Verfahren zum Abfüllen von luft- bzw. sauerstoffempfindlichen Getränken auf Einkammer-Gegendruckfüllmaschinen (DE-A- 16 57 191). Mit diesem bekannten Verfahren wurde versucht, zur Reduzierung des verfahrenstechnischen und apparativen Aufwandes den schädlichen Einfluß von Luft oder Sauerstoff ohne Evakuieren dadurch auszuschalten, daß der Innenraum der jeweiligen, mit Luft gefüllten, an ein Füllelement der Füllmaschine angepreßten Flasche mit im Flüssigkeitsbehälter der Füllmaschine vorhandenem inerten Druckgas gespült wird, mit dem dann anschließend auch das Vorspannen der Flasche erfolgt. Bei diesem bekannten Verfahren wurde das inerte Druck- bzw. Spülgas dem Innenraum der jeweiligen Flasche über ein in den Innenraum der Flasche hineinreichendes, an seinem unteren Ende offenes Rohrstück zugeführt. Das bekannte Verfahren hatte nicht den erhofften Erfolg, weil bei noch vertretbaren Spülzeiten trotz eines hohen Verbrauchs an inertem Druck-bzw. Spülgas immer noch relativ hohe Restluftmengen in der jeweiligen Flasche verbleiben. Dieses bekannte Verfahren wurde daher von der Praxis nicht angenommen. Vielmehr war die Fachwelt der Auffassung, daß sich nur in Verbindung mit einem Evakuieren und gegebenenfalls sogar nur mit einem mehrfachen Evakuieren ein brauchbares Spülergebnis, d.h. die angestrebte geringe Restluftmenge erreichen läßt.Also known is a method for filling air- or oxygen-sensitive drinks on single-chamber counter-pressure filling machines (DE-A-16 57 191). With this known method, attempts have been made to reduce the harmful influence of air or oxygen without evacuation in order to reduce the process engineering and apparatus outlay by the fact that the interior of the respective air-filled bottle, which is pressed onto a filling element of the filling machine, with inert in the liquid container of the filling machine Compressed gas is flushed, with which the bottle is then pretensioned. In this known method, the inert pressurized or flushing gas was supplied to the interior of the respective bottle via a pipe section which reached into the interior of the bottle and was open at its lower end. The known method did not have the hoped-for success because, with rinsing times still acceptable, despite high consumption of inert pressure or Purge gas still has relatively large amounts of residual air in the respective bottle. This known method has therefore not been adopted in practice. Rather, the experts were of the opinion that only in connection with an evacuation and possibly even only with a multiple evacuation, a useful washing result, i.e. can achieve the desired small amount of residual air.

Bekannt ist weiterhin ein Verfahren zum Füllen von Flaschen mit einem kohlensäurehaltigen Füllgut unter Gegendruck (DE-A-19 43 503), bei dem ein das Vorspannen der jeweiligen Flasche steuerndes Vorluftventil bereits geöffnet wird, wenn eine an dem betreffenden Füllelement vorgesehene und von der jeweiligen Flasche beim Anheben gegen das Füllelement mitgeführte Zentrierkappe noch nicht ihre oberste Stellung erreicht hat, um so einen Zeitverlust beim Vorspannen zu vermeiden. Ein Spülen des Innenraums der zu füllenden Flasche ist bei diesem bekannten Verfahren weder vorgesehen, noch zeitlich überhaupt möglich.Also known is a method for filling bottles with a carbonated filling material under counterpressure (DE-A-19 43 503), in which a pre-air valve controlling the pretensioning of the respective bottle is already opened when one provided on the respective filling element and by the respective one When lifting the bottle, the centering cap carried against the filling element has not yet reached its uppermost position, in order to avoid a loss of time during preloading. Rinsing the interior of the bottle to be filled is neither provided in this known method nor possible at all in terms of time.

Bekannt sind weiterhin ein Verfahren sowie eine Füllmaschine zum Füllen von Dosen (US-A- 23 77 796). Jedes Füllelement dieser Füllmaschine besitzt eine ringförmige Gasaustrittsöffnung für Inert-Gas oder Dampf, die eine im Bereich der Füllelementachse vorgesehene Abgabeöffnung für das Füllgut umschließt. Zum Füllen der Dosen ist im bekannten Fall u.a. auch ein Spülen der jeweiligen Dose mit dem Inert-Gas oder Dampf vorgesehen, und zwar mit Hilfe der mit Abstand über der Dose angeordneten ringförmigen Gasaustrittsöffnung. Ein Füllergebnis mit einer nur geringen Restluftmenge in der jeweiligen Dose wird nicht erreicht, vielmehr ist es notwendig, daß beim Füllen der jeweiligen Dose Inert-Gas oder Dampf aus der Austrittsöffnung austritt und somit beim Füllen ständig ein das Füllgut umschließender Mantel aus Inert-Gas oder Dampf auf die jeweilige Dose gerichtet ist. Abgesehen davon, daß dieses bekannte Verfahren zum Füllen von Dosen bestimmt ist, ist u.a. nachteilig der hohe Verbrauch an Inert-bzw. Spülgas.Also known are a method and a filling machine for filling cans (US-A-23 77 796). Each filling element of this filling machine has an annular gas outlet opening for inert gas or steam, which encloses a discharge opening for the filling material provided in the region of the filling element axis. In the known case, the filling of the cans includes purging of the respective can with the inert gas or steam is also provided, with the aid of the annular gas outlet opening arranged at a distance above the can. A filling result with only a small amount of residual air in the respective can is not achieved; on the contrary, it is necessary for inert gas or steam to emerge from the outlet opening when the respective can is filled, and thus a jacket of inert gas or surrounding the filling material during filling Steam is directed at the respective can. Apart from the fact that this known method for filling cans is, among other things, disadvantageous the high consumption of inert or. Purge gas.

Aufgabe der Erfindung ist es, bei einem Verfahren zum Abfüllen von flüssigem Füllgut in Flaschen das der eigentlichen Füllphase zeitlich vorausgehende Spülen dahingehend zu verbessern, daß bei einem geringen verfahrenstechnischen und apparativen Aufwand die Spülzeit und die in der Flasche verbleibende Restluftmenge entscheidend reduziert werden. Aufgabe der Erfindung ist es weiterhin auch, eine für die Durchführung des erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens geeignete Füllmaschine aufzuzeigen.The object of the invention is to improve the rinsing preceding the actual filling phase in a method for filling liquid contents into bottles in such a way that the flushing time and the residual air quantity remaining in the bottle are decisively reduced with a low procedural and apparatus expenditure. The object of the invention is also to demonstrate a filling machine which is suitable for carrying out the method according to the invention.

Zur Lösung dieser Aufgabe ist ein Verfahren entsprechend dem kennzeichnenden Teil des Patentanspruches 1 ausgebildet. Eine Füllmaschine zum Durchführen dieses Verfahrens ist erfindungsgemäß entsprechend dem kennzeichnenden Teil des Patentanspruches 5 ausgestaltet.To achieve this object, a method is designed according to the characterizing part of patent claim 1. A filling machine for performing this method is designed according to the invention in accordance with the characterizing part of patent claim 5.

Bei dem erfindungsgemäßen Verfahren tritt das inerte Spülgas an einer die Füllelementachse konzentrisch umschließenden ringförmigen, vorzugsweise kreisringförmigen Öffnung aus, die im Inneren der Flasche der Innenfläche des Flaschenbodens gegenüberliegend vorgesehen ist. Das Spülgas tritt als relativ scharfer Strahl aus der ringförmigen Öffnung aus und trifft zum Großteil auf die Innenfläche des Flaschenbodens in einem die Füllelementachse umschließenden Bereich großflächig auf, so daß zumindest eine erhebliche Menge an Spülgas entlang der Innenfläche des Flaschenbodens radial nach außen zum Flaschenumfang hin und von dort dann nach oben strömt, bevor das Spülgas zusammen mit der mitgeführten bzw. verdrängten Luft an der Flaschenöffnung austritt. Auch Winkel bzw. Ecken des Innenraumes der Flasche im Bereich "Flaschenboden-Flaschenumfangswand" werden von dem Spülgas erfaßt. Mit dem erfindungsgemäßen Verfahren läßt sich in überraschender Weise bei kurzer Spülzeit und bei einem geringen Verbrauch an Spülgas eine entscheidende Reduzierung der in der jeweiligen Flasche verbleibenden Restluftmenge erreichen.In the method according to the invention, the inert purging gas emerges at an annular, preferably circular opening, concentrically surrounding the filling element axis, which opening in the interior of the bottle, the inner surface of the bottle base is provided opposite. The purge gas emerges from the annular opening as a relatively sharp jet and largely strikes the inner surface of the bottle base in a region surrounding the filler element axis, so that at least a considerable amount of purge gas runs radially outward along the inner surface of the bottle base and towards the bottle circumference then flows upwards before the purge gas escapes at the bottle opening together with the entrained or displaced air. Angles or corners of the interior of the bottle in the "bottle bottom-bottle peripheral wall" area are also detected by the purge gas. With the method according to the invention, a decisive reduction in the amount of residual air remaining in the respective bottle can be surprisingly achieved with a short flushing time and with a low consumption of flushing gas.

Bei einer bevorzugten Ausführungsform der Erfindung wird die ringförmige Öffnung für den Austritt des Spülgases dadurch gebildet, daß das Rohrstück ein stabförmiges Element konzentrisch mit Abstand umschließt, so daß zwischen diesem stabförmigen Element und der Innenfläche des Rohrstückes ein ringförmiger Gaskanal mit der ringförmigen Öffnung gebildet ist. Bei dieser Ausführung ist es zweckmäßig, wenn das untere Ende des stabförmigen Elementes in etwa fluchtend mit dem unteren Ende des Rohrstückes liegt, d.h. das stabförmige Element möglichst nicht oder nur möglichst wenig über die ringförmige Öffnung vorsteht, um eine Wirbelbildung des an der ringförmigen Öffnung austretenden Spülgases zu vermeiden.In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the annular opening for the discharge of the purge gas is formed in that the tube piece concentrically surrounds a rod-shaped element at a distance, so that an annular gas channel with the ring-shaped opening is formed between this rod-shaped element and the inner surface of the tube piece is. In this embodiment, it is expedient if the lower end of the rod-shaped element is approximately flush with the lower end of the pipe section, ie the rod-shaped element protrudes as little as possible or as little as possible beyond the annular opening in order to form a vortex that emerges at the annular opening Avoid purge gas.

Das stabförmige Element kann ein Element ohne weitere Funktion sein. Das stabförmige Element kann aber bevorzugt auch eine das Flüssigkeitsventil des Füllelementes steuerende Sonde, beispielsweise eine Leitwertsonde, eine opto-elektrische Sonde usw. sein. Bei Ausbildung des stabförmigen Elementes als Sonde ist es zweckmäßig, das Flüssigkeitsventil des Füllelementes als "Fußventil" auszubilden. Dies bedeutet im Sinne der Erfindung, daß der Ventilkörper des Flüssigkeitsventils, der die Abgabeöffnung des Füllelementes bei geschlossenem Flüssigkeitsventil verschließt und zum Öffnen des Flüssigkeitsventils freigibt, unmittelbar an der Abgabeöffnung derart vorgesehen ist, daß am Füllelement in Strömungsrichtung nach dem Flüssigkeitsventil bzw. dessen Ventilkörper praktisch keine Flüssigkeitskanäle vorhanden sind. Da bei Verwendung eines derartigen Fußventils am Ende der Füllphase, d.h. nach dem Ansprechen der Sonde und dem Schließen des Ventils in Strömungsrichtung hinter dem geschlossenen Ventil praktisch keine Flüssigkeitskanäle vorhanden sind, aus denen flüssiges Füllgut noch in die jeweilige Flasche nachfließt, sich also das Niveau das Spiegels des flüssigen Füllgutes in der Flasche nach dem Ansprechen der Sonde und dem Schließen des Flüssigkeitsventils nicht oder allenfalls nur ganz unwesentlich ändert, ist es bei Verwendung eines derartigen Fußventils möglich, die Länge, mit der das als Sonde ausgebildete stabförmige Element über die Unterseite des zum Zuführen des Spülgases dienenden Rohrstückes wegsteht, kurz zu halten, wodurch eine optimale Spülwirkung sichergestellt wird. Der im Rohrstück ausgebildete Gaskanal wird bevorzugt auch für weitere Zwecke, d.h. als Rückgaskanal während der Füllphase sowie ggf. als Spanngaskanal während eines der eigentlichen Füllphase vorausgehenden Spannens der jeweiligen Flasche verwendet.The rod-shaped element can be an element without any further function. However, the rod-shaped element can preferably also be a probe that controls the liquid valve of the filling element, for example a conductivity probe, an opto-electrical probe, etc. When the rod-shaped element is designed as a probe, it is expedient to design the liquid valve of the filling element as a "foot valve". In the sense of the invention, this means that the valve body of the liquid valve, which closes the discharge opening of the filling element when the liquid valve is closed and releases it for opening the liquid valve, is provided directly on the discharge opening in such a way that the filling element in the flow direction after the liquid valve or its valve body is practical there are no liquid channels. Since when using such a foot valve at the end of the filling phase, i.e. after the probe has responded and the valve has closed in the direction of flow behind the closed valve, there are practically no liquid channels from which liquid contents still flow into the respective bottle, i.e. the level If the level of the liquid contents in the bottle does not change, or at most changes only insignificantly, after the response of the probe and the closing of the liquid valve, it is possible when using such a foot valve, the length with which the rod-shaped element designed as a probe extends over the underside of the Feeding the pipe section serving the purge gas is short, which ensures an optimal purge effect. The gas channel formed in the tube piece is preferably also used for other purposes, ie as a return gas channel during the filling phase and, if appropriate, as a clamping gas channel during a tensioning of the respective bottle prior to the actual filling phase.

Weiterbildungen der Erfindung sind Gegenstand der Unteransprüche.Developments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

Die Erfindung wird im folgenden anhand der Figuren an Ausführungsbeispielen näher erläutert. Es zeigen:

Fig. 1
in schematischer Teildarstellung sowie teilweise auch im Schnitt eine erste Ausführungsform eines Füllelementes einer Füllmaschine gemäß der Erfindung, zusammen mit einer unter diesem Füllelement angeordneten Flasche;
Fig. 2
in ähnlicher Darstellung wie Fig. 1 eine weitere Ausführungsform eines Füllelementes.
The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the figures using exemplary embodiments. Show it:
Fig. 1
in a schematic partial representation and partly also in section, a first embodiment of a filling element of a filling machine according to the invention, together with a bottle arranged under this filling element;
Fig. 2
in a representation similar to FIG. 1, a further embodiment of a filling element.

Die Fig. 1 zeigt ein Füllelement 1, welches als füllrohrloses Füllelement für Gegendruckfüllung ausgebildet ist und zusammen mit mehreren gleichartigen Füllelementen 1 am Umfang eines um eine vertikale Achse umlaufenden Rotors 2 (z.B. Flüssigkeitsringkanal) einer ansonsten nicht näher dargestellten Flaschenfüllmaschine angeordnet ist. In dem Gehäuse 3 des Füllelementes 1 ist ein Flüssigkeitskanal 4 ausgebildet, welcher bei der dargestellten Ausführungsform im unteren Teil des Füllelementes 1 bzw. des Gehäuses 3 als ein die Füllelementachse VA umschließender Ringkanal ausgebildet (Abschnitt 4' des Flüssigkeitskanales 4) und in welchem das übliche, nicht gezeigte Flüssigkeitsventil vorgesehen ist. An der Unterseite des Füllelementes 1 bzw. des Gehäuses 3 bildet der Abschnitt 4' die die Füllelementachse VA ebenfalls umschließende ringförmige Abgabeöffnung 5, über welche das flüssige Füllgut 6 bei geöffnetem Flüssigkeitsventil der jeweils zu füllenden Flasche 7 zufließt.Fig. 1 shows a filling element 1, which is designed as a filling tube-less filling element for counter-pressure filling and is arranged together with several similar filling elements 1 on the circumference of a rotor 2 rotating around a vertical axis (e.g. liquid ring channel) of a bottle filling machine, which is otherwise not shown in detail. In the housing 3 of the filling element 1, a liquid channel 4 is formed, which in the embodiment shown in the lower part of the filling element 1 or the housing 3 is formed as an annular channel surrounding the filling element axis VA (section 4 'of the liquid channel 4) and in which the usual , Liquid valve, not shown, is provided. On the underside of the filling element 1 or the housing 3, the section 4 'forms the annular dispensing opening 5 which likewise surrounds the filling element axis VA and via which the liquid filling material 6 flows into the bottle 7 to be filled when the liquid valve is open.

Über die Unterseite 3' des Gehäuses 3 steht ein mit seiner Achse achsgleich mit der Füllelementachse VA angeordnetes und an seiner Unterseite offenes Rohrstück 8 vor, welches einen kreisförmigen Außen- und Innenquerschnitt aufweist und ein stabförmiges Element 9, welches ebenfalls einen kreisförmigen Außenquerschnitt aufweist und mit seiner Achse achsgleich mit der Füllelementachse VA angeordnet ist, derart konzentrisch umschließt, daß zwischen der Außenfläche des stabförmigen Elementes 9 und der Innenfläche des Rohrstückes 8 ein kreisringförmiger Gaskanal 10 gebildet ist. Der Gaskanal 10 mündet im Inneren des Gehäuses 3 in einen Kanal 11, der zu einer Steuerventileinrichtung 12 führt, über die der Kanal 11 und damit auch der Gaskanal 10 nicht nur mit einen im Rotor 2 ausgebildeten Spanngas- und/oder Rückgaskanal verbunden werden, sondern auch mit einem Spülgas, d.h. mit einen Inertgas-Luftgemisch beaufschlagt werden können, wobei als Inertgas vorzugsweise CO₂ verwendet wird.Over the underside 3 'of the housing 3 is a tube piece 8, which has its axis aligned with the filling element axis VA and is open on its underside, which has a circular outer and inner cross section and a rod-shaped element 9, which is also a circular one Has outer cross-section and is arranged with its axis coaxially with the filling element axis VA, concentrically encloses such that an annular gas channel 10 is formed between the outer surface of the rod-shaped element 9 and the inner surface of the pipe section 8. The gas channel 10 opens in the interior of the housing 3 into a channel 11 which leads to a control valve device 12, via which the channel 11 and thus also the gas channel 10 are not only connected to a tension gas and / or return gas channel formed in the rotor 2, but also can also be charged with a purge gas, ie with an inert gas-air mixture, preferably CO₂ being used as the inert gas.

Bei der dargestellten Ausführungsform ist die Länge des stabförmigen Elementes 9 derart an die Länge des Rohrstückes 8 angepaßt, daß das untere Ende des stabförmigen Elementes 9 in etwa fluchtend mit dem unteren, offenen Ende des Rohrstückes 8 liegt, welch letzteres im Gehäuse 3 von dem Abschnitt 4' des Flüssigkeitskanals 4 sowie von der Abgabeöffnung 5 umschlossen wird.In the illustrated embodiment, the length of the rod-shaped element 9 is adapted to the length of the pipe section 8 such that the lower end of the rod-shaped element 9 is approximately flush with the lower, open end of the pipe section 8, the latter in the housing 3 from the section 4 'of the liquid channel 4 and is enclosed by the discharge opening 5.

Das Füllelement 1 besitzt weiterhin eine bekannte Zentriertulpe 13 mit ringförmiger Dichtung 14, welch letztere das Rohrstück 8 konzentrisch und mit solchem Abstand umschließt, daß zwischen der Dichtung 14 und der Außenfläche des Rohrstückes 8 ein ringförmiger Kanal 14' gebildet ist, der in Strömungsrichtung des flüssigen Füllgutes 6 auf die Abgabeöffnung 5 folgt und beim Füllen der Flasche 7 die Fortsetzung des Flüssigkeitskanales 4 bildet.The filling element 1 also has a known centering bell 13 with an annular seal 14, the latter enclosing the pipe section 8 concentrically and with such a distance that an annular channel 14 'is formed between the seal 14 and the outer surface of the pipe section 8, which in the flow direction of the liquid Filling material 6 follows the discharge opening 5 and forms the continuation of the liquid channel 4 when the bottle 7 is filled.

Zum Füllen einer Flasche 7 mit dem flüssigen Füllgut 6 wird diese aufrechtstehende Flasche 7 von unten her zunächst soweit gegen das Füllelement 1 angehoben, daß das Rohrstück 8 sowie das Element 9 durch die Flaschenöffnung bzw. -mündung in den Innenraum 15 der Flasche 7 hineinreichen, die Flasche 7 mit ihrer Mündung allerdings noch im Abstand von der Dichtung 14 angeordnet ist. In dieser Positionierung der Flasche 7 in bezug auf das Füllelement 1 erfolgt das Spülen des Innenraumes 15 mit einem Spülgas bzw. Inertgas, z.B. mit CO₂, wofür durch entsprechende Ansteuerung der Steuerventileinrichtung 12 dieses Spülgas über den Kanal 11 dem Gaskanal 10 zugeführt wird und aus letzterem an der Unterseite des Rohrstückes 8, d.h. an der dort zwischen diesem Rohrstück 8 und dem Element 9 gebildeten ringförmigen Öffnung 16 in den Innenraum 15 als Spülgasstrom austritt, wie dies mit den Pfeilen 17 angedeutet ist. Mit dem in den Inneraum 15 der Flasche 7 eintretenden Spülgas wird die dort vorhandene Luft verdrängt bzw. ausgespült, d.h. diese Luft sowie das Spülgas können an dem zwischen der Mündung der Flasche 7 und der Unterseite der Dichtung 14 gebildeten Ringspalt, der z.B. eine Breite von 6 mm aufweist, nach außen austreten, wie dies in der Fig. 1 mit dem Pfeil 18 angedeutet ist. Da das Spülgas dem Innenraum 15 im Bereich der Füllelementachse VA zugeführt wird (Pfeile 17), ist es möglich, daß dieses Spülgas den gesamten Innenraum 15 der Flasche 7 durchströmt und vorhandene Luft mitführt bzw. auspült, ohne daß es zu einer nennenswerten Vermischung des in den Innenraum 15 eintretenden Spülgases (Pfeile 17) und des aus dem Innenraum 15 zur Mündung der Flasche 7 strömenden Spülgases bzw. Spülgas-Luft-Gemisches kommt. Durch die Verwendung einer ringförmigen, zwischen dem Rohrstück 8 und dem stabförmigen Element 9 gebildeten Öffnung 16 für den Austritt des Spülgases ist mit relativ kurzer Spülzeit, die beispielsweise bei sogenannten "Euro-Flaschen" nur eine Sekunde beträgt, und damit bei geringem Verbrauch an Spülgas ein besonders intensives Spülen des Innenraumes 15 der Flasche 7 möglich, d.h. trotz einer extrem kurzen Spülzeit verbleibt nur eine extrem kleine Menge an Restluft im Innenraum 15. Nach einer der Erfindung zugrunde liegenden Erkenntnis ist dies offensichtlich darauf zurückzuführen, daß durch die Verwendung des zwischen dem Rohrstück und dem stabförmigen Element 9 gebildeten Gaskanales 10, dem das Spülgas beispielsweise mit einem Druck von etwa 2,7 bar zugeführt wird, dieses Spülgas an der schmalen Öffnung 16 als relativ scharfer Strahl austritt, der durch die ringförmige Ausbildung der Öffnung 16 dennoch in Richtung senkrecht zur Füllelementachse VA eine relativ große Ausdehnung aufweist und sich vor allem auch um die Füllelementachse VA gleichmäßig verteilt, so daß dieser Spülgasstrahl zum Großteil auch auf die Innenfläche des Bodens der Flasche auftrifft, und zwar in einer nahezu gleichmäßigen Verteilung in einem die Füllelementachse VA umgebenden Bereich dieser Innenfläche des Bodens. Das Spülgas kann dann an dieser Bodeninnenfläche gleichförmig radial nach außen und von dort nach oben strömen, womit der gesamte Innenraum 15 von dem Spülgas erfaßt wird.To fill a bottle 7 with the liquid filling material 6, this upright bottle 7 is first raised from below against the filling element 1 to such an extent that the pipe section 8 and the element 9 extend through the bottle opening or mouth into the interior 15 of the bottle 7, the bottle 7, however, is still arranged at a distance from the seal 14. In this positioning of the bottle 7 in relation to the filling element 1, the interior 15 is flushed with a flushing gas or inert gas, for example with CO₂, for which by appropriate control of the control valve device 12 this purge gas is supplied via the channel 11 to the gas channel 10 and from the latter on the underside of the pipe section 8, ie at the annular opening 16 formed there between this pipe section 8 and the element 9 into the interior 15 emerges as a purge gas stream, as indicated by the arrows 17. With the flushing gas entering the interior space 15 of the bottle 7, the air present there is displaced or flushed out, ie this air and the flushing gas can be formed at the annular gap formed between the mouth of the bottle 7 and the underside of the seal 14, which for example has a width of 6 mm, emerge to the outside, as indicated by the arrow 18 in FIG. 1. Since the purging gas is supplied to the interior 15 in the area of the filling element axis VA (arrows 17), it is possible that this purging gas flows through the entire interior 15 of the bottle 7 and entrains or flushes out existing air without causing any significant mixing of the in the purge gas entering the interior 15 (arrows 17) and the purge gas or purge gas / air mixture flowing from the interior 15 to the mouth of the bottle 7. By using an annular opening 16 formed between the pipe section 8 and the rod-shaped element 9 for the discharge of the purge gas, the purge time is relatively short, which for example in the case of so-called “Euro bottles” is only one second, and thus with low purge gas consumption a particularly intensive flushing of the interior 15 of the bottle 7 is possible, ie despite an extremely short flushing time only an extremely small amount of residual air remains in the interior 15. According to one of the findings on which the invention is based, this is obviously due to the fact that by using the between the Pipe piece and the rod-shaped element 9 formed gas channel 10, to which the purging gas is supplied, for example, at a pressure of about 2.7 bar, this purging gas emerges at the narrow opening 16 as a relatively sharp jet, which is nevertheless in the direction due to the annular design of the opening 16 perpendicular to the filling element axis VA a relatively large has osse expansion and especially evenly distributed around the filling element axis VA, so that this purge gas jet to The majority also strikes the inner surface of the bottom of the bottle, in an almost uniform distribution in a region of this inner surface of the bottom surrounding the filling element axis VA. The purging gas can then flow uniformly radially outwards and from there upwards on this inner surface of the floor, whereby the entire interior 15 is covered by the purging gas.

Besonders gute Ergebnisse werden dann erzielt, wenn das untere Ende des stabförmigen Elementes 9 in etwa fluchtend mit dem unteren Ende des Rohrstückes 8 liegt, wie dies bei der in der Fig. 1 gezeigten Ausführungsform der Fall ist. Nach dem Spülen der jeweiligen Flasche 7 erfolgt das Füllen dieser Flasche, wobei dem eigentlichen Füllvorgang ggf. noch eine Vorspannphase vorgeschaltet ist. Für das Füllen bzw. Vorspannen der Flasche 7 wird diese gegen das Füllelement 1 soweit angehoben, daß die Flasche 7 mit ihrer Mündung in üblicher Weise dicht gegen die Unterseite der Dichtung 14 anliegt, die ihrerseits mit ihrer Oberseite abgedichtet gegen die Unterseite des Füllelementes in einem die Abgabeöffnung 5 umschließenden Bereich angepreßt ist. Erfolgt ein Vorspannen der Flasche 7, so wird das entsprechende Spanngas (CO₂) nach entsprechender Ansteuerung der Steuerventileinrichtung 12 über den Kanal 11 und den Gaskanal 10 zugeführt. Für die Einleitung des Füllvorganges wird das im Flüssigkeitskanal 4 vorgesehene Flüssigkeitsventil geöffnet, so daß das flüssige Füllgut 6 dem Innenraum 15 der Flasche 7 zufließt. Der Flüssigkeitskanal 4 bzw. dessen Abschnitt 4' sind im Bereich der Abgabeöffnung 5 so ausgebildet, daß dort dem zufließenden Füllgut 6 zusätzlich eine in bezug auf die Füllelementachse VA radial nach außen gerichtete Bewegungskomponente aufgeprägt wird. Dies wird bei der dargestellten Ausführungsform dadurch erreicht, daß der ringförmige Abschnitt 4' des Flüssigkeitskanals im Bereich der Abgabeöffnung 5 einen sich in Flußrichtung des Füllgutes 6 vergrößernden inneren sowie äußeren Ringdurchmesser aufweist. Hierfür besitzt das Rohrstück 8 bzw. dessen im Inneren des Gehäuses 3 angeordnete Teillänge im Bereich der Abgabeöffnung 5 einen Abschnitt 8', an welchem der Außendurchmesser des Rohrstückes nach unten hin kegelförmig zunimmt und welcher von einer entsprechend geformten, die Füllelementachse VA konzentrisch umschließenden Fläche 19 des Gehäuses 3 umschlossen ist. Das im Flüssigkeitskanal 4 vorgesehene Flüssigkeitsventil wird in üblicher Weise geschlossen, nachdem der Spiegel 20 des der Flasche 7 zufließenden flüssigen Füllgutes 6 das füllhöhenbestimmende untere Ende des Rohrstückes 8 erreicht hat.Particularly good results are achieved when the lower end of the rod-shaped element 9 is approximately flush with the lower end of the pipe section 8, as is the case with the embodiment shown in FIG. 1. After the respective bottle 7 has been rinsed, this bottle is filled, with a prestressing phase possibly preceding the actual filling process. For the filling or prestressing of the bottle 7, it is raised against the filling element 1 to such an extent that the bottle 7 rests with its mouth in a customary manner against the underside of the seal 14, which in turn seals with its top side against the underside of the filling element in one the discharge opening 5 surrounding area is pressed. If the bottle 7 is pre-tensioned, the corresponding tensioning gas (CO₂) is fed to the control valve device 12 via the channel 11 and the gas channel 10 after appropriate activation. To initiate the filling process, the liquid valve provided in the liquid channel 4 is opened so that the liquid filling material 6 flows into the interior 15 of the bottle 7. The liquid channel 4 or its section 4 'are formed in the region of the discharge opening 5 such that there is additionally a movement component directed radially outward with respect to the filling element axis VA in the inflowing filling material 6. In the embodiment shown, this is achieved in that the annular section 4 'of the liquid channel in the region of the discharge opening 5 has an inner and outer ring diameter which increases in the flow direction of the filling material 6. For this purpose, the pipe section 8 or its partial length arranged in the interior of the housing 3 has a section 8 'in the region of the discharge opening 5, on which the outer diameter of the pipe section is facing downward increases conically and which is surrounded by a correspondingly shaped surface 19 of the housing 3 concentrically surrounding the filling element axis VA. The liquid valve provided in the liquid channel 4 is closed in the usual manner after the level 20 of the liquid filling material 6 flowing into the bottle 7 has reached the lower end of the pipe section 8 that determines the filling height.

Das Schließen des Flüssigkeitsventils kann auch sondengesteuert sein, wofür dann beispielsweise das stabförmige Element 9 als Sonde ausgebildet ist und in diesem Fall mit einem Sondenabschnitt (z.B. bei Ausbildung der Sonde als Leitfähigkeitssonde mit einem Sondenkontakt) geringfügig über die Unterseite des Rohrstückes 8 wegsteht, wie dies in der Fig. 1 mit unterbrochenen Linien bei 9' angedeutet ist. Um das dem Füllen bzw. dem Vorspannen und Füllen vorausgehende Spülen nicht zu beeinträchtigen, ist anzustreben, daß die axiale Länge des über die Unterseite des Rohrstückes 8 vorstehenden Abschnittes 9' möglichst klein ist, und zwar derart, daß die das stabförmige Element 9 bildende Sonde bei einem Niveau des Spiegels 20 anspricht, welches (Niveau) gerade soweit unterhalb des offenen Endes des Rohrstückes 8 liegt, daß auch nach dem Entleeren des Abschnittes 4' des Flüssigkeitskanals 4 der Spiegel 20, den das flüssige Füllgut in der Flasche 7 erreicht hat, noch einen ausreichenden Abstand von dem unteren Ende des Rohrstückes 8 aufweist, so daß Füllgut 6 nicht in den Gaskanal 10 gelangt. Es ist zweckmäßig, den vorstehenden Abschnitt 9' strömungsgünstig auszubilden.The closing of the liquid valve can also be probe-controlled, for which purpose, for example, the rod-shaped element 9 is designed as a probe and in this case, with a probe section (for example when the probe is designed as a conductivity probe with a probe contact), projects slightly beyond the underside of the tube piece 8, as is the case here is indicated in Fig. 1 with broken lines at 9 '. In order not to impair the rinsing preceding the filling or the pretensioning and filling, the aim should be that the axial length of the section 9 ′ projecting beyond the underside of the tube piece 8 is as small as possible, in such a way that the probe forming the rod-shaped element 9 responds at a level of the mirror 20 which (level) lies just so far below the open end of the pipe section 8 that even after the section 4 'of the liquid channel 4 has been emptied, the mirror 20 which the liquid filling material in the bottle 7 has reached, still has a sufficient distance from the lower end of the pipe section 8 so that the filling material 6 does not get into the gas channel 10. It is expedient to design the projecting section 9 'in a flow-favorable manner.

Die Fig. 2 zeigt in ähnlicher Darstellung wie die Fig. 1 ein Füllelement 1a, welches sich durch eine besonders einfache, preiswerte und robuste Konstruktion auszeichnet und sich von dem Füllelement 1 zunächst einmal dadurch unterscheidet, daß das Füllelement 1a ein Füllrohr 22 besitzt. Dieses Füllrohr 22, welches die Füllelementachse VA konzentrisch umschließt, ist direkt am Rotor 2 der Flaschenfüllmaschine befestigt, steht über die Unterseite des des Rotors 2 weg und bildet an seinem unteren Ende die Abgabeöffnung für das flüssige Füllgut. An seinem oberen, über den Rotor 2 wegstehenden Ende ist das Füllrohr 22 mit einem Schlauch 21 zum Zuführen des flüssigen Füllgutes verbunden. Weiterhin besitzt das Füllelement 1a ein dem Rohrstück 8 entsprechendes Rohrstück 23, welches von dem Füllrohr 22 konzentrisch umschlossen wird und zwischen seiner Außenfläche und der Innenfläche des Füllrohres 22 einen ringförmigen Flüssigkeitskanal 24 bildet, welcher mit dem Schlauch 21 in Verbindung steht. Das achsgleich mit der Füllelementachse VA liegende Rohrstück 23 umschließt ein dem Element 9 entsprechendes stabförmiges Element 25, welches als Sonde ausgebildet ist und mit seinem unteren, einen Sondenkontakt aufweisenden Ende 26 nur ganz geringfügig über die Unterseite des dort offenen Rohrstückes 23 wegsteht.Fig. 2 shows a similar representation as Fig. 1, a filling element 1 a, which is characterized by a particularly simple, inexpensive and robust construction and differs from the filling element 1 first of all in that the filling element 1 a has a filling tube 22. This filling tube 22, which concentrically surrounds the filling element axis VA, is fastened directly to the rotor 2 of the bottle filling machine, stands over the underside of the rotor 2 and forms the discharge opening for the liquid at its lower end Product. At its upper end, which protrudes beyond the rotor 2, the filling tube 22 is connected to a hose 21 for supplying the liquid filling material. Furthermore, the filling element 1 a has a pipe section 23 corresponding to the pipe section 8, which is surrounded concentrically by the filling pipe 22 and forms an annular liquid channel 24 between its outer surface and the inner surface of the filling pipe 22, which is connected to the hose 21. The pipe section 23 lying coaxially with the filling element axis VA encloses a rod-shaped element 25 corresponding to the element 9, which is designed as a probe and, with its lower end 26, which has a probe contact, projects only very slightly beyond the underside of the pipe section 23 open there.

Das Rohrstück 23 ist am oberen Ende des Füllrohres 22 in Richtung der Füllelementachse VA um einen bestimmten Betrag verschiebbar angeordnet, wie dies in der Fig. 2 mit dem Doppelpfeil A angedeutet ist. Weiterhin sind das Rohrstück 23 sowie das stabförmige Element 25 an ihren über das obere Ende des Füllrohres 22 vorstehenden Abschnitten mechanisch fest miteinander verbunden. Dort ist auch der zwischen der Innenfläche des Rohrstückes 23 und der Außenfläche des stabförmigen Elementes 25 gebildete Gaskanal 27, der dem Gaskanal 10 entspricht, an einem Schlauch 27' angeschlossen, der zu einer beispielsweise der Steuerventilanordnung 12 entsprechenden Steuerventilanordnung führt. In Abhängigkeit von dieser Steuerventileinrichtung kann auch der Gaskanal 27 zum Spülen der jeweiligen Flasche 7 mit dem Spülgas beaufschlagt werden, welches am unteren Ende des Rohrstückes 23 an der dort vorgesehenen, der Öffnung 16 entsprechenden ringförmigen Öffnung 28 aus dem Gaskanal 27 austritt. Der Gaskanal 27 dient auch bei dem Füllelement 1a beim Füllen als Rückgaskanal. Anstelle der Dichtung 14 ist bei dem Füllelement 1a direkt an der Unterseite des Rotors 2 eine das Füllrohr 22 umschließende Dichtung 29 vorgesehen, von deren kegelstumpfförmiger Unterseite die Mündung der jeweiligen Flasche 7 während der Spülphase einen Abstand aufweist und gegen deren Unterseite die Mündung der Flasche 7 während der eigentlichen Füllphase dicht anliegt.The pipe section 23 is arranged at the upper end of the filling pipe 22 so as to be displaceable in the direction of the filling element axis VA by a certain amount, as indicated by the double arrow A in FIG. 2. Furthermore, the tube piece 23 and the rod-shaped element 25 are mechanically firmly connected to one another at their sections projecting above the upper end of the filling tube 22. There, the gas channel 27, which corresponds to the gas channel 10 and is formed between the inner surface of the tube piece 23 and the outer surface of the rod-shaped element 25, is connected to a hose 27 ', which leads to a control valve arrangement, for example corresponding to the control valve arrangement 12. Depending on this control valve device, the gas channel 27 for purging the respective bottle 7 can also be acted upon by the purging gas, which emerges from the gas channel 27 at the lower end of the tube piece 23 at the annular opening 28 provided there and corresponding to the opening 16. The gas channel 27 also serves as a return gas channel in the case of the filling element 1a. Instead of the seal 14, in the case of the filling element 1 a, a seal 29 surrounding the filling tube 22 is provided directly on the underside of the rotor 2, the mouth of the respective bottle 7 from the frustoconical underside thereof has a distance during the rinsing phase and against the underside of which the mouth of the bottle 7 lies tightly during the actual filling phase.

Wie die Fig. 2 zeigt, weist das Füllelement 1a ein Flüssigkeitsventil 30 auf, welches von einem auf dem unteren Ende des Rohrstückes 23 befestigten Ventilkörper 31 gebildet ist, der radial über die sonstige Außenfläche des Rohrstückes 23 wegsteht und an seiner Ober- und Unterseite kegelstumpfförmig ausgebildet ist. Bei geschlossenem Flüssigkeitsventil 30 befindet sich der Ventilkörper 31 teilweise im Inneren des Füllrohres 22, liegt mit seiner Umfangsfläche dichtend gegen die Innenfläche des Füllrohres 22 an und deckt dabei mit einer Umfangsfläche Öffnungen 32, die in der Nähe des unteren Ende des Füllrohres 22 in dessen Wandung in gleichmäßigen Abständen um die Füllelementachse VA verteilt vorgesehen sind und die Abgabeöfnnung bilden. Der Ventilkörper 31 ist durch eine mit dem Rohrstück 27 bzw. mit dem stabförmigen Element 25 zusammenwirkende Druckfeder 33 in die obere, geschlossene Stellung bzw. Ruhestellung vorgespannt. Durch eine an der Oberseite des Füllrohres 22 vorgesehene Magnetanordnung 34 wird zum Öffnen des Flüssigkeitsventils 30 der Ventilkörper 31 zusammen mit dem Rohrstück 23 und dem stabförmigen Element 22 aus seiner Ruhestellung gegen die Wirkung der Druckfeder 33 um einen vorgegebenen Hub nach unten bewegt, so daß der Ventilkörper 31 die Öffnungen 32 freigibt und dadurch das Flüssigkeitsventil 30 öffnet.As FIG. 2 shows, the filling element 1 a has a liquid valve 30, which is formed by a valve body 31 fastened to the lower end of the pipe section 23, which projects radially beyond the other outer surface of the pipe section 23 and is frustoconical on its upper and lower sides is trained. When the liquid valve 30 is closed, the valve body 31 is partially inside the filling tube 22, lies with its peripheral surface sealingly against the inner surface of the filling tube 22 and covers openings 32 with a peripheral surface which are in the vicinity of the lower end of the filling tube 22 in the wall thereof are provided at uniform intervals around the filling element axis VA and form the dispensing opening. The valve body 31 is prestressed into the upper, closed position or rest position by a compression spring 33 which interacts with the tube piece 27 or with the rod-shaped element 25. By a provided on the top of the filling tube 22 magnet assembly 34 is to open the liquid valve 30 of the valve body 31 together with the pipe section 23 and the rod-shaped element 22 from its rest position against the action of the compression spring 33 moves down a predetermined stroke, so that the Valve body 31 opens the openings 32 and thereby opens the liquid valve 30.

Da der Ventilkörper 31 unmittelbar an der Abgabeöffnung des Füllelementes 1a vorgesehen ist, und zwar derart, daß sich bei geschlossenem Flüssigkeitsventil 30 in Strömungsrichtung hinter diesem Flüssigkeitsventil kein Abschnitt des Flüssigkeitskanals 24 befindet, welcher nach dem Schließen des Flüssigkeitsventils 30 entleert werden müßte bzw. aus welchem nach dem Schließen des Flüssigkeitsventils 30 flüssiges Füllgut in die jeweilige Flasche 7 nachfließen bzw. nachtropfen könnte, sich also das Niveau des Spiegels 20 des flüssigen Füllgutes in der Flasche 7 nach dem Ansprechen der das stabförmige Element 25 bildenden Sonde nicht mehr verändert, ist es möglich, die Länge, mit der das stabförmige Element 25 über das untere, offene Ende des Rohrstückes 23 vorsteht, extrem klein zu halten, so daß sich in bezug auf die Spülung bzw. auf den aus der Öffnung 28 austretenden Spülgasstrom ideale Verhältnisse ergeben, obwohl das stabförmige Element als Sonde ausgebildet ist.Since the valve body 31 is provided directly at the discharge opening of the filling element 1 a, in such a way that when the liquid valve 30 is closed, there is no section of the liquid channel 24 in the flow direction behind this liquid valve which would have to be emptied or out of which after the liquid valve 30 had been closed after the liquid valve 30 has been closed, liquid filling material could flow or drip into the respective bottle 7, that is to say the level of the mirror 20 of the liquid filling material in the bottle 7 no longer changes after the probe forming the rod-shaped element 25 has responded changed, it is possible to keep the length with which the rod-shaped element 25 protrudes beyond the lower, open end of the pipe section 23 extremely small, so that ideal with respect to the purging or to the purge gas stream emerging from the opening 28 Relationships result, although the rod-shaped element is designed as a probe.

Die Erfindung wurde voranstehend an zwei Ausführungsbeispielen beschrieben. Es versteht sich, daß Änderungen sowie Abwandlungen möglich sind, ohne daß dadurch der der Erfindung zugrunde liegende Erfindungsgedanke verlassen wird. So ist es insbesondere auch möglich, bei einem füllrohrlosen Füllelement, d.h. beispielsweise bei dem Füllelement 1 ein als Fußventil ausgebildetes Flüssigkeitsventil vorzusehen, und zwar wiederum in der Form, daß in Strömungsrichtung hinter dem geschlossenen Flüssigkeitsventil praktisch kein Abschnitt des Flüssigkeitskanals vorhanden ist, aus dem (Abschnitt) nach dem Schließen des Flüssigkeitsventils eine nennenswerte Menge an flüssigem Füllgut in die jweilige Flasche 7 nachfließen kann. Bei dem Füllelement 1 könnte dieses Fußventil, welches dann auch dort bei einer extrem kleinen axialen Länge des Abschnittes 9' die Ausbildung des stabförmigen Elementes 9 als Sonde erlauben würde, dadurch gebildet sein, daß das Rohrstück 8 zusammen mit dem stabförmigen Element 9 in Richtung der Füllelementachse VA im Gehäuse 3 um einen bestimmten Hub verschiebbar ist und im Bereich der Abgabeöffnung 5 an dem Rohrstück 8 ein Ventilkörper vorgesehen ist, der bei geschlossenem Flüssigkeitsventil gegen eine den Abschnitt 4' des Flüssigkeitsventils im Bereich der Abgabeöffnung 5 nach außen hin begrenzende Fläche dichtend anliegt.The invention has been described above using two exemplary embodiments. It goes without saying that changes and modifications are possible without departing from the inventive idea on which the invention is based. In particular, it is also possible to use a filler element without a filler tube, i.e. For example, in the filling element 1 to provide a liquid valve designed as a foot valve, again in the form that there is practically no section of the liquid channel downstream of the closed liquid valve, from which (section) after closing the liquid valve a significant amount of liquid contents can flow into the respective bottle 7. In the filling element 1, this foot valve, which would then also allow the formation of the rod-shaped element 9 as a probe with an extremely small axial length of the section 9 ', could be formed in that the pipe section 8 together with the rod-shaped element 9 in the direction of Filler element axis VA in the housing 3 is displaceable by a certain stroke and a valve body is provided in the area of the discharge opening 5 on the pipe section 8, which, when the liquid valve is closed, bears sealingly against a surface delimiting the portion 4 'of the liquid valve in the area of the discharge opening 5 towards the outside .

Claims (12)

  1. Method for the filling of liquid filling stock into bottles under counterpressure, with use of a filling element with a liquid valve and with a delivery opening by which the liquid filling stock flows to the bottle to be filled by way of the bottle opening thereof in a filling phase when the liquid valve is open and which surrounds a tube piece, wherein in a rinsing phase preceding the filling phase in time the interior space of the bottle is loaded, by means of the tube piece reaching through the bottle opening into the interior space of the bottle, with an inert rinsing gas for the expulsion as far as possible of gases harmful to drinks, which rinsing gas exits at an opening, which is provided at the lower end of the tube piece, of a gas duct, characterised thereby that the rinsing gas, which preferably has a high proportion of CO₂, is supplied to the interior space (15) of the bottle (7) by way of an annular opening (16, 28) concentrically surrounding the filling element axis (VA).
  2. Method according to claim 1, characterised thereby that during the rinsing phase the interior space (15) of the bottle (7) stands in connection in the region of the bottle opening with the atmosphere by way of an annular gap, which is formed between the bottle and a surface (14, 29) disposed thereabove of the filling element (1, 1a) and the width of which amounts to about 6 millimetres.
  3. Method according to one of claims 1 to 2, characterised thereby that the duration of the rinsing phase amounts to about one second.
  4. Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterised thereby that the rinsing gas is supplied to the gas duct (10, 27), which is formed in the tube piece, at a pressure of about 2.7 bar.
  5. Filling machine for the filling of a liquid filling stock into bottles under counterpressure, with several filling elements each with a respective liquid valve, which comprises a valve body movable back and forth between a setting blocking the liquid valve and a setting opening the liquid valve, as well as with a delivery opening, which is provided in the region of a filling element axis (VA) and by which the liquid filling stock flows to the bottle to be filled by way of the bottle opening thereof in a filling phase when the liquid valve is open, which opening surrounds a tube piece (8, 23) extending away downwardly at the filling element (1, 1a) and introducible into the bottle to be filled, the tube piece having at its lower end remote from the filling element and in the region of the filling element axis (VA) an opening of a gas duct (10, 27) which is formed in this tube piece and which is connectible by way of a control valve equipment (12) with a source of inert rinsing gas standing under pressure, characterised thereby that the opening (16, 28) is constructed to be annular and to concentrically surround the filling element axis (VA).
  6. Filling machine according to claim 5, characterised thereby that the tube piece (8, 23) is arranged with its axis coaxial with the filling element axis (VA) and surrounds a rod-like element (9, 25), which is likewise disposed with its axis coaxial with the filling element axis (VA), concentrically and at a spacing therefrom in such a manner that an annular gas duct (10, 27) is formed between the rod-like element (9, 25) and the tube piece (8, 23).
  7. Filling machine according to claim 6, characterised thereby that the rod-like element (9, 25) is disposed with its lower end substantially flush with the lower end of the tube piece (8, 23).
  8. Filling machine according to one of claims 5 to 7, characterised thereby that the liquid valve (30) is constructed as a foot valve with a valve body (31) formed directly in the region of the delivery opening (32).
  9. Filling machine according to claim 8, characterised thereby that the valve body (31) is arranged or formed on the tube piece (23) and that the tube piece (23) is movable in the direction of the filling element axis (VA) for the opening and closing of the liquid valve (30).
  10. Filling machine according to one of claims 5 to 9, characterised thereby that in the case of construction of the filling element (1) with detachable filling tube the delivery opening (5) is formed at the underside of a housing (3) of the filling element (1) and that the tube piece (8) projects from the delivery opening (5) beyond the underside of the filling element (1).
  11. Filling machine according to one of claims 5 to 10, characterised thereby that in the case of construction of the filling element (1a) with filling tube (22) this filling pipe (22) concentrically surrounds the tube piece (23) and the tube piece (23) extends away by a partial length beyond the lower, open end, which forms or has the delivery opening, of the filling tube (22).
  12. Filling machine according to claim 11, characterised thereby that the delivery opening is formed by a plurality of individual openings (32) in the wall of the filling tube (22).
EP89108237A 1988-05-10 1989-05-08 Method and apparatus for filling bottles with liquid Expired - Lifetime EP0341626B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE3815944 1988-05-10
DE3815944 1988-05-10
DE3909404A DE3909404A1 (en) 1988-05-10 1989-03-22 METHOD FOR FILLING LIQUID FILLING MATERIAL IN BOTTLES, CANS OR THE LIKE VESSELS, AND FILLING ELEMENT FOR USE IN THIS METHOD
DE3909404 1989-03-22

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0341626A1 EP0341626A1 (en) 1989-11-15
EP0341626B1 true EP0341626B1 (en) 1993-08-11

Family

ID=25867969

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP89108237A Expired - Lifetime EP0341626B1 (en) 1988-05-10 1989-05-08 Method and apparatus for filling bottles with liquid

Country Status (5)

Country Link
US (1) US4982768A (en)
EP (1) EP0341626B1 (en)
BR (1) BR8902193A (en)
DE (2) DE3909404A1 (en)
ES (1) ES2046366T3 (en)

Families Citing this family (22)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB9005689D0 (en) * 1990-03-14 1990-05-09 Boc Group Plc Gas supply apparatus and method
DE4012849A1 (en) * 1990-04-23 1991-10-24 Alfill Getraenketechnik DEVICE FOR FILLING CONTAINERS WITH A LIQUID
DE4036290A1 (en) * 1990-06-06 1991-12-12 Kronseder Maschf Krones METHOD AND DEVICE FOR STERILY FILLING BEVERAGE LIQUIDS
DE4127052A1 (en) * 1991-08-16 1993-02-18 Kronseder Maschf Krones METHOD AND DEVICE FOR FILLING CONTAINERS
DE4133713A1 (en) * 1991-10-11 1993-04-15 Kronseder Maschf Krones METHOD AND DEVICE FOR FILLING A VESSEL WITH A LIQUID
FR2692243A1 (en) * 1992-06-11 1993-12-17 Scoma Sa Installation for filling bottles with liquid.
EP0614850A1 (en) * 1993-03-10 1994-09-14 KHS Maschinen- und Anlagenbau Aktiengesellschaft Filling head for filling machines for filling bottles or similar containers with a liquid
DE4307521C2 (en) * 1993-03-10 1999-01-07 Khs Masch & Anlagenbau Ag Filling element for filling machines for filling a liquid filling material into bottles or similar containers
US5501375A (en) * 1994-05-12 1996-03-26 Cenova Innovations & Produktions Ab Dispenser valve for dispensing a pressurized liquid
IT1293960B1 (en) * 1997-06-20 1999-03-11 Mbf Spa ROTARY FILLING MACHINE FOR FILLING CONTAINERS WITH LIQUIDS
AUPR390301A0 (en) * 2001-03-22 2001-04-12 Guszlovan, Jim Wine barrel filling apparatus
ITVI20010097A1 (en) 2001-06-03 2002-11-03 Mbf Spa EQUIPMENT FOR THE TRANSFER OF CONTAINERS IN PARTICULAR BOTTLES OR SIMILAR
ES2216665B1 (en) * 2002-01-30 2006-02-16 Irundin, S.L. FILLING SPOUT WITH NITROGEN APPLICATION SYSTEM AND AUTOMATIC CLEANING DEVICE FOR BOTTLING MACHINES.
ITMO20050229A1 (en) * 2005-09-12 2007-03-13 Sig Simonazzi Spa APPARATUS
DE102005056740A1 (en) * 2005-11-29 2007-05-31 Degussa Gmbh Method and device for transporting bulk materials
ES2326832T3 (en) * 2006-05-24 2009-10-20 SIDEL HOLDINGS & TECHNOLOGY S.A. VALVE UNIT FOR FILLING MACHINES WITH LEVEL READING PROBE IN ELECTRICALLY INSULATING CONDUCT.
US9168569B2 (en) 2007-10-22 2015-10-27 Stokely-Van Camp, Inc. Container rinsing system and method
US8147616B2 (en) * 2007-10-22 2012-04-03 Stokely-Van Camp, Inc. Container rinsing system and method
FR2939119A1 (en) * 2008-12-01 2010-06-04 Newtec Filling Systems DEVICE FOR FILLING A BOTTLE AND AUTOMATIC FILLING SYSTEM FOR BOTTLES CORRESPONDING
DE102010024522A1 (en) * 2010-06-21 2011-12-22 Khs Gmbh Method and filling element for pressure filling of containers with a liquid product
DE102013107168A1 (en) 2013-07-08 2015-01-22 Krones Ag Device for sealing the product outlet opening of a filling member with respect to a container to be filled
ITMI20131163A1 (en) * 2013-07-10 2015-01-11 Smi Spa FILLING DEVICE

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2377796A (en) * 1943-02-26 1945-06-05 Ronald B Mckinnis Apparatus for introducing liquids into containers
DE1657191A1 (en) * 1968-03-06 1971-02-04 Seitz Werke Gmbh Method and device for filling air-sensitive beverages on single-chamber counter-pressure filling machines
DE1943503A1 (en) * 1969-08-27 1971-03-04 Winterwerb Streng Co Gmbh Bottle filling device

Family Cites Families (17)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB191420237A (en) * 1914-09-26 1915-08-19 Arthur Grabham Improvements relating to Bottling Machines.
US1779739A (en) * 1926-04-12 1930-10-28 Liquid Carbonic Co Filling machine
BE460395A (en) * 1945-02-20
NL289225A (en) * 1962-02-24
US3263711A (en) * 1963-10-03 1966-08-02 Laub Herman Receptacle filling apparatus
US3380489A (en) * 1965-08-26 1968-04-30 Pharmaseal Lab Medical container with closure
US3783912A (en) * 1968-12-30 1974-01-08 Ato Inc Beverage container filling head
NL7005923A (en) * 1969-05-31 1970-12-02
DE2007896A1 (en) * 1970-02-20 1971-08-26 Seitz Werke GmbH, 6550 Bad Kreuz nach Full-pipe-less filling element with separate lines for tension and return gas and discharge of excess liquid
US3804133A (en) * 1971-12-07 1974-04-16 Ato Inc Bottle purging method
NL7414697A (en) * 1974-11-11 1976-05-13 Stork Amsterdam METHOD AND INSTALLATION FOR FILLING BOTTLES WITH AN OXYDATION SENSITIVE LIQUID, SUCH AS WINE.
DE2552956C3 (en) * 1975-11-26 1981-08-27 Holstein Und Kappert Gmbh, 4600 Dortmund Filling element without filling tube for counter pressure filling machines
US4103721A (en) * 1976-12-23 1978-08-01 Mitsubishi Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Method and apparatus for bottling beer
DE3009405C2 (en) * 1980-03-12 1985-01-17 Seitz Enzinger Noll Maschinenbau Ag, 6800 Mannheim Method and arrangement for controlling filling elements in filling machines
US4442873A (en) * 1981-11-27 1984-04-17 Crown Cork & Seal Company, Inc. Container actuated counterpressure filling valve
FR2592869B1 (en) * 1986-01-15 1988-03-11 Seva DEVICE FOR FILLING BACKPRESSURE CONTAINERS
FR2601665B1 (en) * 1986-07-21 1988-10-21 Seva SEPARATE AIR RETURN FILLING DEVICE

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2377796A (en) * 1943-02-26 1945-06-05 Ronald B Mckinnis Apparatus for introducing liquids into containers
DE1657191A1 (en) * 1968-03-06 1971-02-04 Seitz Werke Gmbh Method and device for filling air-sensitive beverages on single-chamber counter-pressure filling machines
DE1943503A1 (en) * 1969-08-27 1971-03-04 Winterwerb Streng Co Gmbh Bottle filling device

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE3909404A1 (en) 1989-11-16
ES2046366T3 (en) 1994-02-01
BR8902193A (en) 1990-08-21
US4982768A (en) 1991-01-08
EP0341626A1 (en) 1989-11-15
DE58905215D1 (en) 1993-09-16

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
EP0341626B1 (en) Method and apparatus for filling bottles with liquid
DE4225476C2 (en) Arrangement for filling bottles or similar containers
EP0365867B1 (en) Method and device for filling cans with drinks
EP1692071A1 (en) Filling element for a filling machine and filling machine provided with filling elements of this type
EP2417051B1 (en) Filling system
EP2029469A2 (en) Filling element and filling machine comprising corresponding filling elements
EP0470360B1 (en) Closing element for a crown-cap sealing machine
EP0614850A1 (en) Filling head for filling machines for filling bottles or similar containers with a liquid
WO2013083239A1 (en) Filler element and filling system
EP2576421A1 (en) Filling element and filling machine for filling bottles or similar containers
WO2005019090A1 (en) Counter-pressure filling device and method for counter-pressure filling
EP2085136B1 (en) Inert gas lock for filling a container with bulk material
EP0588356B1 (en) Filling divice for bottles or like containers
EP0761591A1 (en) Container filling machine
EP2738135B1 (en) Filling head for filling a container with a product
EP2576420B1 (en) Filling element and filling machine for filling bottles or similar containers
EP3426594A1 (en) Filling element comprising an annular flushing-gas outlet opening
DE3640282C1 (en) Device and method for controlling a sluicing process for a pile of bulk material particles
DE3930593A1 (en) Carbon di:oxide returned from bottle filling machine - is restored to useful concn. by controlled injection of pure gas into mixer
DE4331463A1 (en) Machine for sterilising and filling vessels under back pressure
WO2021213840A1 (en) Method for filling containers
WO2020201001A1 (en) Method for filling containers with a liquid filling material
DE7724259U1 (en) FILLING VALVE
DE8313457U1 (en) FILLING MACHINE FOR FILLING OFF LIQUIDS, ESPECIALLY BEVERAGES IN CONTAINERS, EXAMPLE IN BOTTLES
DE3344785A1 (en) Appliance for breaking up ground used for planting

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): BE DE ES FR GB IT NL

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 19900514

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 19911206

RTI1 Title (correction)
GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: B1

Designated state(s): BE DE ES FR GB IT NL

ET Fr: translation filed
REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 58905215

Country of ref document: DE

Date of ref document: 19930916

ITF It: translation for a ep patent filed

Owner name: BARZANO' E ZANARDO ROMA S.P.A.

GBT Gb: translation of ep patent filed (gb section 77(6)(a)/1977)

Effective date: 19931026

RAP2 Party data changed (patent owner data changed or rights of a patent transferred)

Owner name: KHS MASCHINEN- UND ANLAGENBAU AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: ES

Ref legal event code: FG2A

Ref document number: 2046366

Country of ref document: ES

Kind code of ref document: T3

NLT2 Nl: modifications (of names), taken from the european patent patent bulletin

Owner name: KHS MASCHINEN- UND ANLAGENBAU AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT T

ITTA It: last paid annual fee
PLBE No opposition filed within time limit

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009261

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: NO OPPOSITION FILED WITHIN TIME LIMIT

26N No opposition filed
NLS Nl: assignments of ep-patents

Owner name: KHS MASCHINEN- UND ANLAGENBAU AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT T

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Payment date: 19950428

Year of fee payment: 7

Ref country code: ES

Payment date: 19950428

Year of fee payment: 7

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Effective date: 19960508

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: ES

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 19960509

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: NL

Payment date: 19960531

Year of fee payment: 8

Ref country code: BE

Payment date: 19960531

Year of fee payment: 8

GBPC Gb: european patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 19960508

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: BE

Effective date: 19970531

BERE Be: lapsed

Owner name: SEITZ ENZINGER NOLL MASCHINENBAU A.G.

Effective date: 19970531

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: NL

Effective date: 19971201

NLV4 Nl: lapsed or anulled due to non-payment of the annual fee

Effective date: 19971201

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: ES

Ref legal event code: FD2A

Effective date: 19990201

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Payment date: 20010322

Year of fee payment: 13

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Payment date: 20010530

Year of fee payment: 13

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20021203

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20030131

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: ST

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: IT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES;WARNING: LAPSES OF ITALIAN PATENTS WITH EFFECTIVE DATE BEFORE 2007 MAY HAVE OCCURRED AT ANY TIME BEFORE 2007. THE CORRECT EFFECTIVE DATE MAY BE DIFFERENT FROM THE ONE RECORDED.

Effective date: 20050508