In an aseptic filling apparatus, a CIP of the content filling station is performed after rotation of a wheel in the content filling station is stopped, a COP or SOP of the content filling station is performed while the wheel in the content filling station is rotating immediately after the CIP is completed, an SIP of the content filling station is performed with rotation of the wheel in the content filling station being stopped immediately after the COP or SOP is completed, and one or both of the COP and SOP of the other stations is performed in a predetermined order while wheels in the other stations are rotating in a period from the start of the CIP to the end of the SIP.

The invention relates to a filling machine (1, 1′) for filling packages (2) with fluid products with a continuously circulating transport device (14) for transporting the packages (2) through the filling machine (1, 1′), comprising a plurality of cells (15) for receiving the packages (2), wherein a supply device (13) for supplying packages (2) to be filled is assigned to a supply region (16) of the transport device (14), and an output device (27) for outputting the packages (2) is assigned to an output region (28) of the transport device (14), wherein a filling region (17) is provided between the supply region (16) and the output region (28) in the transport direction (14) of the transport device (14), and a return region (29) of the respective transport device (14) is provided between the output region (28) and the supply region (16), and wherein at least one nozzle (38, 38′) for spraying the cells (15) with a cleaning fluid (40) is associated with the return region (29) of the transport device (14). According to the invention, so that the accumulation of impurities and the contamination of the filled product with microorganisms can be better prevented, a spray wall (39) is arranged on the side of the transport device (14) facing away from the at least one nozzle (38, 38′) and opposite the nozzle (38, 38′) in order to catch and discharge cleaning fluid (40) sprayed from the nozzle (38, 38′) and passing the cells (15).

An apparatus for filling a drink including a drink supply pipe line for supplying a drink to a filling machine, the drink supply pipe line and the filling machine including a CIP and SIP treatments apparatus, and an aseptic chamber surrounding at least the apparatus for filling the drink, the aseptic chamber of the filling machine comprising a COP and SOP treatment apparatus. The CIP and SIP treatments apparatus and the COP and SOP treatment apparatus are driven in parallel with each other.

At least one of COP and SOP treatments is performed by spraying a predetermined working fluid from spray nozzles within an aseptic chamber accommodated with a filler in a predetermined order, when such at least one of the COP and SOP treatments is performed, the predetermined working fluid is blasted toward externally of the filler in the predetermined order while moving a movable spray nozzle opposing to the filler around the filler from an outer periphery thereof, thus performing the filler cleaning operation. Accordingly, downtime at the drink filling working can be reduced.

To simplify management of a sterilization process of a filling nozzle, a method for sterilizing a filling nozzle is provided, hot water or a liquid chemical agent is fed to drink supply piping that feeds a drink to a plurality of filling nozzles at the same time, the hot water or liquid chemical agent is discharged from all the filling nozzles, a flow rate of the hot water or liquid chemical agent is detected at all the filling nozzles, a representative temperature of the hot water or liquid chemical agent upstream or downstream of at least one filling nozzle is measured, and the sterilization process is ended when both the flow rate at each filling nozzle and the representative temperature reach respective target values.

A method of decontaminating an aseptic filling apparatus that includes stations including a content filling station arranged from an upstream side to a downstream side of a flow of a preform or container, and each of the stations is covered by a chamber. The method includes sterilizing the content filling station by performing a CIP and then an SIP or performing an SIP serving also as a CIP of the content filling station, removing a cleaning liquid used in the CIP or SIP, and performing a COP and/or an SOP of the various kinds of stations in a predetermined order. A first SOP using a first sterilizer and a second SOP using a second sterilizer are performed stepwise on the various kinds of stations while the CIP and the SIP or the SIP serving also as the CIP are being performed on the content filling station.

To simplify management of a sterilization process of a filling nozzle, a method for sterilizing a filling nozzle is provided. In the method for sterilizing a filling nozzle, hot water or a liquid chemical agent is fed to drink supply piping that feeds a drink to a plurality of filling nozzles at the same time, the hot water or liquid chemical agent is discharged from all the filling nozzles, a flow rate of the hot water or liquid chemical agent is detected at all the filling nozzles, a representative temperature of the hot water or liquid chemical agent upstream or downstream of at least one filling nozzle is measured, and the sterilization process is ended when both the flow rate at each filling nozzle and the representative temperature reach respective target values.

An apparatus for filling a drink including a drink supply pipe line for supplying a drink to a filling machine, the drink supply pipe line including at least two supply pipe lines of a first supply pipe line for supplying a non-sterilized carbonated drink, a second supply pipe line for supplying a high acidic carbonated drink or a low acidic carbonated drink and a third supply pipe line for supplying a high acid beverage or a low acid beverage, and an aseptic chamber surrounding at least the apparatus for filling the drink.

An apparatus for filling a drink including a drink supply pipe line for supplying a drink to a filling machine, the drink supply pipe line and the filling machine including a CIP and SIP treatments apparatus, and an aseptic chamber surrounding at least the apparatus for filling the drink, the aseptic chamber of the filling machine comprising a COP and SOP treatment apparatus. The CIP and SIP treatments apparatus and the COP and SOP treatment apparatus are driven in parallel with each other.

At least one of COP and SOP treatments is performed by spraying a predetermined working fluid from spray nozzles within an aseptic chamber accommodated with a filler in a predetermined order, when such at least one of the COP and SOP treatments is performed, the predetermined working fluid is blasted toward externally of the filler in the predetermined order while moving a movable spray nozzle opposing to the filler around the filler from an outer periphery thereof, thus performing the filler cleaning operation. Accordingly, downtime at the drink filling working can be reduced.