An apparatus for filling containers and related technologies are disclosed. The apparatus has at least one container-transportation belt, wherein the container-transportation belt is configured to carry at least one container between a first location and a second location, wherein the at least one container-transportation belt has a width which is smaller than a diameter of the at least one container. The apparatus may also include at least one belt. At least one container is carried on the at least one belt between a first location and a second location, wherein a bottom of the at least one container contacts a top surface of the at least one belt. At least one lifting mechanism raises the at least one container off the at least one belt by contacting the bottom of the at least one container.

A method and apparatus of filing beer for craft breweries combines pressurized beer delivery (rather than gravity feed) with variable pressure control of the beer flow into the can. By modulating beer flow and especially beer pressure, it is possible to fill a can's widget (gas reservoir) with gas with a shorter set of fill steps. In addition, the speed of beer filling can be dramatically increased compared to small scale systems normally used by craft brewers. Unlike known large scale pressure systems, the beer bowl may be located beneath the rest of the apparatus and modulated pressure may be used, making for a smaller and more portable unit.

A container filling machine is provided having one or more filling units. The filling units have a valve actuator assembly having a first end moveably connected to the filling machine to effect both lateral movement and reciprocating longitudinal movement; and a valve connected to a second end of the valve actuator assembly, such that longitudinal movement of the valve actuator assembly actuates the valve to open and fill a container. The filling machine has alternating filling units each comprising a different valve dedicated for a particular variety of container. A method is also taught for filling one or more types of containers with a liquid. The method includes the steps of feeding a stream of alternating types of containers to a filling machine, said filling machine comprising one or more travelling filling units, each filling unit comprising a valve actuator, and a valve; associating each of said alternating types of containers with a filling unit wherein said valve is dedicated for a particular variety of container; actuating said valve actuator as it travels along the filling machine to actuate said valve; actuating said valve to fill said associated container; and disengaging each of said alternating types of containers from said filling unit. A container filling unit adapted for filling one or more types of containers is further taught.

A plant (1) for filling and closing cans (2) under hygienic conditions which comprises a hygienic compartment (3), a lid applying device (7) and an inlet (30) for a filling material. The lid applying device (7) is arranged in the hygienic compartment (3) and the inlet (30) is formed on the hygienic compartment (3). When used as intended, one or more cans (2) can be assigned to the hygienic compartment (3) and the hygienic compartment (3) can be moved together with the can(s) (2) in the system (1).

An apparatus for filling containers with fluid includes a volumetric filling valve. The volumetric filling valve includes a valve stem having a gas valve portion and a fluid valve portion. An interior passageway of the gas valve portion is positioned interior of the valve stem, wherein the interior passageway positioned to supply a quantity of gas to a filling nozzle. A gas valve actuator is mechanically connected to the valve stem, wherein the gas valve actuator controls an activation of the gas valve portion. A fluid valve actuator is mechanically connected to the valve stem, wherein the fluid valve actuator controls an activation of the fluid valve portion. The volumetric filling valve may be positioned within a filling head container with the gas valve portion positioned at least partially within a quantity of gas and the fluid valve portion positioned within a quantity of fluid.

An apparatus for filling differently sized containers with fluid includes a filling head having a fluid holding area. At least one multi-container filling nozzle connected to the filling head, wherein at least two containers with differently-sized openings are fillable with a quantity of fluid from the fluid holding area without changing the multi-container filling nozzle. Related methods and devices for filing containers with differently-sized openings with fluid without changing a fluid nozzle are also disclosed.

A rotary beverage filling machine for cans which have a heat exchange unit secured to the bottom thereof and extending into the can which includes a conveyor for transporting cans to be deposited on a pedestal which is adapted to move the can into contact with a sealing device surrounding a nozzle which is disposed within the open upper end of the can but is displaced from the heat exchange unit.

A device for filling cans includes a filling valve, a gas channel and a seal. The seal is connected to the gas channel for receiving a compressed gas and is elastically deformable by the received compressed gas in a downward direction for pressing against a peripheral upper edge of a can positioned below the filling valve. Advantageously, the device can enable a secure sealing of the inlet gap between the can and the filling valve with comparatively low contact forces via the downwardly elastically deformable seal, so that even very thin-walled cans can be filled without risk of damage.

A device for filling a container with a carbonated filling product in a beverage filling system is described. The device includes a gas valve for supplying a gas into the container, the gas valve being biased by a gas valve spring in a specified switch state, and a filling valve for supplying the filling product into the container, the filling valve being biased by a filling valve spring in a specified switch state. The gas valve and the filling valve are operatively connected to a common actuator for switching between an open and a closed switch state, and the gas valve spring applies a spring force which differs from that of the filling valve spring.

A filling element includes a flushing tube that carries flushing gas used to drive air out of a container's interior before filling it with liquid filling-material. The flushing tube moves between a starting position and a flushing position. In the flushing position, the flushing tube chokes a connection between a gas chamber and a gas channel that leads into a container. In the starting position, this connection is wide open.