To efficiently perform CIP and SIP of an aseptic filling machine.

An upstream piping portion of a drink supply piping of an aseptic filling machine that extends through a heat sterilization apparatus is provided with an upstream feedback path to form an upstream circulation path, an aseptic surge tank piping portion that includes an aseptic surge tank that stores a drink sterilized by the heat sterilization apparatus is provided with an aseptic surge tank feedback path to form an aseptic surge tank circulation path, a downstream piping portion that extends to a filling nozzle via a filler tank that stores the drink supplied from the aseptic surge tank is provided with a downstream feedback path to form a downstream circulation path, and the upstream piping portion, the aseptic surge tank piping portion and the downstream piping portion are individually subjected to CIP and SIP.

A filler element includes a valve arrangement that switches it between filling mode and CIP mode by controlling a connection between a chamber formed in a housing and a CIP channel formed from a valve body provided at a filling-height-controlling element. Axial movement of a filling-height-controlling element through an extension connected to the chamber controls mode-switching. In both modes, a continuous fluid connection exists between the extension's CIP connection and the CIP channel. Axial movement of the filling-height-controlling element also controls filling height in the container. In CIP mode, a CIP flow formed in the housing conducts liquid CIP medium out of the boiler, through the filling element, and out into a CIP channel.

In order to perform a cleaning-in-place or CIP cleaning of a filling element of a filling machine for the filling of containers with a liquid filling content, at least one closure element can be used, together with the filling element, to form a flushing chamber, in which a filling valve and a filling-level probe are at least partially disposed for the cleaning-in-place cleaning of the filling element. A control unit controls the flow of cleaning medium into the flushing chamber and the performance of at least one electrical measurement with the filling-level probe during the cleaning-in-place cleaning of the filling element.

A method for tightness control of a filling-sealing unit (1) for containers (9) is described. According thereto, a pressure chamber formed at the filling-sealing unit is sealed by way of a first seal around a sealer that is movable therein and by way of a second seal around a pressure supply that is movable therein. According to the invention, a third seal formed for sealing the pressure chamber around a container neck finish is sealed from the outside with an attachment, a positive pressure and/or negative pressure is generated in the pressure chamber, the pressure line used for this purpose is closed, and then a pressure profile in the pressure chamber is measured. This allows a leakage to be selectively detected at the first and/or second seal and be distinguished from a leak at the third seal.

A container filling arrangement for filling bottles and similar containers with a beverage and a method of operating the container filling arrangement.

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.

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.

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.

A method for tightness control of a filling-sealing unit (1) for containers (9) is described. According thereto, a pressure chamber formed at the filling-sealing unit is sealed by way of a first seal around a sealer that is movable therein and by way of a second seal around a pressure supply that is movable therein. According to the invention, a third seal formed for sealing the pressure chamber around a container neck finish is sealed from the outside with an attachment, a positive pressure and/or negative pressure is generated in the pressure chamber, the pressure line used for this purpose is closed, and then a pressure profile in the pressure chamber is measured. This allows a leakage to be selectively detected at the first and/or second seal and be distinguished from a leak at the third seal.

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.