Method and device for filling a container to be filled with a filling product

Abstract

A method for filling a container to be filled with a filling product includes accommodating a container to be filled in a treatment chamber, sealing a filling device to the container, rinsing the container with a rinsing gas introduced into the container through a rinsing gas channel, filling the container with the filling product, pre-pressurizing the treatment chamber with a pressurization gas through a pressurization gas channel, removing the filling device from the container, closing the container with a container closure, relieving the pre-pressurization pressure in the treatment chamber, and removing the container from the treatment chamber. The pre-pressurization pressure that is present in the treatment chamber is at least in part relieved into the rinsing gas channel.

Claims

1. A method for filling a container to be filled with a filling product, comprising: accommodating the container in a treatment chamber; sealing a filling device to the container; subsequent to the sealing of the filling device to the container, rinsing the container with a rinsing gas introduced into the container through a rinsing gas channel; subsequent to the rinsing of the container with the rinsing gas, filling the container with the filling product; pre-pressurizing the treatment chamber with a pressurization gas through a pressurization gas channel, wherein the pressurization gas channel is distinct from the rinsing gas channel; subsequent to the filling of the container and the pre-pressurization of the treatment chamber, removing the filling device from the container; subsequent to the removal of the filling device from the container, closing the container with a container closure; and subsequent to the closing of the container, relieving the pre-pressurization pressure in the treatment chamber and removing the container from the treatment chamber, wherein the pre-pressurization pressure that is present in the treatment chamber is at least in part relieved into the rinsing gas channel.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising subsequent to the relief of the pre-pressurization pressure in the treatment chamber into the rinsing gas channel, relieving residual pre-pressurization pressure in the treatment chamber through a pressure relief channel that is in communication with an environment.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the residual pre-pressurization pressure is relieved to ambient pressure.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising subsequent to the removal of the closed container, rinsing a subsequent container to be filled that is accommodated in the treatment chamber with at least a portion of the pressurization gas that was relieved into the rinsing gas channel.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising rinsing the subsequent container with a rinsing gas from a rinsing gas source.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the rinsing gas channel is at an absolute pressure of 0.5 bar to about 4 bar, and the pressurization gas channel is at an absolute pressure of 2 bar to about 11 bar.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the rinsing gas channel is at an absolute pressure of 1.4 bar to about 1.9 bar, and the pressurization gas channel is at an absolute pressure of 5 bar to about 9 bar.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the pressurization gas channel is at a higher pressure than the rinsing gas channel.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising subsequent to the relief of the pre-pressurization pressure that is present in the treatment chamber into the rinsing gas channel, supplying an underpressure via a vacuum line to further relieve residual pre-pressurization pressure in the treatment chamber.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising subsequent to the relief of the pre-pressurization pressure that is present in the treatment chamber into the rinsing gas channel, withdrawing the filling device or a closing device from the treatment chamber to further relieve residual pre-pressurization pressure in the treatment chamber.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising subjecting the container to an underpressure provided via a vacuum line during introduction of the rinsing gas into the container.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising applying an underpressure to the container prior to introduction of the filling product into the container and introducing a filling product at an overpressure into the container.

13. A device for filling a container to be filled with a filling product, comprising: a treatment chamber configured to accommodate the container to be filled in a sealing manner; a filling device configured to be applied in a sealing manner to the container that is sealed in the treatment chamber and to introduce the filling product into the container; a rinsing gas channel configured to introduce a rinsing gas into the container; a pressurization gas channel configured to introduce a pressurization gas into the treatment chamber, wherein the pressurization gas channel is distinct from the rinsing gas channel; a closing device configured to attach a container closure to a filled container inside the treatment chamber; and a control system configured to relieve at least partially a pre-pressurization pressure in the treatment chamber into the rinsing gas channel subsequent to the closing of the container.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the control system is further configured to, subsequent to the relief of the pre-pressurization pressure in the treatment chamber into the rinsing gas channel, relieve residual pre-pressurization pressure in the treatment chamber through a pressure relief channel that is in communication with an environment.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the control system is configured to relieve the residual pre-pressurization pressure in the treatment chamber to ambient pressure.

16. The device of claim 13, wherein the control system is further configured to, subsequent to the relief of the pre-pressurization pressure in the treatment chamber into the rinsing gas channel, relieve residual pre-pressurization pressure in the treatment chamber by supplying an underpressure provided via a vacuum line.

17. The device of claim 13, wherein the control system is further configured to, subsequent to the relief of the pre-pressurization pressure in the treatment chamber into the rinsing gas channel, relieve residual pre-pressurization pressure in the treatment chamber by withdrawing the filling device or the closing device from the treatment chamber.

18. The device of claim 13, wherein the control system is further configured to, subsequent to a removal of a closed container, rinse a subsequent container to be filled that is accommodated in the treatment chamber.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein the control system is configured to rinse the subsequent container at least in part with the pressurization gas that has been relieved into the rinsing gas channel.

20. The device of claim 18, wherein the control system is further configured to rinse the subsequent container with a rinsing gas from a rinsing gas source.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

(1) Further embodiments of the invention are more fully explained by the description below of the figures.

(2) FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional representation of a device for filling a container with a filling product and subsequently closing the container with a container closure, wherein a treatment chamber for accommodating the container, a filling device acting on the container accommodated in the treatment chamber, and a closing element acting on the container accommodated in the treatment chamber are provided;

(3) FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of the device from FIG. 1, wherein the closing element has been guided over the mouth area of the filled container, in order to attach a container closure to the filled container; and

(4) FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of the device from the previous figures, wherein the closing element has been withdrawn back to its initial position, and the filled and closed container has been conveyed out of the treatment chamber in a downwards direction.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(5) Examples of embodiments are described below with the aid of the figures. In the figures, elements which are identical or similar, or have identical effects, are designated in the individual figures with identical reference signs. In order to avoid redundancy, repeated description of these elements is in part dispensed with.

(6) The figures show schematically various sections, details and operating states of a device 1 for filling a container 120 with a filling product, and for subsequently closing the container 120, which has been filled with the filling product, with a container closure.

(7) The device 1 includes a treatment chamber 2, a filling device 3 and a closing device 4, which will be described in detail below.

(8) The treatment chamber 2 serves to provide predetermined pressure conditions and/or a predetermined atmosphere for the container 120 that is to be filled, or for the interior of the container 120, when the mouth 122 of the container 120 to be filled is in communication with the treatment chamber 2.

(9) The filling device 3 serves to fill, in a manner which is known, the interior of the container 120 that is to be filled with a predetermined amount of filling product.

(10) Finally, the closing device 4 serves to close, with a container closure, the container 120 that is filled with the filling product.

(11) The device 1 can for example be provided in a beverage filling plant, wherein a beverage bottle that is to be filled is filled with a beverage, and the beverage bottle is closed with a container closure after being filled with the beverage. Other plants for filling different filling products are, however, also envisaged, for example in the fields of foodstuffs, pharmaceuticals, hygiene or mineral oil.

(12) It is usual in such a plant that a plurality of the devices 1 that are shown are disposed around the periphery of a treatment carousel. The devices 1 thus circulate about the axis of rotation of the treatment carousel, in order by this means to provide continuous processing, and in particular continuous filling and continuous closing, of continuously supplied containers 120 that are to be filled, for example in a beverage filling plant. A stream of filled and closed containers 120 is thereby produced.

(13) The treatment chamber 2 of each device 1 is provided to accommodate at least a portion of the container 120 to be filled. For this purpose the treatment chamber 2 has at its lower end a container accommodation aperture 20, through which the container 120 that is in each case to be filled can be pushed into the treatment chamber 2 with its container mouth 122 foremost.

(14) By means of the introduction of the container 120 to be filled, with its container mouth 122, into the treatment chamber 2, the container accommodation aperture 20 is sealed in a gas-tight mannerfor example by means of a switchable seal 60against the environment, so that the container accommodation aperture 20 of the treatment chamber 2 is sealed in a gas-tight manner against the environment when a container 120 is pushed into it.

(15) The container 120 is thus accommodated in a sealing manner by the treatment chamber 2. In an alternative embodiment, not only a portion of the container 120such as the mouth area, as in the embodiment that is shownbut the entire container 120 can be accommodated in the treatment chamber 2.

(16) The treatment chamber 2 also has at its upper end a capper accommodation aperture 22. Through the capper accommodation aperture 22, the closing device 4, or a closing element 40 of the closing device 4, can act upon the container mouth 122 of a container 120 that has been filled, in order to attach a container closure. By means of the lowering of the closing device 4 and a capper flange 42 of the closing device 4, the capper accommodation aperture 22 can be sealed against the environment in a gas-tight manner.

(17) Accordingly, by the introduction of the container 120 into the container accommodation aperture 20, and by the lowering of the closing device 4 onto the capper accommodation aperture 22, the interior of the treatment chamber 2 can be closed in a gas-tight manner against the environment. Within the treatment chamber 2, a pressure that differs from the ambient pressure can thus be applied, and/or an atmosphere or gas mixture or gas that differs from the surrounding atmosphere can be provided in the treatment chamber 2.

(18) In the treatment chamber 2, for example, by means of the creation of an overpressure, a pressure that differs from that of the environment can be provided. This pressure is achieved in the treatment chamber 2, and hence also in the interior of the container 120 to be filled, which is closed in a gas-tight manner with the treatment chamber 2 against the environment, when the unsealed container mouth 122 protrudes into the treatment chamber 2 and the interior of the container is thus in communication with the treatment chamber 2.

(19) By means of the pressurization of the treatment chamber 2 with a gas or a gas mixture, for example by feeding in CO.sub.2 or another inert gas via a pressurization gas channel 84 which is in communication with the treatment chamber 2, an atmosphere that differs from that of the environment can be provided in the treatment chamber 2.

(20) In the treatment chamber 2, a filling product outlet 30 of the filling device 3 is provided, by means of which the filling product that is to be filled can be dispensed into the interior of the container 120 that is to be filled. The filling device 3 has a filling product outlet seal 300 surrounding the filling product outlet 30, onto which the mouth 122 of the container 120 can be pressed, and by means of which a sealed connection can be created between the interior of the container and the filling device 3.

(21) If the open container mouth 122 opens into the treatment chamber 2, in the interior of the container 120, which is closed with the treatment chamber 2 against the environment in a gas-tight manner, substantially the same pressure and substantially the same atmosphere is provided as in the treatment chamber 2.

(22) If, on the other hand, the container mouth 122 of the container 120 that is to be filled is closed off from the treatment chamber 2 in a gas-tight manner, for example because the container mouth 122 is sealed by the filling device 3, the pressure that is present in the treatment chamber 2 and the atmosphere that is present in the treatment chamber 2 have no influence on the pressure that is present in the interior of the container 120 or the gas composition therein.

(23) In the example embodiment that is shown, the filling device 3, and thus also the filling product outlet 30, can be displaced in the direction indicated by the arrow F, which indicates the direction of movement of the filling device, such that either the filling product outlet 30 is disposed over the container accommodation aperture 20 in a treatment position so that a container 120 to be filled can be charged through its container mouth 122 with the filling product that flows out of the filling product outlet 30, or else the filling device 3 and the filling product outlet 30 are displaced into a withdrawn standby position, such that the closing device 4 can attach a container closure, in a manner described below, to the container 120 which has then been filled.

(24) The closing device 4 has a closing element 40, by means of which the actual container closure can be attached to the container 120, which is still accommodated in the treatment chamber 2 and has been filled but not yet capped. In the example embodiment that is shown, the closing element 40 is configured to attach a crown cork closure to the container 120 that is to be closed. The closing element 40 can however also be configured as necessary and according to the container closure that is required, and can in particular, alongside its configuration as a crown cork capper, also be configured as a screw capper for attaching a screw closure which is supplied as a molded part, or as a roll-on capper for rolling a container closure sleeve onto an external thread of a filled container, or as a closing element to attach stoppers or corks, or configured in any other manner to close the filled container 120.

(25) As soon as the gas-tight seal between the filling product outlet 30 and the container 120 has been established, rinsing of the container can take place, using a rinsing gas, for example CO.sub.2, which is supplied via a rinsing gas channel 80. A vacuum channel 88 can generally also be provided, by means of which an underpressure can be applied to the container 120. In this manner, a flow of rinsing gas can pass through the container 120 and thereby displace the residual oxygen in the container 120. Alternatively, efficient rinsing of the container 120 can be achieved by alternating application of underpressure and rinsing gas.

(26) In the rinsing gas channel 80, an absolute pressure of 0.5 bar to 4 bar is generally present. The pressure that is present in the container 120 must therefore be maintained, by means of the switching of the vacuum channel 88, at a pressure below the pressure in the rinsing gas channel 80 if the inflow of the rinsing gas into the container 120 is to be enabled.

(27) A control system 9 serves to switch a rinsing gas valve 82 and a vacuum valve 89 such that the container 120 is rinsed with the rinsing gas in the manner described above, and accordingly a predetermined concentration of rinsing gas is achieved in the container 120. By this means, for example, a low oxygen atmosphere can be achieved in the container 120.

(28) The filling product can then be introduced into the rinsed container 120. In certain embodiments, prior to the introduction of the filling product either an underpressure can be provided in the container 120, into which the filling product, which is then at a relative overpressure, is introduced, or else the container 120 is pre-pressurized with a pressurization gas to a pressure which is above the saturation pressure of the filling product, and the filling product is introduced into the pre-pressurized container 120.

(29) In addition, if the treatment chamber 2 is sealed in a pressure-tight manner against the container 120 by the filling device 3 being pressed onto the container 120, the treatment chamber 2 is pre-pressurized with a pressurization gas via a pressurization gas channel 84. The control system 9 controls this pressurization of the treatment chamber 2 with the pressurization gas by means of the appropriate switching of a pressurization gas valve 86.

(30) In order efficiently to achieve both the rinsing effect of the rinsing gas and the pre-pressurization effect of the pressurization gas, the rinsing gas channel 80 is generally at an absolute pressure of 0.5 bar to 4 bar, for example at an absolute pressure of 1.4 bar to 1.9 bar, and the pressurization gas channel 84 is at an absolute pressure of 2 bar to 11 bar, for example at an absolute pressure of 5 bar to 9 bar.

(31) In some embodiments of the method, the rinsing gas channel 80 is at an absolute pressure of approximately 1.7 bar, and the pressurization gas channel 84 is at an absolute pressure of approximately 7 bar.

(32) In order efficiently to achieve both the rinsing effect of the rinsing gas and the pre-pressurization effect of the pressurization gas, the pressurization gas channel 84 is also at a higher pressure than the rinsing gas channel 80.

(33) If the desired pre-pressurization pressure has been achieved in the treatment chamber 2 and the container 120 has been filled, the filling device 3 can be lifted off of the mouth 122 of the container 120. The treatment chamber 2 is then in communication with the container 120, and as a result of this the pre-pressurization pressure in the treatment chamber 2 is then applied to the interior of the container 120 and the filling product that is present within it. In this manner, it is possible to reduce or prevent the foaming over of the filling product due to the release of the gasfor example CO.sub.2that is bound in the filling product when the filling device 3 is lifted off.

(34) The filling device 3 is subsequently withdrawn in the direction of movement of the filling device F, and the closing device 4 is lowered, as shown schematically in FIG. 2, in order to attach a closure to the mouth 122 of the then filled container 120. During this entire process, the container 120, i.e. the interior of the container, is in communication with the treatment chamber 2, which is itself under the pre-pressurization pressure.

(35) After the closing of the container 120, the pressure in the treatment chamber 2 is relieved to a lower pressure by the opening of the rinsing gas channel 80 by means of the rinsing gas valve 82. Because the rinsing gas channel 80 is at a low pressure, for example, in one embodiment, at an absolute pressure of 1.7 bar, the gas that is present in the treatment chamber 2 at a high pressure, for example at an absolute pressure of 7 bar in this example embodiment, flows back into the rinsing gas channel 80 when the rinsing gas valve 82 is opened. Accordingly, at least a portiondepending on the pressure conditionsof the pressurization gas that is present in the treatment chamber 2 will flow back into the rinsing gas channel 80.

(36) In the example embodiment that is shown, the treatment chamber 2 is in communication with the filling device 3 even when the latter is withdrawn, and is in particular also in contact via the filling product outlet 30 with the rinsing gas channel 80 and the vacuum channel 88.

(37) With certain pressure conditions, full relief of the pressure in the treatment chamber 2 to ambient pressure cannot take place via the rinsing gas channel 80 only. In this case, full relief of the pressure in the treatment chamber 2 to ambient pressure can be achieved for example by means of a connection of the treatment chamber 2 with the vacuum channel 88.

(38) Alternatively, or in addition, relief of the pressure in the treatment chamber 2 to ambient pressure can also, or additionally, be achieved via a pressure relief channel 800 which is in communication with the environment.

(39) As a further alternative to, or in addition to, one or both of the above-mentioned possible means of relieving the pressure in the treatment chamber 2, subsequent to the relief of the pre-pressurization pressure in the treatment chamber 2 into the rinsing gas channel 80, the residual pre-pressurization pressure in the treatment chamber 2 can be further relieved, for example to ambient pressure, by withdrawing the filling device 3 and/or the closing device 4 from the treatment chamber 2.

(40) Subsequent to the relief of the pressure in the treatment chamber 2 into the rinsing gas channel 80, the rinsing gas valve 82 is again closed and the closing element 40 is then moved out of the treatment chamber 2. The resultant increase in volume of the free volume in the treatment chamber 2 also effects a relief of the pre-pressurization pressure that is still present in the treatment chamber 2. This withdrawal can continue until the pressure is relieved to ambient pressure. The filled and closed containers can then be removed from the treatment chamber 2.

(41) The respective processes are controlled via the control system 9, which serves to switch the applicable valves, for example the pressurization gas valve 86 and/or the rinsing gas valve 82 and/or the vacuum valve 89 and/or the pressure relief valve 802.

(42) After the pressure in the treatment chamber 2 has reached ambient pressure, the filled and closed containers 120 can be removed from the treatment chamber 2, as shown schematically in FIG. 3.

(43) When rinsing again takes place of a subsequent container 120 to be filled which is accommodated in the treatment chamber 2, the pressurization gas which has flowed back into the rinsing gas channel 80, and now functions as rinsing gas, is reused as such. The pressurization gas which has flowed back is stored in the interim in the rinsing gas channel 80. The volume of the rinsing gas channel 80 is designed accordingly, and can for example be extended by an intermediate pressure reservoir.

(44) The volume of pressurization gas which has flowed back into the rinsing gas channel 80 may be insufficient for the next rinsing of a further container 120 to be filled. In this case, fresh rinsing gas can be supplied from a rinsing gas source 820for example a rinsing gas tank. The use of the pressurization gas which has flowed back into the rinsing gas channel 80 as rinsing gas makes it possible, however, to reduce the consumption of fresh rinsing gas.

(45) The rinsing gas channel 80 is generally designed such that the entire volume of pressurization gas that flows back can be accommodated in the rinsing gas channel 80, without the pressurization gas that flows back entering the rinsing gas source 820. This is in order to exclude the possibility of contamination.

(46) To the extent applicable, all individual features described in the example embodiments can be combined with each other and/or exchanged, without departing from the field of the invention.