Abstract: A valve assembly in a product channel comprises a regulating valve, a filling valve, and an elongated actuation element that is common to both. A filling-valve element that interacts with a filling-valve seat to open and close the filling valve. The regulating valve comprises an actuation element-side regulating valve element that interacts with a regulating-valve seat to control a product quantity to be filled. Both the regulating and filling valve elements are arranged on the actuation element. A driven actuator changes a position of the actuation element relative to the regulating valve seat and the filling valve seat as part of a filling operation.

Abstract: A filling device includes a product space that ends in a filling valve with first and second valve elements disposed in a region thereof and moved by an actuator, a sealing face, a valve stem, a valve housing having a reduced-diameter edge, and a profiled plastic sleeve that runs over the reduced-diameter edge. One of the valve elements has a plastic lining. A valve stem forms one of the valve elements and the valve housing forms the other.

Abstract: A valve assembly in a product channel comprises a regulating valve, a filling valve, and an elongated actuation element that is common to both. A filling-valve element that interacts with a filling-valve seat to open and close the filling valve. The regulating valve comprises an actuation element-side regulating valve element that interacts with a regulating-valve seat to control a product quantity to be filled. Both the regulating and filling valve elements are arranged on the actuation element. A driven actuator changes a position of the actuation element relative to the regulating valve seat and the filling valve seat as part of a filling operation.

Abstract: A filling device for filling containers with liquid product includes a valve that is arranged in a product channel thereof. The valve comprises a valve element that is arranged in the product channel and a valve seat that surrounds the valve element to form the valve. The valve element and valve seat can be adjusted relative to each other. Length-adjustable connectors connect the valve seat to the product channel on both sides of the valve seat.

Abstract: A format-part fastener for attaching an interchangeable format part to a machine frame includes a first connecting element having a mounting stud that extends along the stud's axis and that has an angled face that defines an acute angle relative to the stud's axis. A second connecting element has a locating sleeve for receiving the mounting stud. The locating sleeve has walls forming a slot. When used to attach a format part, a spring cotter's undulating section surrounds part of the locating sleeve's circumference while the slot supports the spring cotter's shank against the mounting stud's angled face. This converts some of the spring cotter's radial force into an axially directed force along the stud's axis.

Abstract: A method of pressure-filling a container includes placing its opening tightly against a filling element, extending a return gas tube into the container, causing and measuring a progression of pressures in the container's interior, thereby generating a measured progression of pressures, generating a signal indicative of the measured progression of pressures, recording it, monitoring it for information indicative of a pressure peak, identifying such information, comparing a measured value of the pressure peak with a reference value, measuring an absolute pressure at a point in time at which the pressure peak is measured, based at least in part this measurement, determining that the pressure peak is caused by the filling-material level having reached the return gas tube, and upon making the determination, transmitting closing the filling element.

Abstract: A filling element for filling containers includes a tulip that moves, under the influence of a controller, between two positions, one of which seals the container. A first seal seals a junction between the tulip and a filling-element housing. First and second filling-element regions are respectively outside and inside a clean space of a filling machine. The tulip and a dispensing opening are in the second region. The second seal connects by its first free to the tulip. This second seal seals a junction between the tulip and the two filling-element regions.

Abstract: A filling element includes a liquid valve having a valve element that forms part of the liquid channel. An electromagnetic drive couples to the valve element and moves it along a stroke axis such that the valve element moves while a valve body remains stationary. A gap across which the magnetic field extends lies outside the liquid channel.

Abstract: A filling element for container filling includes a liquid-valve arrangement disposed in a liquid channel with its flow valve. A positioning drive regulates opening and closing of the flow valve so as to regulate flow of liquid through the liquid channel. A stop valve lies in the liquid channel between the flow valve and a dispensing opening.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing containers includes a container-filling system having filling-point pairs in which each filling point has a filling element. Each filling element has a channel formed in a housing, a liquid valve in the channel that controls flow through a dispensing opening. The filling system also has internal and external gas-paths that are internal and external relative to the filling elements. These gas paths connect to each other. A gas-path control-valve controls the external path. Nothing controls the internal path. A stand-alone control module contains part of the external gas-path and the gas-path control-valve.

Abstract: A gaiter seal for shielding a functional element of a container-processing machine extends between parts of a working head of the container-processing machine includes axially-adjacent gaiter modules that extend along an axis and support-and-sliding elements at interfaces between adjacent gaiter modules. The support-and-sliding elements radially support and guide the first and second gaiter-modules along the functional element.

Abstract: A filling element includes a common actuator that controls both a liquid valve and a gas valve. The actuator implements a two-stage control stroke. In a first operating state, both the liquid valve and the gas valve are closed. As a result of a first partial stroke in the second operating state, the gas valve opens but the liquid valve remains closed. Then, in a third operating state, as a result of a second partial stroke, the liquid valve is opens while the gas valve remains open.

Abstract: A filling-element assembly for both pressurized and open-jet filling of containers includes a filling element having a filling-element housing, a liquid valve, a return-gas channel, and a seal. The housing has a fixed first segment, a vertically movable second segment, and an extendable segment between them to surrounds the valve housing in a fluid-tight manner. A return-gas channel extends along the filling-element axis between the valve housing and the filling-element housing. In a raised position of the second segment, the seal contacts the valve housing along a circumferential contact area and seals the filling-element discharge opening thereby forming a fluid-tight closure for the return-gas channel.

Abstract: A method for operating a filling machine includes conducting purgative gas via a first controlled gas path from a first ring channel common to all filling elements to the interior of a container sealed against a filling element via a controllable choke arrangement that switches between choking state and non-choking states, draining the purgative gas out of the container's interior through return-gas openings and into return-gas channels of a second controlled gas path, the first and second return-gas channels being controlled by corresponding first and second control valves that are operable independently of each other, and pressure-filling the container with the liquid contents.

Abstract: A container-processing machine includes a rotor with processing positions formed thereon, a transfer station, and a static lifting element used by all the processing positions. Each processing position has a processing head and a container carrier. The lifting element is a static lifting element that is used by all of the processing positions. When the processing position is at the transfer station, the lifting element causes relative motion between a container carrier and a processing head of the processing position. This causes the processing position to transition between receiving and discharge states.

Abstract: A filling element for filling a container includes a liquid channel configured in a filling element housing, a connector or inlet for feeding the liquid into the channel, a discharge opening for discharging the liquid into the container, and a liquid valve that controls liquid discharge into the container. The liquid valve is arranged in the channel and includes a valve seat and valve body movable to open and close the valve to engage the seat, and an insert configured as a swirl body or gas barrier. The insert is arranged, relative to a flow direction, upstream of the seat and is fixed in position in the channel so that it remains stationary relative to the valve body during opening and closing of the liquid valve.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A filler element for filling containers with liquid includes a housing, a housing opening area, a protective space, a channel formed therein, a liquid valve in the channel, a dispensing opening downstream from the valve, and a fill-level-determining element comprising first and second ends. The fill-level-determining element is routed through the housing and extends by the first end into the dispensing opening during filling and is routed out of the housing by the second end at a housing opening area in a sealed manner with a protective space directly adjacent to it. The protective space holds a length of the fill-level-determining element that corresponds to an axial adjustment lift. The protective space opens by an axial opening lift of the fill-level-determining element that differs from its axial adjustment lift. The protective space opens by the axial opening lift of the fill-level-determining element into a space formed in the housing.

Abstract: A filling system for filling bottles with liquid filling-material includes filling point pairs, each having filling points. Each filling point has a filling element and a container holder. Each filling element comprises a filling element housing, a liquid channel, a delivery opening that delivers liquid filling material to a bottle, a liquid valve that controls delivery through said delivery opening, a gas path control valve, and a lifter device for lifting and lowering said container holder. The lifter device includes a pneumatically operated actuating element.

Abstract: A filling device includes a product space that ends in a filling valve with first and second valve elements disposed in a region thereof and moved by an actuator, a sealing face, a valve stem, a valve housing having a reduced-diameter edge, and a profiled plastic sleeve that runs over the reduced-diameter edge. One of the valve elements has a plastic lining. A valve stem forms one of the valve elements and the valve housing forms the other.