Abstract: The invention relates to a method for palletizing packing drums (7) on a load platform (P), especially barrels, kegs or the like in substantially cylindrical or barrel-shaped receptacles, and/or for depalletizing the packing drums. The inventive method provides as high turnover speed as possible for a layer of, for instance, six or eight packing drums (7*) without causing problems related to the inertia of masses and oscillating phenomena limiting turnover speed. This is achieved by vertically lifting each respective layer (7*) of packing drums in relation to a direct or indirect carrier contact surface (A1, A2) to the packing drum layer during transfer to or from a palet (P). The packing drum layer and the pallet are placed separately from each other (palletizing) or together (depalletizing) in a continuously identical receiving and lift movement position (G) by displacing their contact surface on a plane on which the lift movement is vertically performed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for filling barrels (4), specially kegs, with liquids, wherein at least one gas is dissolved. The barrel (4) is pre-stressed using a gas before the liquid is filled. Liquid is then fed into the barrel (4) by means of a filling valve (2) pertaining to a filling station (1) and connected to a feed line (3, 8). During filling, the pre-stress gas contained in the barrel (4) is evacuated. So as not to impair the product, the pre-stress gas in the barrel (4) is pre-stressed at only a partial pressure which corresponds approximately to the saturation pressure of the CO2 or N2 which is dissolved in the filled liquid. Said partial pressure is lower than the maximum product pressure occurring in the feed line (8) prior to the filling valve (2).

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for filling barrels (4), specially kegs, with liquids, wherein at least one gas is dissolved. The barrel (4) is pre-stressed using a gas before the liquid is filled. Liquid is then fed into the barrel (4) by means of a filling valve (2) pertaining to a filling station (1) and connected to a feed line (3, 8). During filling, the pre-stress gas contained in the barrel (4) is evacuated. In order to guarantee economical and ecological product processing, the pre-stress gas in the barrel (4) is pre-stressed at only a partial pressure which corresponds approximately to the saturation pressure of the CO2 or N2 which is dissolved in the filled liquid. The flow rate speed is measured in the product feed line and is directly adjusted by adapting the volumetric flow rate of said product.

Abstract: Beverage containers such as kegs are cleaned by pre-rinsing the containers and then cleaning the containers with a cleaning solution. Post-rinse of the containers is carried out in order to remove the cleaning solution. The post-rinse includes an earlier rinsing phase in which a containers is rinsed with a first rinsing fluid, and a later rinsing phase rinses out one of the containers that has gone through the earlier rinsing phase with a second rinsing fluid. The second rinsing fluid that has been used in the later rinsing phase is used as the first rinsing fluid in the earlier rinsing phase of the post-rinse.

Abstract: A method of cleaning a reusable container includes the steps of (1) pre-rinsing the container with a pre-rinse fluid; (2) chemically cleaning the container; (3) post-rinsing the container with a post-rinse fluid; (4) introducing a contaminate indicator into the container prior to the step of post-rinsing; and (5) testing the post-rinse fluid for the presence of the contaminate indicator during at least a portion of the post-rinsing step. A number of alternative embodiments employ various contaminate indicators which may be introduced into the container at various points during the cleaning process.

Abstract: The automation of a keg filling process is enhanced by classifying the abnormalities detected during a multi-stage treatment and filling process, the abnormalities being classified as either container-related or treatment step-related. Kegs for which an abnormality has been detected are ejected from the production line and are automatically routed either to a repair station or reintroduced into the production line as a function of the classification of the abnormality.

Abstract: In the filling of a keg with a beverage via a filling head, the filling head is sterilized immediately prior to initiating the flow of the beverage into the keg via the head and a fitting on the keg. Complete sterilization is achieved by ensuring that the temperature of the normally coldest portion of the filling head will be raised to a sufficiently high level and maintained at least at this level until a predetermined number of Pasteur units has been reached.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for determining whether kegs, which are to be cleaned and filled on a bottling plant production line, have physical distortions which may prevent cleaning and/or filling and/or emptying. The testing of the barrels is accomplished by capturing images of the ends and processing the data commensurate with the captured images to identify radial distortion. Axial distortion, which may accompany any radial distortion, is determined by measuring the distances between plural points on the keg and a reference plane to which the keg axis would, under normal conditions, be transverse.

Abstract: The sterilization of reusable kegs in which a consumable beverage is dispensed includes pressurization of the keg with steam, measuring the residual pressure after a time delay which may vary, and comparing the residual pressure against a standard pressure read from a cooling curve which plots pressure decay vs. time delay. A family of standard cooling curves will be stored for each type keg to be sterilized with the curves for each keg being a function of the difference between the steam and ambient temperatures.