Abstract: A filling element for dispensing a liquid filling material into bottles or similar containers. The filling element has no filling tube or at most a short filling tube. For treating a respective container with a sterilization medium, preferably with steam, a sterilization tube is provided that can be moved out of an upper lifting or stroke position into a lower lifting or stroke position in which at least one opening formed in a lower end portion of the sterilization tube is disposed in the container in such a way that especially also the base portion of the container that is disposed opposite a mouth region thereof is adequately subjected to the sterilization medium that is discharged into the interior of the container from the tube opening or is withdrawn from the interior of the container through the tube opening and the tube.

Abstract: A transport mechanism for machines that process bottles or similar containers. To exchange the formatting elements, a gripping mechanism having at least one gripper head is provided. The gripping mechanism can be disposed on a machine frame or bedplate and is controlled by a control mechanism for a mechanical replacement of at least one formatting element that is held on a functional part and is made available on an apparatus for the supply and deposition of one or more formatting elements.