Abstract: An arrangement for filling bottles under counterpressure and comprising at least one filling element relative to which a respective container is sealed during a filling process. The arrangement also has at least one gas channel that communicates with the interior of the container that is to be filled. Gas can be supplied in a controlled manner to the interior of the container from a chamber via the gas channel, and return gas displaced from the container during a filling process can be withdrawn to the chamber via the gas channel and at least one gas path. This gas path has an individually controllable control valve, and in series therewith a device that automatically controls the effective flow cross-section of the gas path in such a way that this flow cross-section is smaller in one direction of flow than in another, opposite direction of flow.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for filling bottles or similar containers, whereby the containers are rinsed and pre-pressurized with an inert gas in a preliminary pressurizing phase that precedes the filling phase. For the rinsing as well as the at least partial pre-pressurization, the return gas from a return gas channel is utilized. To keep the return gas as free from bacteria as possible, the containers are treated with a sterilization medium in a preliminary treatment phase that precedes the preliminary pressurizing phase. Furthermore, air and sterilization medium that are displaced in the sterilization phase and in the preliminary pressurizing phase are withdrawn to the atmosphere or to a channel that is separate from the return gas channel.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating and making available crown corks or similar closure elements. The apparatus has a wheel that rotates about a vertical axis. The wheel is provided with carrier members that project radially beyond a periphery of the wheel and are disposed over a support surface. The carrier members successively move closure elements that rest on the support surface from a transfer position formed at the end of a closure channel to a receiving position, where a respectively available closure element is picked up and carried along by a closing mechanism of a closing machine. The support surface is a surface of the wheel, which rotates about the vertical axis. At least one magnet arrangement is effective at each carrier surface. This magnet arrangement locates the carried-along closure element during movement between the transfer position and the receiving position.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for filling containers with a liquid material. The filling machine has a plurality of filling elements that form filling stations. At least one filling station is provided with a flowmeter that cooperates with a control device. On the basis of measurement data delivered by the flowmeter, the control device forms a control value that is used to control the filling stations that do not have a flowmeter.

Abstract: An arrangement for monitoring the filling elements of a filling machine that, for filling containers with a liquid filling material, has a plurality of such filling elements disposed on a rotating rotor. Each filling element has a closeable bell-shaped portion for accommodating a container that is to be filled. The bell-shaped portion is designed to operate at a processing pressure of a gaseous or vaporous medium, with the processing pressure being other than ambient pressure. To monitor a satisfactory operation, a respective pressure gauge is provided on each filling element and is responsive to the pressure in the pertaining bell-shaped portion of that filling element. At least one sensor is provided via which the pressure gauge produces an electrical signal if the processing pressure in the bell-shaped portion deviates from the ambient pressure.

Abstract: An arrangement for converting a multi-track container stream supplied by a feed mechanism into a plurality of parallel container rows in a withdrawal mechanism. The container rows are separated from one another by a lane separation or separating elements. A transition zone is provided between the feed mechanism and the withdrawal mechanism. To increase the output and/or to provide a protective processing of the containers, a lane separation formed by lanes is already provided at the transition zone. In particular, the width of each lane in the transition zone has a conveying width that corresponds to a multi-track container stream yet is several times less than the conveying width of the feed mechanism. Furthermore, the lanes of the transition zone narrow in a direction toward the withdrawal mechanism.

Abstract: An apparatus for filling containers, especially bottles, with liquid material is provided. The apparatus has at least one filling element for dispensing the liquid material into a respective container in a controlled manner. A bell-shaped portion is provided for each filling element and has a chamber for completely accommodating a container during a filling process. The underside of the bell-shaped portion has an opening for the introduction and withdrawal of a container. The apparatus also has a support mechanism that forms a support surface for the container and is disposed below the filling element in the direction of a filling element axis. Via relative movement between the bell-shaped portion and the support mechanism in the filling element axis, the chamber at the opening of the bell-shaped portion can be closed and opened by the support mechanism.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to aseptically dispense liquid under counterpressure into a container. In a sterilization phase that precedes the filling, the inner surfaces of a container, the container mouth, as well as an outer surface of the container adjacent to the mouth thereof, are acted upon by a hot, pressurized, gaseous or vaporous sterilization medium. During both the sterilization and filling phases, the respective container is thereby completely disposed in a chamber in such a way that the interior of the container communicates via the mouth thereof with the interior of this chamber. The sterilization medium is introduced into the container at a distance from the mouth thereof via a filling tube that later serves for filling.

Abstract: A closing mechanism for a capping machine for closing bottles via crown caps or similar closures. The closing mechanism is disposed over a bottle support and, in a vertical axis, can be lowered out of a starting position and returned thereto. A deformation member is provided for placing a closure upon the mouth of the bottle and for subsequently fixing the closure thereon via deformation of the closure while simultaneously pressing the closure against the mouth. A hold-down mechanism extends centrally through the deformation member and is spring-loaded via at least one spring. The hold-down mechanism is displaceable by a prescribed stroke in the vertical direction relative to a closure part that cooperates with the spring. For a CIP cleaning, openings are provided in the region of the hold-down surface for supplying and withdrawing a cleaning or rinsing fluid.

Abstract: A filter apparatus having a plurality of filter zones that are disposed one above the other and have associated therewith at least one common unfiltered fluid channel and at least one common filtrate channel. Each filter zone has at least one filter sheet, which is provided on a filter element, serves for the deposition of a cake layer formed from at least one filtering aid, and separates a filtrate collection area that opens into the filtrate channel from a filling space disposed above the filter sheet. Provided for each filter zone is an annular distribution space, which extends about the central axis of the filter, opens into the filling space at its outer periphery, and in the region of the central axis of the filter communicates with the unfiltered fluid channel.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to aseptically dispense liquid under counterpressure for filling thereof into a container. In a sterilization phase that precedes the filling, the inner surfaces of a container, the container mouth, as well as an outer surface of the container adjacent to the mouth thereof, are acted upon by a hot, pressurized, gaseous or vaporous sterilization medium. During both the sterilization and filling phases, the respective container is thereby completely disposed in a chamber in such a way that the interior of the container communicates via the mouth thereof with the interior of this chamber. The sterilization medium is introduced into the container at a distance from the mouth thereof via a filling tube that later serves for filling.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for dispensing carbonated liquids into a container under counterpressure. The introduction of liquid under a filling pressure into a container that is in a sealing position with a filling element is effected during a filling phase that follows pressurizing of the container. Return gas displaced by incoming liquid is at least briefly withdrawn from the container via a return gas passage of the filling element. After termination of the filling phase, with the container still in a sealing position with the filling element, first a pre-relief of pressure in the container to a pre-relief pressure is effected, and subsequently a relief to atmospheric pressure is effected.

Abstract: A method and filling element for dispensing a liquid into a bottle or some other container. A filling element is provided with a liquid flow valve and a delivery opening via which, in a filling phase, with the liquid flow valve open, the liquid that is to be dispensed flows into a container that is to be filled through an opening thereof. In a rinsing phase that precedes the filling phase, the interior of the bottle is supplied with a rinsing gas via a tubular member that extends through the container opening into the interior thereof. The rinsing gas is discharged into the container from a gas conduit opening provided at the bottom of the tubular member. This discharge opening is in the form of an annular opening that extends concentrically about the filling element axis. By introducing the rinsing gas into the interior of the container via this annular opening, the quantity of residual air that remains after rinsing is considerably reduced despite a short rinsing time.

Abstract: An apparatus for filling containers, under counterpressure, with carbonated liquids. The return gas that is to be withdrawn from a container that is being filled is conveyed, accompanied by a pressure differential, into a return gas chamber via a connection that is provided with a flow control mechanism. In this return gas chamber a pressure is regulated that is adjustable within a range that is between the filling pressure and the critical pressure of the flow control mechanism. In this way, the flow velocity with which the dispensed liquid flows into a container that is being filled can be smoothly adapted in an infinitely variable manner to the filling characteristics of a respectively dispensed liquid, and/or to the respective output requirements of the filling apparatus.

Abstract: A method for filling containers, under counterpressure, with carbonated liquids. The return gas, that is to be withdrawn from a container that is being filled, is conveyed, accompanied by a pressure differerntial, into a return gas chamber via a connection that is provided with a flow control mechanism. In this return gas chamber a pressure is regulated that is adjustable within a range that is between the filling pressure and the critical pressure of the flow control mechanism. In this way, the flow velocity with which the dispensed liquid flows into a container that is being filled can be smoothly adapted in an infinitely variable manner to the filling characteristics of a respectively dispensed liquid, and/or to the respective output requirements of the filling apparatus.

Abstract: A method and filtration apparatus for purifying solvents. Impurities present in the solvent are separated out in the filtration apparatus via filtration using at least one filter, through which the solvent flows and upon which the impurities settle as a filter cake. At least prior to the removal of the impurities that form the filter cake from the filtration apparatus, solvent residues present in the filter cake and possibly also in the filter are recovered by evaporation. The solvent residues in the filtration apparatus are vaporized by the action of a hot, gaseous medium that is conveyed first through the filter and only then through the filter cake, i.e. the impurities, in the direction opposite to the direction in which the solvent flowed through the filtration apparatus during the filtration process.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for monitoring the supply of cap members from a magazine or supply bin, via a channel, to the capping mechanism of a capping machine. At least one signal emitter, which is provided at the channel, generates an emitted signal that changes as the cap members move past, with a disruption signal being derived from the emitted signal if this emitted signal does not change during a specified time interval. A cycle signal is derived from the working or machine cycle of the capping machine. If no change of the emitted signal is determined in two successive cycles, the sum of which correspond to a full period of the cycle signal, the disruption signal is generated.

Abstract: An arrangement for converting a multi-track stream of containers into a plurality of parallel container rows that are separated from one another by separating elements. A feed mechanism conveys the containers, and a withdrawal mechanism is divided by the separating elements into a plurality of lanes, one for each of the container rows. A transition zone is disposed between the feed mechanism and the withdrawal mechanism, and is formed by the upper lengths of a plurality of conveyer bands that are disposed in the conveying direction, and transverse to this direction are disposed adjacent one another. The containers of the multi-track stream are distributed to the individual lanes in this transition zone.

Abstract: A foaming apparatus for driving out residual air from containers, especially bottles, that are filled with liquid material that can foam. The apparatus has a nozzle mechanism that cooperates with a control device and is disposed above a conveying section. To foam the material in the containers and to drive out the residual air from the latter as they move past below the nozzle mechanism, the latter is provided with a plurality of individual nozzles that in the conveying direction of the conveying section are fixedly disposed one after the other above the path of movement of the containers, with the spray nozzles being adapted to communicate with a common supply channel for the medium that induces foaming. Each spray nozzle is furthermore provided with a separately controllable control valve for establishing the communication of the spray nozzles with the supply channel.

Abstract: An apparatus for conveying bottles that each have an annular bead on the neck of the bottle. A conveyor line, which extends over the respectively desired conveying path, is provided with a bottle carrier that extends along the conveying path, extends below the bead on the neck of the bottle, and guides the bottles in a suspended state, via the beads, with play, through a guide slot that extends along the conveying path. The conveyer line is also provided with mechanisms for providing the bottles with a feed movement for conveying the latter. To provide a considerably more uniform conveying speed, avoid bottles striking one another, reduce the consumption of energy, and reduce manufacturing expenses, the mechanisms provide the feed movement parallel to the guide slot for the bottle necks, with the guide slot being formed on the bottle carrier. The mechanisms are provided with at least one mechanically movable driving element that mechanically engages the bottles that are to be conveyed.