Abstract: A method and apparatus for operating a filling machine having a stationary part, and movable part provided with filling elements, whereby each filling element has associated therewith at least one electrically actuatable valve and a signal emitter which is actuated by the filling material rising in a filling vessel or container briefly pressed into engagement on the filling element for filling thereof.

Abstract: A bottle filling machine having a lower part and an upper part rotatable relative thereto. The upper machine part includes a circular ring machine table having lift elements for the bottles to be filled, and has associated therewith filling elements connected to a liquid container, as well as a filling column having a central inflow fitting and a central rotary distributor. In the central section of the filling column is a receiving chamber for a control device, embodied as a digital computing system, for the control of the filling process; the receiving chamber is delimited by a protective cover capable of being placed in a maintenance or servicing position.

Abstract: A rinsing apparatus for microbiological cleaning of liquid-conducting zones of filling elements of a filling machine, such filling elements being provided with sealing structure in the region of outlets thereof. The apparatus includes a plurality of rinsing elements each having an interior chamber for receiving a fluid medium and each movable into an operative position for sealing co-operation with the sealing structure of a respective one of said filling elements, so that the fluid medium can transfer from the filling element outlet to the rinsing element chamber. Retaining members are provided for retaining each rinsing element in the operative position relative to the associated filling element. Each rinsing element additionally includes at least one outlet duct communicable with the lowermost region of the chamber for discharge of the fluid medium from the rinsing element. Communication between the or each outlet duct and the chamber is controlled by a valve arranged in the rinsing element.

Abstract: A method of recovering inert gas used during a filling process for pressurizing containers which are to be filled with a liquid. The method includes the steps of expelling the air found in the container, and pressurizing the container, with a mixture of air and heavy inert gas; filling the container with the liquid and thus expelling the pressurizing gas mixture; centrally collecting the expelled mixture from a plurality of containers and conveying the mixture to at least one accumulator; subjecting the pressurizing gas mixture in the at least one accumulator to at least one gravity effect for partially separating off the lighter gas components and producing a mixture of predominantly inert gas; adding additional inert gas to a mixture of predominantly inert gas; and returning the resulting mixture to the filling process, at least as a pressurizing gas mixture, for use with subsequent containers which are to be filled.

Abstract: A rotating single or multi-chamber counterpressure filling machine is provided and has filling elements respectively provided with a controlled pressurized gas valve arrangement having a valve- and control-unit, and with a centering device comprising a centering tulip on guided rods which are movable up and down, said centering device including a holder to fix the centering device in an upper position, and a releasor for releasing this holder. The holder and releasor are in the form of a controllable arresting device for arresting and releasing the centering device; the arresting device engages, or meshes in, at least one of the rods of the centering device.

Abstract: A method and system for controlling electrically controlled filling elements in bottle filling machines for filling liquids into containers by opening a liquid flow valve, and including at least one signal emitter responding at a predetermined liquid level to the liquid in the container to be filled. After response to the signal emitter, the liquid flow valve is closed with a time delay under the influence of a correction factor. A system for carrying out the foregoing method has associated with each filling element a correction element connected to the signal emitter of the filling element, with the output signal thereof acting on a control unit which in turn acts on the liquid flow valve.

Abstract: A filling element for single- and multi-chamber counterpressure filling machines. The filling element includes a filling tube which projects downwardly from a filling element body into a pressed-on bottle or container to be filled. The filling element also includes a switching member installed in the region of the filling tube for controlling the liquid flow valve, arranged inside the filling element, to close this valve when the desired filling level of liquid in the container is obtained. The filling tube is provided with a filling tube head installed from below into a suitable recess in the filling element body, and the filling tube head, with a downwardly directed shoulder, is stepped relative to the actual filling tube part. The switching member is an electrical conductor which is electrically insulated relative to the filling tube, and is placed on the outer side of the filling tube.

Abstract: A filling element, for single- and multi-chamber counterpressure-filling machines, with a filling tube held in a filling element body for introducing liquid into a container pressed into engagement against a container sealing region on the lower part of the filling element body; the filling tube extends through the container sealing region and is surrounded by an annular gap-like hollow chamber. A pressurized gas system is provided and has a pressurized gas valve arrangement controlled by devices installed on the filling machine, and conduits opening into the annular gap-like hollow chamber for introduction and discharge of pressurized gas. Also provided is a liquid flow valve, controlled at least for closing, and a control element arranged on the filling tube and responding at a predetermined filling height or level of the liquid in the container for terminating the inflow of liquid thereto.

Abstract: A filling element for counterpressure filling machines. The element has a controlled pressurized gas valve arrangement for generating a gas pressurization in a pressed-on container, which is to be filled, prior to introducing liquid into the container. The filling element also includes a liquid flow valve, which opens under the effect of a spring upon termination of pressurization, a valve actuating device, which closes the liquid flow valve against the effect of the opening spring, and an electrical switching member for generating a closure-control signal for the valve actuating device to occupy the closed position upon contact with the liquid rising in the container.

Abstract: A filling element for counterpressure container-filling machines. The filling element includes: a filling tube, open at the bottom, for the liquid to be bottled; a liquid valve, arranged ahead of the inlet into the filling tube, which includes an axially displaceable valve body and a filling valve outlet chamber which leads to an inlet in a filling tube; a connecting passage extending from the front surface of the body of the filling element closing the opening of a container pressed on for filling, to the interior of the filling tube, especially the inlet region thereof; and a control valve for opening and closing the connecting passage. The control valve is capable of being actuated in common with the liquid valve in such a manner that, with the liquid valve open, it is closed in the connecting passage, and is open when the liquid valve is closed.

Abstract: A method of cleaning bottle filling devices after bottle breakage in filling stations circulating in bottle filling machines, especially counterpressure filling machines. That filling station in which the bottle breakage has occurred is freed of glass fragments by spraying liquid thereagainst, while continuing with the machine rotation and still during the same circulation. At least during the first machine circulation subsequent to the bottle breakage and the liquid spraying, the filling device is rinsed with the liquid supplied to the bottle to be filled. After discharge from the machine circulation, the filled bottle is separated from the filled bottles of the remaining filling stations.

Abstract: An arrangement for a low-noise speed reduction of a one-track bottle flow in a bottle distributing station, especially in bottling plants, according to which a flow of bottles arranged in spaced relationship to each other in conformity with a desired bottle spacing is supported by and transferred by way of a guiding rail or guiding wall from the first moving conveyor section onto a second moving conveyor section adjacent and substantially parallel to the first conveyor section. The bottle flow or advancing speed of the bottles on the second conveyor section where it forms a closed-up bottle flow corresponds to the speed v.sub.2 or slightly higher speed of the closed-up bottle flow on the second conveyor section. Subsequently, the now closed-up bottle flow is transferred by a following guiding rail or wall onto one or more leading-off conveyor sections the speed of which is considerably reduced over that of the last mentioned closed-up bottle flow.

Abstract: A control arrangement for a control member for opening and closing of the exit of a feed channel communicating a closure magazine and a closure transfer device, especially for apparatus for closing containers such as bottles and the like to which a closure is to be secured. The control member is controllable by means of an opto-electric sensor arrangement which is actuatable by a proximity switch which, in turn, is actuatable by a control cam. The sensor is arranged at such a distance away from the point of tangency of the pitch circles respectively prescribed by the transport wheel and the rotating securing devices, laterally of the transport path of the transport wheel and its beam is directed transverse to the transport path to strike a container held by the transport wheel to project from the upper side or the lower side thereof, such that the control member is retained in its open position when a container is sensed and, when the absence of a container is sensed, i.e.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for handling bottles, especially for handling bottles which are discharged from a treatment machine in which the bottles are discharged in groups from the treatment machine, each group consisting of a row of adjacent bottles discharged from the machine in a direction perpendicular to the length of the row. A conveyor extending at an angle of about 95 degrees to the direction of movement of each row is disclosed adjacent the treatment machine. The rows of bottles are successively discharged from the treatment machine to the conveyor and are deposited on the conveyor in rows which are parallel and spaced and which extend from side to side of the conveyor at an acute angle to the direction of movement of the conveyor. The conveyor is advantageously formed of a plurality of parallel belts having a common drive.

Abstract: A device for feeding containers to a magazine table equipped with shelving and pertaining to a container delivery of processing and wrapping machines, especially of bottle cleaning machines. The device includes an endless conveyor belt passing by the shelving of the magazine table, and also includes devices, e.g. guiding plates, for exerting a lateral guiding pressure upon the containers accumulated in front of the shelving, the guiding pressure being directed toward the entrances to the shelving. The conveyor belt is so arranged with regard to the direction of introduction of the containers into the shelving of the magazine table that the feeding direction of the conveyor belt forms an obtuse angle with the direction of introduction of the containers into the shelving of the magazine table.

Abstract: A rotary closing machine for closing bottles with mouth lips by closures such as closure caps, corks and the like, which includes a supply container for receiving and supplying closures of the just mentioned type, and also includes a conveying device for feeding the content of the supply container to closing units having closing elements which are adapted to be lifted and lowered in the process of closing the bottles by the closure caps or the like closures. For pressing the closures, e.g. closure caps, against the respective bottle mouths and permanently deforming the closures on the bottle mouth, each closing unit has a deforming member and a holding down member extending through the deforming member; these two members are movable relative to each other. The device furthermore comprises a rotatable element associated with the conveying device for transferring the closures from the conveying device to a holding device at the lower end of the holding down member.

Abstract: A device with a plurality of filling elements for filling-in particular still liquids into bottles and similar vessels, in which each of the filling elements respectively comprises an axially displaceable filling pipe and a gas tube with an opening. The filling pipe has on its circumference provided a sealing element for the respective bottle or vessel mouth, which sealing element is axially displaceable thereon by means of a level adjusting device. The adjusting devices for the sealing elements are operable by a mechanism and through the intervention of transmitting members yieldable at least with regard to the axial movement of the filling pipes are drivingly connected to a common drive or are each connected to an individual drive, while in the last mentioned instance the individual devices are controllable by a common control mechanism.

Abstract: A cleaning machine for containers, especially bottles, which includes an endless transporting system for transporting containers to be cleaned through the machine, and which also includes a water pre-softening arrangement comprising at least two softening baths arranged one behind the other when viewed in the container transporting direction of the transporting system with the respective front bath having a lower temperature than the respective succeeding bath. The transporting system is over a considerable portion of its transporting path passed through the softening baths in submerged condition so as to also submerge therein the containers being transported by the transporting system.

Abstract: A control valve for fluid media which includes a housing with a bore having a widened section intermediate its ends into and from which inlet and outlet passages lead for the respective fluid medium to be controlled. A resilient diaphragm or diaphragm with a force to continually urge the diaphragm to assume its normal diametrical shape is provided in the widened section and in its normal, i.e., radially non-expanded condition, defines with the inner wall of the widened section a space establishing intercommunication between the inlet and outlet passages. The diaphragm is provided with a bore extending in the direction of and substantially parallel to the housing bore.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for filtering, especially for filtering beer, in which a filter having an inlet and an outlet has the outlet connected with the conduit system leading to first and second tanks and to drain. The filter is flushed with water periodically and a control system is provided which senses the density of the fluid at the filter outlet and controls valves in the conduit system. The control of the valves provides for diverting fluid from the filter outlet from a first beer storage tank to an intermediate tank when the density of the fluid at the filter outlet is modified by water and then from the second tank to drain when the density of the fluid at the filter outlet stabilizes.