Abstract: A filling valve includes a valve seat, an axially-movable valve tappet extending through the valve seat and having an axial portion that defines a product-delivery space through which filling product flows, and axially-displaced first and second seal-seats disposed so that liquid product flows from the first seal-set, through the product-delivery space, to the second seal-seat and out through an outlet. The first seal-seat and the second seal-seat are arranged on the valve tappet in such a way that, in response to a closing movement of the valve tappet, the first seal-seat closes before the second seal-seat, and wherein the first seal-seat, after having been closed as a result of the closing movement, permits further axial movement of the valve tappet to permit closing of the second seal-seat.

Abstract: An apparatus for filling a container with a free-flowing material includes a probe, a probe end, a return gas pipe, a gas channel, an opening, and a first electrical probe contact. During filling, the probe extends into the container along an axial direction with the probe's end determining the filling height. The probe includes a return gas pipe with an opening disposed at its end. The first electrical probe contact is formed at the probe end so that it is offset along the axial direction from the opening.

Abstract: Method for producing tilled containers from parisons made from a thermoplastic material, wherein the respective parison is at least conditioned thermally and is subsequently shaped during a shaping and filling phase in a mold by the action of the pressure of the supplied filling substance into the respective container at a shaping and filling pressure, wherein, during the shaping and filling phase, the parison is guided at least temporarily through a stretching rod and/or is stretched in the axial direction, and wherein, at least at the end of the shaping and tilling phase, the respective container has an internal pressure which corresponds to the shaping and filling pressure (p2).

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 container-processing machine includes a transfer star having container-engagement elements disposed along a periphery thereof. The transfer star moves containers past first or second sets of processing stations that are disposed along corresponding diametrically opposed arcuate processing paths.

Abstract: A container-treatment machine includes a rotatable transport element having container holders and arranged to be pivotable by a pivoting device about a horizontal axis to pivot the container holders between feeding and treatment positions. In the feeding position, container openings of containers held by the container holders point upward. In the treatment position, they point downward. A pivot drive pivots the pivot arm, which holds the transport element so that it is rotatable by a rotary drive.

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 machine includes a multiple filling-element arranged for installation on a circulating rotor. The multiple-filling element includes individual filling-elements, each of which comprises a filling channel. Each filling channel has a dispensing opening, and an independently controllable liquid valve. The filling-element is formed for installation on an underside of a ring bowl provided on a rotor for holding liquid filling-charge. Other function elements are common to all the individual filling-elements. These function elements include controlled fluid paths.

Abstract: A method for processing containers includes periodically causing a reversible transporter to periodically transition between rotating in a first direction and rotating in a second direction that is opposite the first direction. When rotating in the first direction, the transporter feeds containers to a first processing region. When rotating in the second direction, the transporter feeds containers to a second processing region. Each processing region has as at least one processing position.

Abstract: A container-treatment machine having plural treatment stations for treating containers includes a transport element that rotates about a vertical machine axis, thereby moving the treatment stations circumferentially. A first transfer star supplies untreated containers simultaneously to corresponding treatment stations that are next to each other in the circumferential direction. A second transfer star removes treated containers simultaneously from corresponding treatment stations.

Abstract: An apparatus for filling containers with a product, includes a product supply, a pre-filling chamber having a controlled outlet, a movable sealing arrangement having a closed position for isolating the product supply from the pre-filling chamber, and a displacer arrangement that extends into the pre-filling chamber and that has an elastically deformable wall. The displacer arrangement is interactively connected to a control medium in such a way that an elastic volume change in the displacer arrangement changes a volume of the pre-filling chamber, thereby permitting control over an amount of product delivered through the outlet.

Abstract: A container transport device includes a drive driving a star wheel mounted on bearings within a hollow column that is part of the machine frame. The star wheel comprises two star wheel elements, one forming the leading flanks and the other forming trailing flanks. The two elements adjust to define an angular offset between them. During transport, the elements rotate synchronously while maintaining the angular offset. The hollow column encloses all function elements for setting or maintaining an angular offset, thus protecting them from exterior influence.

Abstract: A container-filling machine includes a rotor, a machine rack that doesn't move with the rotor, filling positions formed on the rotor, rinsing-cap elements used during CIP cleaning, each associated with a filling position, and a housing that isolates filling positions during aseptic filling. Each rinsing-cap element includes a rinsing cap at one end and a connection at the other. An outflow channel extends between the ends. The rinsing-cap element moves from a first position, in which it is outside a space occupied by a container being filling, and a second position, in which it lies sealed against a filling element. In the second position, the rinsing-cap element and the outflow channel connect to a fixed discharge on the machine rack. Each rinsing cap element moves between the first and second position by swiveling a swiveling element about an axis thereof between the two positions.

Abstract: A container-processing machine includes a transfer star having container-engagement elements disposed along a periphery thereof. The transfer star moves containers past first or second sets of processing stations that are disposed along corresponding diametrically opposed arcuate processing paths.

Abstract: An apparatus for conveying containers includes a transport star having a rotor that rotates around a machine axis, transport positions disposed around the star, and a laminar-flow system. Each transport position has a container carrier to hold a container. The laminar-flow system, which is above the container carriers and above the containers' trajectory, prevents container contamination while the containers are disposed on the transport positions. The laminar-flow system has openings that direct a stream of sterile medium downward along outer surfaces of the containers.

Abstract: A method for processing containers includes introducing flushing gas into a container's interior while the interior remains connected to a vacuum source, and adjusting flow of the flushing gas and an underpressure of the vacuum source such that, while flushing gas flows through the interior, a flushing pressure in the interior lies between 0.46 and 0.9 bar.

Abstract: A filling element includes an actuator, a liquid valve, and a gas tube on a plunger that extends into a container. The plunger and the gas tube define a first gas-duct that extends through the plunger and the gas tube. The first gas-duct has ends that extend respectively into a gas-space of a product vessel and the container's interior. A first gas-valve along the first gas-duct has a gas-valve body that interacts with a valve seat in the first gas-duct. The gas-valve body has a second gas-duct formed therethrough. This second gas-duct at least temporarily engages the first gas-duct in a fluid-tight manner. The gas-valve body has a valve face and a valve opening that cooperate to form a second gas-valve through which, when the second gas-valve opens, gas flows through the first and second gas-ducts and enters the container.

Abstract: A filling element includes a filling-element housing and a liquid-carrying duct formed therein that ends in an opening for discharging liquid product into a container. A liquid valve controls flow through the duct. During filling, a return-gas tube extends into the container's interior. An actuator uses the gas tube as a valve tappet to open and close the liquid valve. As it moves the gas tube up and down, the actuator simultaneously controls a first control-valve that controls flow between the return-gas tube and a gas-chamber. The gas chamber is configured for conducting away return gas forced out of the container's interior by incoming filling product during filling thereof, for imposing a filling pressure in the container's interior, for flushing said container's interior with a flushing gas, or for evacuating the container's interior.

Abstract: A filling element includes a flushing tube that carries flushing gas used to drive air out of a container's interior before filling it with liquid filling-material. The flushing tube moves between a starting position and a flushing position. In the flushing position, the flushing tube chokes a connection between a gas chamber and a gas channel that leads into a container. In the starting position, this connection is wide open.

Abstract: A method for filling containers with a liquid filling-medium supplied from a filling-medium tank includes sealing a container against a filling element, connecting an interior of the container to a flow duct within the filling element, adding liquid filling-medium to the container, thereby causing gas to exit the container via the flow duct, using pressurized gas, removing liquid filling-medium from the container through a flow duct, guiding the removed liquid filling-medium to a collection chamber, and monitoring flow of matter that passes through the flow duct on its way to the collection chamber.