Patent ID: 7814940
Filing Date: 2010-10-19
Classification: A61L,B08B,B65B

Abstract:
1. A method of operating a beverage filling plant for filling containers with liquid beverage material, each of which containers comprises: a mouth portion, a main body portion, and a curved, hollow handle portion comprising an upper handle portion connected to an upper body portion of said main body portion adjacent said mouth portion, and a lower handle portion connected to a lower body portion of said main body portion adjacent the bottom of said container; said method comprising the steps of: moving containers to a container sterilizing machine; sterilizing the interior surfaces of said containers by dispensing aerosol sterilizing medium comprising hydrogen peroxide into said containers; moving containers from said container sterilizing machine to a container filling machine; moving containers with a first star wheel structure into container carriers disposed on the periphery of a rotatable rotor of said container filling machine; conducting liquid beverage material from at least one liquid reservoir to a plurality of filling elements disposed on the periphery of said rotor; activating said filling elements and filling containers with liquid beverage material; moving filled containers with a second star wheel structure out of said container filling machine; moving containers to a container closing machine; moving containers with a third star wheel structure into container carriers disposed on the periphery of a rotatable rotor of said container closing machine; conducting container closures from a supply of container closures to a plurality of closing elements disposed on the periphery of said rotor of said container closing machine; activating said closing elements and closing filled containers; moving filled, closed containers with a fourth star wheel structure out of said container closing machine; and said step of sterilizing comprising: