Patent ID: 7779874
Filing Date: 2010-08-24
Classification: B65G

Abstract:
1. A method of cleaning and filling kegs with liquid beverage in a liquid beverage keg filling plant, said liquid beverage keg filling plant comprising: a liquid beverage keg cleaning machine being configured and disposed to clean empty liquid beverage kegs; a feed arrangement to supply empty liquid beverage kegs to said liquid beverage keg cleaning machine; a rotatable liquid beverage keg filling machine being configured and disposed to fill empty liquid beverage kegs with liquid beverage material; said liquid beverage keg filling machine comprising a plurality of liquid beverage keg filling devices for filling liquid beverage kegs with liquid beverage material; at least one storage unit being configured and disposed to store a supply of liquid beverage material; at least one supply line being configured and disposed to connect said at least one storage unit to said liquid beverage keg filling machine to supply liquid beverage material to said liquid beverage keg filling machine; a first linear conveyor device being configured and disposed to move empty liquid beverage kegs from said liquid beverage keg cleaning machine to said liquid beverage keg filling machine; an input star wheel structure being configured and disposed to move empty liquid beverage kegs from said linear conveyor device into said liquid beverage keg filling machine; a second linear conveyor device being configured and disposed to move empty liquid beverage kegs from said liquid beverage keg filling machine to another keg handling station; an output star wheel structure being configured and disposed to move filled liquid beverage kegs out of said liquid beverage keg filling machine onto said second linear conveyor device; each of said star wheel structures comprises: said method comprising the steps of: performing a first run of cleaning and filling liquid beverage kegs of a first size and diameter, said first run comprising the steps of: performing a second run of cleaning and filling liquid beverage kegs of a second size and diameter which is different from said first size and diameter, said second run comprising the steps of: