Patent ID: 6112780
Filing Date: 2000-09-05
Classification: B67C

Abstract:
A filling apparatus for filling bottles which have a lip defining a bottle opening, the filling apparatus comprising:a filling head configured for sealing engagement with the lip of the bottle;a fill tube supported by the filling head and configured to be introduced into the bottle opening such that the beverage fill tube substantially protrudes into the bottle during sealing engagement of the filling head and the lip of the bottle, and further configured to selectively convey fluid through the filling head during sealing engagement of the filling head and the lip of the bottle;a purge tube supported by the filling head and which circumscribes at least a portion of the fill tube forming a substantially annular passage there between and which is shorter than the fill tube and is configured to be introduced into the bottle opening such that the purge tube substantially protrudes into the bottle during sealing engagement of the filling head and the lip, and further configured to selectively convey fluid through the filling head during sealing engagement of the filling head and the lip of the bottle; and,an off-gas tube supported by the filling head and which circumscribes at least a portion of the purge tube forming an annular passage there between and which is shorter than the purge tube and is configured to be introduced into the bottle opening such that the off-gas tube substantially protrudes into the bottle during sealing engagement of the filling head and the lip, and further configured to selectively convey fluid through the filling head during sealing engagement of the filling head and the lip of the bottle.