Single-chamber filling system

In a mechanical single-chamber filling system for filling bottles or similar containers with a liquid product, each filling element has a return gas tube that forms a gas or return gas duct that emerges in a gas space of a toroidal bowl. In this gas or return gas duct there is a mechanically actuated pressurization gas valve. The pressurization gas valve is simultaneously realized in the form of a Trinox valve, namely to regulate a Trinox pressure in the respective container, largely independently of the pressure in a Trinox duct.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
 1. Field of the Invention
 The present invention relates to a single-chamber filling system.
 2. Background Information
 The prior art discloses filling systems of this type in a wide variety of
 realizations.
 OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
 The object of the present invention is to describe a filling system that
 makes it possible, utilizing a simplified design and construction, to
 adjust a filling height by means of Trinox in a particularly reliable
 manner.
 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
 The present invention teaches that this object can be accomplished by means
 of a single-chamber filling system for filling bottles or similar
 containers with a liquid product, characterized by a Trinox duct that
 holds a gas, preferably an inert gas, at a second gas pressure which is
 greater than the first gas pressure, whereby the Trinox duct can be placed
 in communication via the control valve and a first gas pathway with the
 interior of the container that is fastened to the filling element, and
 whereby the pressurization gas valve can be realized in the form of a
 pressurization or tension gas and Trinox valve such that its valve body
 can open automatically when the gas pressure in the gas duct exceeds a
 specified pressure threshold which is higher than the first gas pressure
 but lower than the second gas pressure.
 In the present invention, the pressurization gas valve or its valve body
 can simultaneously form the Trinox valve. The resulting configuration is
 simplified and particularly reliable.
 In a preferred embodiment of the invention, in the first gas pathway, by
 means of which the interior of the container is pressurized with the
 Trinox pressure after the end of the filling and after the closing of the
 filling or fluid valve, to adjust the filling height and to push back
 excess product through the return gas tube into the fluid space or bowl,
 an element that reduces the gas flow, for example in the form of a
 throttle or nozzle, can be provided. As a result, in connection with the
 special realization of the pressurization gas valve, the Trinox pressure
 in the filled container (bottle) is largely independent of fluctuations of
 the gas pressure in the Trinox duct.
 In other words and in accordance with at least one possible embodiment of
 the present invention, a first gas pathway can be used to pressurize the
 interior with Trinox pressure after the end of the filling and closing of
 the fluid valve. A nozzle, throttle or restrictor can be positioned in
 this first gas pathway to reduce the gas flow.
 Refinements of the present invention are disclosed in the features and
 subclaims.
 The above discussed embodiments of the present invention will be described
 further hereinbelow with reference to the accompanying figures. When the
 word "invention" is used in this specification, the word "invention"
 includes "inventions", that is, the plural of "invention". By stating
 "invention", the Applicants do not in any way admit that the present
 application does not include more than one patentably and non-obviously
 distinct invention, and maintains that this application may include more
 than one patentably and non-obviously distinct invention. The Applicants
 hereby assert that the disclosure of this application may include more
 than one invention, and, in the event that there is more than one
 invention, that these inventions may be patentable and non-obvious one
 with respect to the other.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
 FIGS. 1-3 show a toroidal bowl or product bowl 1 of a mechanical
 single-chamber filling system, or of a mechanical single-chamber filling
 machine with a rotating construction. The toroidal bowl 1, as in known
 devices, is a component of the rotor of the filling machine, which rotor
 rotates around the vertical axis of the machine. During operation of the
 filling machine, the interior 2 of the product bowl 1 is filled up to a
 specified level N with the liquid product, so that in the toroidal bowl 1
 and in the bowl interior 2 there is a liquid space 2' that is occupied by
 the liquid product and, above the level N, a gas space 2" which holds an
 inert gas, such as CO.sub.2 gas at a specified filling pressure.
 On the underside of the toroidal bowl 2, there are filling elements 3 that
 are distributed at equal angular intervals around the machine axis, which
 filling elements each form a filling site with a bottle carrier (not
 shown), to fill the bottles 4 which for this purpose are fastened with
 their bottle mouth 5 by the respective bottle carrier in a sealed position
 against the filling element 3 or against a gasket 8 formed in the vicinity
 of a centering device 7 on the underside of the housing 6 of the filling
 element 3.
 In the housing 6 there is a liquid duct 9 that is in communication on top
 via a passage 10 with the liquid chamber 2' and on the underside of the
 housing 6 forms, for example, a substantially circular ring-shaped
 dispensing opening 12 for the liquid product that substantially
 concentrically surrounds a return gas tube 11. When the bottle 4 is in
 sealed contact with the filling element 3, the interior is therefore in
 externally sealed communication by means of the dispensing opening 12 with
 the lower end of the liquid duct 9. In the liquid duct 9, there is a valve
 body 14 that can form the filling or liquid valve 13, which is shown in
 FIG. 1 in its lower position in which it closes the fluid valve 13, and
 which to open the fluid valve 13 is moved upward in the direction of the
 valve axis VA, and to close the fluid valve 13 is moved downward again,
 and is controlled in a known manner by a mechanical control element 15,
 the pinion 15' of which interacts with the control cams (not shown) of a
 control cam that does not rotate with the rotor, and which acts via a
 control cam 15" on the shaft 14'.
 In other words and in accordance with at least one embodiment of the
 present invention, the housing 6 can contain a liquid duct 9 that can be
 in fluid communication on top via a passage 10 with the liquid chamber 2'.
 On the underside of the housing 6, the duct 9 can form a circular
 ring-shaped dispensing opening 12 for the liquid product that
 concentrically surrounds a return gas tube 11. When the bottle 4 is in
 sealed contact with the filling element 3, the interior can therefore be
 in externally sealed communication by means of the dispensing opening 12
 with the lower end of the liquid duct 9. In the liquid duct 9, there is a
 valve body 14 that can serve as the filling or liquid valve 13, which is
 shown in FIG. 1 in its lower position. In the lower position shown in FIG.
 1, the valve body 14 can close the fluid valve 13. To open the fluid valve
 13, the valve body 14 can be moved upward in the direction of the valve
 axis VA, and to close the fluid valve 13, can be moved downward again. The
 valve body 14 can be controlled in a known manner by a mechanical control
 element 15, the pinion 15' of which interacts with the control cams (not
 shown) of a control cam that does not rotate with the rotor, and which can
 act via a control cam 15" (see FIG. 3) on the shaft 14'.
 The interior of the gas tube 11 which projects by a specified length beyond
 the underside of the filling element 3 and is open on the lower end 11',
 continues in a duct formed in the shaft 14' of the valve body 14, so that
 a gas duct 16 is formed that extends partly in the gas tube 11 and partly
 in the shaft 14', and reaches from the lower end 11' of the gas tube to
 inside the gas space 2", and in particular has a mouth 17 (see FIG. 3) in
 the gas space 2" that is significantly higher than the level N. In the
 vicinity of the mouth 17, in the gas duct 16 there is a pressurization,
 overpressurization or tension gas (German Spanngas) and Trinox valve 18,
 which in the illustrated embodiment is formed essentially by a valve
 stylus 19 that extends through the mouth 17 into the interior of the gas
 duct 16, and with its lower, free end interacts with a valve seat 16'
 formed inside the gas duct 16. The valve stylus 19 can be lifted in the
 direction of the axis VA and thus in the axial direction of the gas duct
 16 out of the position closing the gas duct 16 to open the pressurization
 gas and Trinox valve 18, in which it is controlled by the mechanical
 control element 15. The valve stylus 19 is also biased by its dead weight,
 and is also assisted if necessary by a spring (not shown) into its
 position in which it closes the pressurization gas and Trinox valve 18, as
 explained in greater detail below.
 In other words and in accordance with at least one embodiment of the
 present invention, the gas tube 11 can project by a specified length
 beyond the underside of the filling element 3. Additionally, the interior
 of the gas tube 11 can be open on the lower end 11' and can continue in a
 duct formed in the shaft 14' of the valve body 14, so that a gas duct 16
 is formed that can extend partly in the gas tube 11 and partly in the
 shaft 14'. The gas duct 16 can reach from the lower end 11' of the gas
 tube to inside the gas space 2", and in particular can have a mouth 17 in
 the gas space 2" that is significantly higher than the level N. In the
 vicinity of the mouth 17, in the gas duct 16 there can be a pressurization
 or tension gas and Trinox valve 18, which in the illustrated embodiment
 can be formed essentially by a valve stylus 19 that extends through the
 mouth 17 into the interior of the gas duct 16, and with its lower, free
 end can interact with a valve seat 16' formed inside the gas duct 16. The
 valve stylus 19 can be lifted in the direction of the axis VA and thus in
 the axial direction of the gas duct 16 out of the position closing the gas
 duct 16 to open the pressurization gas and Trinox valve 18, in which it is
 controlled by the mechanical control element 15. The valve stylus 19 can
 also be biased by its dead weight, and can also be assisted if necessary
 by a spring (not shown) into its position in which it closes the
 pressurization gas and Trinox valve 18.
 In at least one possible embodiment of the present invention, the Trinox
 duct can contain a gas, for example CO.sub.2, at a pressure greater than
 (for example 1-2 bar greater than) the gas pressure in the toroidal or
 product bowl 1 of the the filling machine.
 In the filling element 3 and thus partly in the housing 6, there can be,
 among other things, ducts 20 and 21, of which the duct 20 is connected by
 one end to a vacuum duct 22 that is provided on the underside of the
 toroidal bowl 1 and is common to all the filler elements 3, which vacuum
 duct, for its part, is connected with a source of vacuum or negative
 pressure (not shown). The other end of the duct 20 is connected to an
 input of a mechanical control valve device 23, which can be provided
 separately for each filler element 3 on its housing 6. In the illustrated
 embodiment, the control valve device 23 is formed by a rotary disc valve
 which can be controlled by means of a control lever 23' by a stationary
 control cam (not shown). In the duct 20, located in series, are a throttle
 or nozzle 24 and a valve 25. The valve 25 acts on one hand as a check
 valve, by opening only for a gas current in the direction of the vacuum
 duct 22, and by closing in the opposite direction. The valve 25 functions
 simultaneously as a pressure relief valve, which closes when the pressure
 in the duct 20, on the side of the valve 25 facing away from the vacuum
 duct 22, falls below a lower pressure threshold (relief pressure). The
 pressure threshold can be adjustable.
 The duct 21 is connected with its one end with a Trinox duct 26 which is
 realized on the underside of the toroidal bowl 1 in the form of a toroidal
 duct that is common to all the filling elements 3. The other end of the
 duct 21 is in communication with a second input of the control valve 23. A
 second throttle 27 is also connected in the duct 21. The Trinox duct 26
 contains an inert gas, for example CO.sub.2 gas, in a known manner, at a
 gas pressure that is higher than the filling pressure in the gas space 2",
 i.e. in the Trinox duct 26, a pressure is set, for example, that is
 1.0-2.0 bar higher than the filling pressure in the gas space 2".
 There is also a third duct 28 that is in communication downstream of the
 fluid valve 13 on its one end with the fluid duct 9 in the direction of
 flow, and on its other end is connected to a third connection of the
 control valve 23. In the control valve 23 there is also a depressurization
 duct 29 that leads to the atmosphere.
 The control valve 23 has, for example, at least four switching positions,
 namely a first switching position in which all the ducts 20, 21 and 28 are
 connected to the control valve 23, a second switching position in which
 the duct 20 is connected with the duct 28 and the duct 21 is closed, as
 well as a third switching position in which the duct 20 on the control
 valve 23 is closed and the duct 21 is connected with the duct 28. In a
 fourth switching position of the control valve, the ducts 20 and 21 are
 closed, although the duct 28 is connected by means of the control valve
 with the duct 29.
 FIG. 2 shows, as an additional embodiment, a filling system that differs
 from the filling system illustrated in FIG. 1 essentially only in that
 instead of the vacuum duct, there is a return gas duct 31, which is in
 turn realized on the underside of the toroidal bowl 1 in the form of a
 toroidal duct that is common to all of the filling elements 3. The
 embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2 also omits the valve 25 in the duct 20.
 With the system illustrated in FIG. 1, a filling process is possible that
 includes the following process steps, for example:
 Evacuate bottle 4
 With the filling valve 13 closed, the interior of the bottle 4 that is in
 sealed contact with the filling element 3 is evacuated to approximately
 90% vacuum by connecting the duct 28 with the duct 20 via the control
 valve 23.
 Flush bottle 4 with CO.sub.2
 With the filling valve 13 closed, and with the control valve 23 blocking
 the ducts 20, 21 and 28, the pressurization gas and Trinox valve 18 is
 opened mechanically, and is controlled by means of the pinion 15'. The
 result of this process is to introduce CO.sub.2 from the gas space 2" via
 the gas duct 16 into the bottle 4.
 Repeated evacuation of the bottle 4
 With the filling valve 13 closed and the pressurization gas and Trinox
 valve 18 closed, the duct 28 is once again placed in communication with
 the duct 20 by means of the control valve 23, as a result of which the
 bottle is once again evacuated to approximately 90% vacuum.
 Pre-pressurization of the bottle 4
 With the filling valve 13 closed, and through the ducts 20, 21 and 28
 closed by the control valve 23, there is a repeated mechanical opening of
 the pressurization gas and Trinox valve 18, which is controlled by means
 of the pinion 15', whereby the interior of the bottle 4 is pre-pressurized
 to the filling pressure.
 In other words and in accordance with at least one embodiment of the
 present invention, with the filling valve 13 closed and the valve 23
 closed the pressurization gas and Trinox valve 18 can be mechanically
 opened to pre-pressurize the interior of the bottle 4. The pressurization
 gas and Trinox valve 18 can be controlled by the pinion 15'. By closing
 the control valve 23, the ducts 20, 21, 28 can be closed off to allow the
 bottle 4 to be pre-pressurized.
 Filling of the bottle 4
 As soon as the pressure between the interior of the bottle 4 and the
 toroidal bowl or the gas space 2" in the toroidal bowl 1 has equalized,
 the fluid valve 13 can open automatically as a result of the spring bias
 of the valve body 14. The pressurization gas and Trinox valve 18 can also
 be opened mechanically. The ducts 20, 21 and 28 are blocked by the control
 valve 23.
 Completion of filling
 As soon as the level of product in the bottle 4 exceeds the lower end 11'
 of the return gas tube 11, the discharge of the gas displaced by the
 product from the interior of the bottle 4 via the gas duct 16 into the gas
 space 2" is interrupted. The further flow of the product out of the liquid
 space 2' is thereby prevented or substantially prevented. The
 pressurization gas and Trinox valve 18 is still in the open position. The
 ducts 20, 21 and 28 are blocked at the control valve 23.
 Filling valve mechanically closed and Trinox valve opened
 The filling valve 13 is mechanically closed. As described above, in the
 Trinox duct 26 a pressure is set which is approximately 1.0-2.0 bar higher
 than the filling pressure in the gas space 2".
 The pressurization gas and Trinox valve 18 is now in its open position as a
 result of the pressure in the duct 16. The ducts 21 and 28 are connected
 via the control valve 23, so that a gas current restricted by the nozzle
 27 can flow out of the Trinox duct 26 into the bottle 4 or into the bottle
 neck or mouth 5. In the bottle 4, above the level of product that has
 accumulated there, an overpressure builds up that results from the filling
 pressure in the toroidal bowl 1, from the weight or closing force of the
 valve stylus 19 (pressure threshold of the pressurization gas and Trinox
 valve 18) and from the gas current flowing through the nozzle 27. This
 Trinox pressure in the bottle 4 is set by an appropriate sizing of the
 cross section of the nozzle 27 and of the closing force of the valve
 stylus 19 so that the product in the bottle 4 above the end 11' is pushed
 back via the gas duct 16, smoothly and without significant agitation, in
 particular without significant foaming and splattering, into the interior
 2 of the toroidal bowl 1. On account of the gas flow restricted via the
 nozzle 27, a constant and reproducible gas gap is formed between the end
 11' and the level of the product in the bottle 4. As a result, the degree
 of accuracy in the filling height that can be achieved is far beyond that
 of known filling systems.
 If, as described above, the Trinox duct 26 is supplied with Co.sub.2, the
 gas current flowing via the gas duct 16 to the interior 2 continuously
 enriches the atmosphere in the gas space 2" with CO.sub.2.
 Controlled preliminary depressurization
 With the filling valve 13 closed, with the pressurization gas and Trinox
 valve 18 closed, and with the ducts 20 and 28 connected via the control
 valve 23, there is a controlled preliminary depressurization. For this
 purpose, the preliminary depressurization pressure desired in the bottle
 neck is set at the valve 25 (by the selection of the appropriate spring
 force). The gases that escape from the bottle 4 during the preliminary
 depressurization are discharged via the vacuum duct 22. The pressure
 reduction from the filling pressure to the preliminary depressurization
 pressure is smooth, and is accomplished by throttling the gas current via
 the nozzle or throttle 24.
 The gas expanding in the gas duct 16 can flow out via the above mentioned
 gas gap between the end 11' and the level of the product in the bottle 4
 without significant agitation of the surface of the product, through the
 bottle neck and the ducts 28 and 20. Thus there is no agitation or no
 significant agitation of the product in the bottle 4 caused by this gas
 expanding in the gas duct 16, which is in marked contrast to similar
 filling systems of the prior art, in which, at the end of the filling
 process, the end 11' of the gas tube 11 is immersed in the product.
 Depending on the product being dispensed, the preliminary depressurization
 pressure is set so that gas bubbles from the beverage ascend to the
 surface quickly and without any substantial foaming that might interfere
 with the filling process.
 Final depressurization to atmospheric pressure
 With the filling valve 13 closed and the pressurization gas and Trinox
 valve 18 closed, the duct 28 is connected with the duct 29 via the control
 valve 23. The ducts 20 and 21 are closed at the control valve 23. The
 final depressurization to atmospheric pressure then takes place by means
 of a nozzle 30 provided in the duct 29. As a result of the preceding
 preliminary depressurization, there are no notable splattering losses
 during this final depressurization.
 With certain types of products, with beer for example, the preliminary
 depressurization pressure at the valve 25 can be set so that it is only
 slightly higher than atmospheric pressure (e.g. approximately 0.5 bar). In
 that case, the final depressurization step can be omitted.
 An additional modification to the process described above is that, for
 example, the bottle 4 is evacuated only once, i.e. the first evacuation
 and the intermediate rinsing of the bottle are omitted.
 The filling process (single-chamber filling principle with or without
 preliminary depressurization, with the controlled preliminary
 depressurization into the vacuum duct 22, with level correction by Trinox
 and final depressurization into the atmosphere) that is possible with the
 embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 and is described above is suitable in
 particular for the bottling of wine, cooler beverages, sparkling wines and
 champagnes, as well as carbonated alcoholic mixed drinks.
 In the embodiment with double pre-evacuation (low-oxygen bottling), the
 system is suitable primarily for the bottling of bottom-fermented and
 top-fermented beers up to 6.0 gr CO.sub.2 /liter, of wheat beers up to 9.0
 gr/CO.sub.2 /liter and oxygen-sensitive soft drinks.
 With the system illustrated in FIG. 2, for example, a process can be
 carried out that differs from the process described above in that the
 process steps "Evacuate bottle 4" and "Flush bottle 4 with CO.sub.2 " can
 be omitted. With the process that can be performed using the system
 illustrated in FIG. 2, the process step described below can also be
 inserted before the process step "Pre-pressurization of the bottle 4":
 Partial pressurization of the bottle 4 from the preliminary
 depressurization duct 31
 With the filling valve 13 closed and with the ducts 20 and 28 in
 communication with one another via the control valve 23, before the final
 pressurization of the bottle 4 from the gas space 2", there is a partial
 pressurization from the return gas or preliminary depressurization duct
 31, which contains a specified or adjustable CO.sub.2 pressure, which can
 be about one-half the filling pressure, for example. As a result of this
 partial pressurization, an atmosphere with a high CO.sub.2 concentration
 is achieved in the respective bottle 4. This CO.sub.2 atmosphere is
 improved if CO.sub.2 is also used in the subsequent Trinox step, as a
 result of which the concentration of CO.sub.2 in the atmosphere in the gas
 space 2" and thus ultimately the concentration of CO.sub.2 in the
 preliminary depressurization duct 31 are improved.
 As a result of the partial pressurization to an intermediate pressure
 level, an excessive atomization of liquid particles during the subsequent
 pressurization from the toroidal bowl is substantially prevented. Under
 some conditions, these atomized particles form detachment nuclei of the
 CO.sub.2 dissolved in the product, which could lead to an uncontrolled
 foaming during the subsequent depressurization.
 The process steps pressurization of the bottle from the gas space 2",
 filling, end of filling, mechanical closing of the filling valve and
 opening of the Trinox valve, are substantially the same as in the process
 described above.
 In the process that uses the system illustrated in FIG. 2, the controlled
 depressurization does not take place via the valve 25 into the vacuum
 duct, but via the nozzle 24 provided in the duct 20 into the return gas or
 preliminary depressurization duct 31 in which, as described above, the
 specified preliminary depressurization pressure is set or adjusted, and
 namely with the filling valve 13 closed and with the ducts 28 and 20 in
 communication with one another via the control valve 23. During this
 controlled preliminary depressurization, the preliminary depressurization
 pressure and the pressure change are also substantially optimally adjusted
 for the product being bottled (by an appropriate sizing of the nozzle 24),
 so that there are no problems caused by the product (foaming, release of
 CO.sub.2, etc.).
 FIG. 3 shows once again in an enlarged detail an embodiment of the upper
 end of the shaft 14' and the pressurization gas and Trinox valve 18 formed
 there with the valve stylus 19. As illustrated, the valve stylus 19 is
 free-floating in the disc 32 provided on the upper end of the shaft 14',
 i.e. it can be moved in the direction of the vertical axis VA. The disc 32
 is used in the manner of the prior art, in interaction with the control
 element 15 and its control cam 15", to close the fluid valve 13. When the
 fluid valve 13 is closed, the valve stylus 19 can thus be lifted by the
 pressure in the interior of the bottle 4 connected to the filling element
 3, as a result of which the lower end of the valve stylus 19 exposes the
 valve seat 16' formed in the gas duct 16 and thus opens the pressurization
 gas and Trinox valve 18. The pressure or pressure threshold thereby
 required for the opening results from the weight of the valve stylus 19.
 This opening pressure can also be increased or adjusted by a spring (not
 shown), if necessary.
 The special feature is therefore the dual function of the valve stylus 19
 both as a pressurization gas valve stylus and also as a Trinox valve
 stylus.
 During the flushing and/or pre-pressurization from the gas space 2", the
 stylus 19 is mechanically lifted by the control element 15 or by the
 control cam 15" formed on it to open the pressurization gas and Trinox
 valve 18.
 With the configuration of the pressurization gas and Trinox valve 18
 described above, in connection with the nozzle 27 provided in the duct 21,
 there is also a regulation of the Trinox pressure in the neck of the
 bottle 4 attached to the filling element 3, and in particular in such a
 way that pressure fluctuations in the Trinox duct 26 have hardly any
 influence on the Trinox pressure in the bottle neck, i.e. the pressure in
 the bottle 4, following the opening of the Trinox duct in the manner
 described above, is essentially a function of the closing force or the
 pressure threshold of the pressurization gas and Trinox valve 18, and of
 the sizing of the nozzle 27 and the gas current flowing via the nozzle 27
 into the bottle neck. The nozzle 27 and the closing force of the
 pressurization gas or Trinox valve 18, i.e. the weight of the closing
 stylus 19, are set so that the Trinox pressure formed in the bottle is
 just sufficient to smoothly push back excess product into the interior 2.
 As a result of the preliminary depressurization and the final
 depressurization, if any, into the vacuum duct 22, microbiological
 problems that can result during a depressurization into the atmosphere in
 the immediate vicinity of the respective filling element 3 from atomized
 product can also substantially be prevented. In particular also during the
 bottling of beer, the pressure of the preliminary depressurization into
 the vacuum duct 22 can be set sufficiently low that a subsequent final
 depressurization is no longer necessary.
 FIG. 4 shows a block diagram indicating a control system 201 connected to
 the filling system 202. The control system 201 can contain all of the
 components necessary for control of the system, including for example,
 computers, sensors, and components to manipulate the filling system 202.
 FIG. 5 shows one example of a system for filling containers which could
 possibly utilize the present invention. FIG. 5 shows a rinser 101, to
 which the containers, namely bottles 102, are fed in the direction
 indicated by the arrow A by means of a conveyor line 103, and downstream
 of which, in the direction of travel, the rinsed bottles 102 are
 transported by means of a conveyor line 104 formed by a star wheel
 conveyor to a filling machine 105 or its inlet star wheel. Downstream of
 the filling machine 105, in the direction of travel of the bottles 102,
 there can preferably be a closer 106 which closes the bottles 102. The
 closer 106 can be connected directly to a labelling device 108 by means of
 a conveyor line 107 formed by a plurality of star wheel conveyors. In the
 illustrated embodiment, the labelling machine has three outputs, namely
 one output formed by a conveyor 109 for bottles 102 which are filled with
 a first product, and are then labelled corresponding to this product, a
 second output formed by a conveyor 110 for those bottles 102 which are
 filled with a second product and are then labelled corresponding to this
 product, and a third output formed by a conveyor 111 which removes any
 bottles 102 which have been incorrectly labelled.
 In FIG. 5, 112 is a central electronic control device which includes a
 process controller which, among other things, controls the operation of
 the above-referenced system.
 The filling machine 105 is preferably of the revolving design, with a rotor
 105' which revolves around a vertical machine axis. On the periphery of
 the rotor 105' there are a number of filling positions 113, each of which
 consists of bottle carriers or container carriers, as well as a filling
 element 114 located above the respective container carrier. The toroidal
 vessel 117 is a component of the revolving rotor 105'. The toroidal vessel
 117 can be connected by means of a rotary coupling and by means of an
 external connecting line 121 to an external reservoir or mixer 123 to
 supply the product.
 As well as the more typical filling machines having one toroidal vessel, it
 is possible that in at least one possible embodiment of the present
 invention a filling machine could possibly be utilized wherein each
 filling element 114 is preferably connected by means of two connections to
 a toroidal vessel 117 which contains a first product (by means of a first
 connection) and to a second toroidal vessel which contains a second
 product (by means of the second connection). In this case, each filling
 element 114 can also preferably have, at the connections, two
 individually-controllable fluid or control valves, so that in each bottle
 102 which is delivered at the inlet of the filling machine 105 to a
 filling position 113, the first product or the second product can be
 filled by means of an appropriate control of the filling product or fluid
 valves.
 One feature of the invention resides broadly in the single-chamber filling
 system for filling bottles or similar containers 4 with a liquid product,
 with at least one filling element 3, in the housing 6 of which a fluid
 duct 9 is formed that forms a dispensing opening and is in communication
 with a fluid space occupied by the product in a bowl 2 that contains,
 above the product, a gas space 2" with an atmosphere under a first gas
 pressure (filling pressure), with a fluid valve 13 which opens in a
 filling phase to fill the respective container 4 placed with a container
 mouth 5 on the filling element 3 and closes again at the end of the
 filling phase, with a back-gas tube 14 which projects with its lower, open
 end 11' beyond the underside of the filling element 3 and is surrounded at
 least partly by the dispensing opening 12 of the fluid duct 9, with a gas
 duct 16 that extends from the lower end 11' of the back-gas tube 11 into
 the gas space 2", with a controlled pressurization gas [German Spanngas]
 valve 18 provided on this gas duct, which pressurization gas valve 18 has
 a valve body 19 which in a closed position blocks the gas duct from the
 gas space 2 and in an open position opens the gas duct 16 to the gas space
 2", and with gas pathways 20, 21, 28 realized at least partly in the
 housing 6 of the filling element 3, which gas pathways can be controlled
 by means of a control valve 23, characterized by a Trinox duct 26 that
 holds a gas, preferably an inert gas, at a second gas pressure which is
 greater than the first gas pressure, whereby the Trinox duct 26 can be
 placed in communication via the control valve 23 and a first gas pathway
 21, 28 with the interior of the container 44 that is fastened to the
 filling element 3, and whereby the pressurization gas valve is realized in
 the form of a pressurization gas and Trinox valve 18 such that its valve
 body 19 opens automatically when the gas pressure in the gas duct 16
 exceeds a specified pressure threshold which is higher than the first gas
 pressure but lower than the second gas pressure.
 Another feature of the invention resides broadly in the filling system
 characterized by the fact that the first gas pathway 21, 28 emerges in an
 area of the fluid duct 9 that lies underneath the fluid valve 13 in the
 direction of flow of the product.
 Yet another feature of the invention resides broadly in the filling system
 characterized by the fact that in the first gas pathway 20, 28 there is at
 least one element that reduces the pressure, for example at least one
 nozzle or throttle 27.
 Still another feature of the invention resides broadly in the filling
 system characterized by the fact that the pressurization gas and Trinox
 valve 18 or its valve body 19 can be actuated by a mechanical control
 element 15, which interacts, for example, with a stationary control curve
 or stationary control cams.
 A further feature of the invention resides broadly in the filling system
 characterized by the realization in the form of a filling machine of the
 revolving or rotating type with a plurality of filler elements 3 provided
 on a rotor or toroidal bowl 1.
 Another feature of the invention resides broadly in the filling system
 characterized by the fact that the control valve 23 is a mechanically
 actuated valve which interacts, for example, with a stationary control cam
 or with stationary control cams.
 Yet another feature of the invention resides broadly in the filling system
 characterized by the fact that the valve body of the pressurization gas
 and Trinox valve 18 is a valve stylus 19 that can be displaced axially in
 the gas duct 16, which valve stylus interacts with a valve seat 16' formed
 in the gas duct 16.
 Still another feature of the invention resides broadly in the filling
 system characterized by the fact that the pressure threshold is determined
 or set by the dead weight of the valve body 19.
 A further feature of the invention resides broadly in the filling system
 characterized by the fact that the pressure threshold is at least partly
 determined by spring means that bias the valve body 19 in its closed
 position.
 Another feature of the invention resides broadly in the filling system
 characterized by at least one second gas pathway 21, by means of which, in
 a second position of the control valve 23, the interior of the container 4
 fastened to the filling element 3 can be placed in communication via the
 container mouth 5 with an additional duct 22, 31.
 Yet another feature of the invention resides broadly in the filling system
 characterized by the fact that in the second gas pathway 20, there is at
 least one second throttle or nozzle 24.
 Still another feature of the invention resides broadly in the filling
 system characterized by the fact that in the second gas pathway 20 there
 is a pressure regulating valve 25 which blocks the second gas pathway 20
 when the pressure drops below a second pressure threshold (e.g.
 preliminary depressurization pressure).
 A further feature of the invention resides broadly in the filling system
 characterized by the fact that the additional duct 22 is a vacuum duct
 that is connected or can be connected to a source of vacuum or negative
 pressure.
 Another feature of the invention resides broadly in the filling system
 characterized by the fact that the at least one additional duct 31 is a
 back-gas or preliminary depressurization duct, and is designed in
 particular to receive the gas displaced from the container 4 during the
 filling of the container 4 at a specified third gas pressure that is lower
 than the first gas pressure.
 U.S. Pat. No. 4,135,699, issued Jan. 23, 1979 to Petzsch et al., which may
 contain valves or valve components which may be used in embodiments of the
 present invention, is hereby incorporated by reference as if set forth in
 its entirety herein.
 Examples of container filling machines and components thereof which may be
 used in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, may be found
 in the following U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,413,153, issued May 9, 1995; No.
 5,558,138, issued Sep. 24, 1996; and No. 5,713,403, issued Feb. 3, 1998.
 Possible examples of the interconnection between the components of the
 bottling system and of the design of the setup table 1, the star wheels
 2,3 the guide tracks 4, the support plate 6 the columns 8 and the vertical
 segments 9, may be found in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/151,845,
 filed on Sep. 11, 1998, which has the inventors Ulrich Petri and
 Klaus-Werner Jung, and which is assigned to KHS Maschinen-und Anlagenbau
 Aktiengesellschaft, which U.S. Patent Application is hereby incorporated
 by reference as if set forth in its entirety herein.
 Examples of bottling systems, which may be used in or with embodiments of
 the present invention, may be found in the following U.S. Patents, which
 are hereby incorporated by reference, as if set forth in their entirety
 herein: U.S. Pat. No. 5,634,500, issued on Jun. 3, 1997 and entitled
 "Method for Bottling a Liquid in Bottles or Similar Containers"; No.
 5,558,138, issued Sep. 24, 1996 and entitled "Process and Apparatus for
 Cleaning Container Handling Machines Such as Beverage Can Filling
 Machines"; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,713,403, issued Feb. 3, 1998 and entitled
 "Method and System for Filling Containers with a Liquid Filling Product,
 and Filling Machine and Labelling Device for Use with this Method or
 System". All of the above U.S. patent documents in this paragraph are
 assigned to KHS Maschinen- und Anlagenbau Aktiengesellschaft of the
 Federal Republic of Germany.
 Examples of container labelling and/or filling machines and components
 thereof and/or accesories therefor which may be used in embodiments of the
 present invention, may be found in the following documents, which are
 hereby incorporated by reference, as if set forth in their entirety
 herein: U.S. Pat. No. 4,944,830 issued on Jul. 31, 1990 and entitled
 "Machine for Labelling Bottles"; U.S. Pat. No. 4,911,285 issued on Mar.
 27, 1990 and entitled "Drive for a Rotary Plate in a Labelling Machine for
 Bottles"; U.S. Pat. No. 4,976,803 issued on Dec. 11, 1990 and entitled
 "Apparatus for Pressing Foil on Containers, Such As on the Tops & the
 Necks of Bottles or the Like; U.S. Pat. No. 4,950,350 issued on Aug. 21,
 1990 and entitled "Machine for Labelling Bottles or the Like"; U.S. Pat.
 No. 5,017,261 issued on May 21, 1991 and entitled "Labelling Machine for
 Objects Such as Bottles or the Like"; U.S. Pat. No. 5,062,917 issued on
 Nov. 5, 1991 and entitled "Support Element for the Followers of a Cam
 Drive of a Drive Mechanism & a Labelling Station Equipped With a Support
 Element"; U.S. Pat. No. 4,981,547 issued on Jan. 1, 1991 and entitled
 "Mounting & Drive Coupling for the Extracting Element Support of a
 Labelling Station for a Labelling Machine for Containers and Similar
 Objects"; U.S. Pat. No. 5,004,518 issued on Apr. 2, 1991 and entitled
 "Labelling Machine for Objects such as Bottles or the Like"; U.S. Pat. No.
 5,078,826 issued on Jan. 7, 1992 and entitled "Labelling Machine for the
 Labelling of Containers"; U.S. Pat. No. 5,062,918 issued on Nov. 5, 1991
 and entitled "Glue Segments which can be Attachable to a Drive Shaft of a
 Labelling Machine"; U.S. Pat. No. 5,227,005 and issued on Jul. 13, 1993
 and entitled "Labelling Station for Labelling Objects, Such as Bottles";
 U.S. Pat. No. 5,087,317 issued on Feb. 11, 1992 and entitled "Labelling
 Machines for the Labelling of Container"; U.S. Pat. No. 5,129,984 issued
 on Jul. 14, 1992 and entitled "Bottle Labelling Machine"; U.S. Pat. No.
 5,185,053 issued on Feb. 9, 1993 and entitled "Brushing Station for a
 Labelling Machine for Labelling Bottles & the Like"; U.S. Pat. No.
 5,075,123 issued on Dec. 24, 1991 and entitled "Process & Apparatus for
 Removing Alcohol From Beverages"; U.S. Pat. No. 5,217,538 issued on Jun.
 8, 1993 and entitled "Apparatus & Related Method for the Removal of Labels
 & Foil Tags Adhering to Containers, in Particular, to Bottles"; U.S. Pat.
 No. 5,174,851 issued on Dec. 29, 1992 and entitled "Labelling Machine for
 Labelling Containers, Such as Bottles"; U.S. Pat. No. 5,110,402 issued on
 May 5, 1992 and entitled "Labelling Machine for Labelling Containers Such
 as Bottles Having a Labelling Box for a Stack of Labels in a Labelling
 Station"; U.S. Pat. No. 5,167,755 issued on Dec. 1, 1992 and entitled
 "Adhesive Scraper Which Can be Adjusted in Relation to an Adhesive Roller
 in a Labelling Machine"; U.S. Pat. No. 5,413,153 issued on May 9, 1995 and
 entitled "A Container Filling Machine for Filling Open-Top Containers, & A
 Filler Valve Therefor"; U.S. Pat. No. 5,569,353, issued on Oct. 29, 1996
 and entitled "Labelling Machine & Apparatus for the Automatic Loading of
 the Main Magazine of a Labelling Machine, & A Supply Magazine Which Can Be
 Used in Such an Apparatus". All of the above U.S. patent documents in this
 paragraph are assigned to KHS Maschinen- und Anlagenbau Aktiengesellschaft
 of the Federal Republic of Germany.
 Some additional examples of container filling systems, valves or methods
 and their components which may be incorporated in an embodiment of the
 present invention may be found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,425,402, issued on Jun.
 20, 1995 and entitled "Bottling System with Mass Filling and Capping
 Arrays"; U.S. Pat. No. 5,450,882, issued on Sep. 19, 1995 and entitled
 "Beverage Dispensing Apparatus and Process"; U.S. Pat. No. 5,377,726,
 issued on Jan. 3, 1995 and entitled "Arrangement for Filling Bottles or
 Similar Containers"; U.S. Pat. No. 5,402,833, issued on Apr. 4, 1995 and
 entitled "Apparatus for Filling Bottles or Similar Containers"; and U.S.
 Pat. No. 5,445,194, issued on Aug. 29, 1995 and entitled "Filling Element
 for Filling Machines for Dispensing a Liquid Filling Material into
 Containers."
 Some additional examples of methods and apparatuses for closing bottles and
 containers and their components which may be incorporated in an embodiment
 of the present invention may be found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,402,623, issued
 on Apr. 4, 1995, and entitled "Method and Apparatus for Closing Bottles";
 U.S. Pat. No. 5,473,855, issued on Dec. 12, 1995 and entitled "System for
 Installing Closures on Containers"; U.S. Pat. No. 5,447,246, issued on
 Sep. 5, 1995 and entitled "Methods and Combinations for Sealing Corked
 Bottles"; U.S. Pat. No. 5,425,402, issued on Jun. 20, 1995 and entitled
 "Bottling System with Mass Filling and Capping Arrays"; U.S. Pat. No.
 5,398,485, issued on Mar. 21, 1995, and entitled "Bottle Support Mechanism
 for a Capping Machine"; U.S. Pat. No. 5,419,094, issued on May 30, 1995
 and entitled "Constant Speed Spindles for Rotary Capping Machine"; and
 U.S. Pat. No. 5,449,080, issued on Sep. 12, 1995 and entitled "Methods and
 Combinations for Sealing Corked Bottles."
 U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/300,015, filed on or about Apr. 26,
 1999, having the inventor Ludwig Cltsserath, with attorney docket no.
 NHL-HOL-41, and claiming priority from Federal Republic of Germany Patent
 Application No. 198 18 762.9, which Federal Republi of Germany Patent
 Application was filed on Apr. 27, 1998, and DE-OS 198 18 762.9 and DE-PS
 198 18 762.9, are hereby incorporated by reference as if set forth in
 their entirety herein.
 The components disclosed in the various publications, disclosed or
 incorporated by reference herein, may be used in the embodiments of the
 present invention, as well as, equivalents thereof.
 The appended drawings in their entirety, including all dimensions,
 proportions and/or shapes in at least one embodiment of the invention, are
 accurate and to scale and are hereby included by reference into this
 specification.
 All, or substantially all, of the components and methods of the various
 embodiments may be used with at least one embodiment or all of the
 embodiments, if more than one embodiment is described herein.
 All of the patents, patent applications and publications recited herein,
 and in the Declaration attached hereto, are hereby incorporated by
 reference as if set forth in their entirety herein.
 The corresponding foreign patent publication applications, namely, Federal
 Republic of Germany Patent Application No. 198 18 761.0, filed on Apr. 27,
 1998, having inventor Ludwig Cltsserath, and DE-OS 198 18 761.0 and DE-PS
 198 18 761.0, as well as their published equivalents, and other
 equivalents or corresponding applications, if any, in corresponding cases
 in the Federal Republic of Germany and elsewhere, and the references cited
 in any of the documents cited herein, are hereby incorporated by reference
 as if set forth in their entirety herein.
 The details in the patents, patent applications and publications may be
 considered to be incorporable, at applicant's option, into the claims
 during prosecution as further limitations in the claims to patentably
 distinguish any amended claims from any applied prior art.
 Although only a few exemplary embodiments of this invention have been
 described in detail above, those skilled in the art will readily
 appreciate that many modifications are possible in the exemplary
 embodiments without materially departing from the novel teachings and
 advantages of this invention. Accordingly, all such modifications are
 intended to be included within the scope of this invention as defined in
 the following claims. In the claims, means-plus-function clause are
 intended to cover the structures described herein as performing the
 recited function and not only structural equivalents but also equivalent
 structures.
 The invention as described hereinabove in the context of the preferred
 embodiments is not to be taken as limited to all of the provided details
 thereof, since modifications and variations thereof may be made without
 departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
 TIAL NOMENCLATURE
 1 Toroidal bowl
 2 Bowl interior
 2' Liquid space
 2" Gas space
 3 Filling element
 4 Bottle
 5 Mouth of bottle
 6 Housing
 7 Centering element
 8 Gasket
 9 Liquid duct
 10 Passage
 11 Return gas tube
 11' End
 12 Dispensing opening
 13 Filling or fluid valve
 14 Valve body
 14' Valve body
 15 Control element
 15' Pinion
 15" Control cam
 16 Gas duct
 16' Valve seat
 17 Mouth
 18 Pressurization gas and Trinox valve
 19 Valve stylus
 20, 21 Duct
 22 Vacuum duct
 23 Control valve
 24 Throttle
 25 Check and pressure control valve
 26 Trinox duct
 27 Throttle
 28, 29 Duct
 30 Throttle
 31 Return gas or preliminary depressurization duct
 32 Disc