Patent Publication Number: US-6213169-B1

Title: Single-chamber filling system

Description:
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. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention is explained in greater detail below with reference to the exemplary embodiments illustrated in the accompanying figures, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a simplified illustration in vertical section of one of the filling elements of a filling machine with a rotating construction in a first embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 2 is an illustration like FIG. 1, but with an additional possible embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 3 is an enlarged detail of the pressurization gas and Trinox valve; 
     FIG. 4 illustrates in block form a filling device with a control system; and 
     FIG. 5 shows a simplified overhead view of a system for the simultaneous filling, closing and subsequent labelling of containers, namely bottles, with which the present invention may be utilized. 
    
    
     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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 2 /liter, of wheat beers up to 9.0 gr/CO 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 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 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 2  concentration is achieved in the respective bottle  4 . This CO 2  atmosphere is improved if CO 2  is also used in the subsequent Trinox step, as a result of which the concentration of CO 2  in the atmosphere in the gas space  2 ″ and thus ultimately the concentration of CO 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 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 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 &amp; 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 &amp; a Labelling Station Equipped With a Support Element”; U.S. Pat. No. 4,981,547 issued on Jan. 1, 1991 and entitled “Mounting &amp; 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 &amp; the Like”; U.S. Pat. No. 5,075,123 issued on Dec. 24, 1991 and entitled “Process &amp; Apparatus for Removing Alcohol From Beverages”; U.S. Pat. No. 5,217,538 issued on Jun. 8, 1993 and entitled “Apparatus &amp; Related Method for the Removal of Labels &amp; 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, &amp; A Filler Valve Therefor”; U.S. Pat. No. 5,569,353, issued on Oct. 29, 1996 and entitled “Labelling Machine &amp; Apparatus for the Automatic Loading of the Main Magazine of a Labelling Machine, &amp; 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&#39;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. 
     PARTIAL 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