Patent Publication Number: US-2009236007-A1

Title: Method and apparatus for filling beverage bottles, in a beverage bottling plant, with a beverage material comprising a carbonated water component and a liquid flavoring component, and method and apparatus for filling containers, in a container filling plant, with a material comprising a first ingredient and a second ingredient

Description:
CONTINUING APPLICATION DATA 
     This application is a Continuation-In-Part application of International Patent Application No. PCT/EP2007/007818, filed on Sep. 7, 2007, which claims priority from Federal Republic of Germany Patent Application No. 10 2006 045 987.3, filed on Sep. 27, 2006. International Patent Application No. PCT/EP2007/007818 was pending as of the filing date of this application. The United States was an elected state in International Patent Application No. PCT/EP2007/007818. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present application relates to a method and apparatus for filling beverage bottles, in a beverage bottling plant, with a beverage material comprising a carbonated water component and a liquid flavoring component, and method and apparatus for filling containers, in a container filling plant, with a material comprising a first ingredient and a second ingredient. 
     2. Background Information 
     Background information is for informational purposes only and does not necessarily admit that subsequently mentioned information and publications are prior art. 
     The present application relates to a method for the filling of bottles or similar containers with a liquid comprising at least two ingredients. The ingredients are mixed with one another during the filling of the individual container, and the mixing ratio of the ingredients is controlled by measuring the quantity of at least one ingredient fed into the individual container with a flow meter. The present application also relates to a filling system for the filling of bottles or similar containers with a liquid that comprises at least two ingredients. The ingredients are mixed with one another during the filling of the respective container. The filling system comprises at least one filling element with a discharge opening for the dispensing of the liquid being bottled in the individual container. The discharge opening can be placed in communication via a liquid path. The filling system further comprises a dosing valve arrangement with bowls or chambers, each of which houses one ingredient corresponding to the mixing ratio of the ingredients in the container. 
     The present application relates to a method for the filling of containers with a liquid being bottled which consists of at least two ingredients, namely for example a basic ingredient and an additional ingredient, whereby the ingredients are mixed with each other during the filling process. Methods of this type are known in the beverage industry. 
     In one such method, the mixing of two ingredients which, when mixed, form the finished liquid or beverage, takes place in a dosing chamber which is realized in a housing of the respective filling element. By means of a dosing valve arrangement which is formed by two controllable dosing valves, the liquid ingredients are fed to the dosing chamber in the quantity or in the volume required to achieve the desired mixing ratio, and for example under the control of a level sensor which is located in the dosing chamber. After the mixing of the ingredients in the dosing chamber, the finished beverage is introduced into the individual container by opening a liquid valve. This method is intended for the filling of cans and is not suitable for the filling of containers, for example containers made of glass with empty volumes that fluctuate significantly, because with this method it is not possible to achieve a constant fill level. 
     Some methods and filling systems involve the mixing of the ingredients which is controlled on the basis of quantity or volume, and for example with the use of an independent flow meter for each ingredient on each filling element. On filling machines that employ a rotary construction with high capacity and have a plurality of filling elements, these designs require or desire a significant effort in terms of construction. 
     OBJECT OR OBJECTS 
     An object of the present application is to describe a method for the filling of bottles or similar containers with a liquid that is produced by the mixing of at least two ingredients, which (method) makes it possible to accomplish this filling with reduced effort and expense in terms of construction. The present application teaches that this object can be accomplished by a method for filling bottles or similar containers with a liquid consisting of at least two ingredients, whereby the ingredients are mixed with one another during the filling of the respective container and the mixing ratio of the ingredients is controlled by measurement of the quantity of at least one ingredient fed into the respective container by a flow meter. The mixing of the ingredients takes place in the individual container, and that the mixing of the ingredients takes place during the filling so that at least one ingredient is fed into the individual container using the flow meter to control the quantity or volume. The ingredient fed into the container at the end of the filling process is introduced into the container to control the fill level. The present application also teaches that this object can be accomplished by a method for the filling of bottles or similar containers with a liquid comprising at least two ingredients, whereby the ingredients are mixed with one another during the filling of the individual container and the mixing ratio of the ingredients is controlled by measuring the quantity of at least one ingredient fed into the individual container with a flow meter. The mixing of the ingredients takes place in the individual container, and that to control the mixing ratio for the at least two ingredients a common flow meter is used, through which these ingredients flow at different times. 
     SUMMARY 
     In one basic realization of the present application, the mixing of the ingredients takes place in the individual container, whereby the filling of the respective container, i.e. the controlled, dosed dispensing of the at least two ingredients in the quantity or volume required for the desired mixture, takes place with the use of a single flow meter which is associated with the individual filling position or the individual filling element. Because on a filling machine with a plurality of filling systems or filling elements, only one such flow meter is required for each filling element, the filling of even more than one ingredient of a liquid that is formed by mixing is possible without an elevated construction expense and with overall reduced costs. 
     The present application teaches that the filling is controlled on the basis of quantity or volume, i.e. on the basis of the quantity of the ingredients that when mixed form the liquid to be bottled, as measured by the respective flow meter and flowing into the respective container. The ingredients are introduced into the individual container either sequentially one after the other or at different times. The mixing of the ingredients takes place in the container. 
     It is thereby possible in one possible embodiment, to achieve a more thorough mixing of the ingredients in the individual container, to introduce the individual ingredients into the container multiple times in alternation. The filling process can then also be ended by the volume control system, for example, when the total volume of the ingredients introduced into the individual container equals the desired quantity to be bottled. 
     Basically it is also possible to end the filling process prematurely on the basis of the level control. In one possible embodiment, the liquids being bottled are to be bottled in glass containers or bottles using a hot bottling process, because the empty volume of glass containers fluctuates greatly as a result of manufacturing tolerances, for example, and a purely volume-controlled filling would result in very different fill levels, which would be unacceptable to the final consumer. 
     It is hereby also possible, for at least a partial filling of the container, to perform a filling that is controlled on the basis of quantity or volume and then to perform a level-controlled filling for the ingredient which is introduced last or for the partial filling, and of course taking into consideration the average empty volume of the containers and of the desired mixing ratio, in which case, for example, a filling of only one ingredient based on quantity or volume is performed using the flow meter, and the second ingredient is introduced with a control of the fill level. 
     In an additional basic realization of the present application, the mixing of the ingredients takes place outside the individual container in a mixing chamber of the respective filling system filling element before the liquid is introduced into the container. The special feature of this method, however, is that the filling of the container from the mixing chamber is controlled on the basis of the fill level. 
     The means that determine the fill level in the individual container which form the outlet of the mixing chamber or the fluid valve of the filling element which is in communication with this outlet during the filling are then closed when the specified or desired fill level in the container is reached. 
     The means that determine the fill level are thereby, for example, at least one probe which extends into the container in question at least during the filling process, with at least one probe contact and/or one return gas tube or a notch in the tube. The volume of the mixing chamber is thereby designed so that it is in all cases slightly greater than the empty volume of the bottles or containers to be processed. This realization also essentially ensures or promotes a constant or substantially constant fill level of the liquid in the containers when the ingredients are mixed in a mixing chamber outside the individual container, in one possible embodiment in containers whose empty volume fluctuates significantly from one container to the next. 
     The above-discussed embodiments of the present invention will be described further herein below. When the word “invention” or “embodiment of the invention” is used in this specification, the word “invention” or “embodiment of the invention” includes “inventions” or “embodiments of the invention”, that is the plural of “invention” or “embodiment of the invention”. By stating “invention” or “embodiment of the invention”, the Applicant does 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 Applicant hereby asserts 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 
       Developments of the present application are described according to the present application. The present application is explained in greater detail below with reference to the possible embodiments illustrated in the accompanying figures, in which: 
         FIGS. 1 through 3  are each simplified illustrations of a filling element of a filling machine that employs a rotary construction, together with two bowls for different liquids to be bottled, with different embodiments of the present application; 
         FIG. 2A  shows a simplified probe contact of a filler tube of one possible embodiment of the application; 
         FIG. 4  is a simplified illustration of the flow meter associated with the individual filling element, together with a 3/2 way valve integrated into this flow meter; 
         FIG. 5  is an illustration like  FIG. 1  of an additional embodiment of the filling system according to the present application; and 
         FIG. 6  shows schematically the main components of one possible embodiment example of a system for filling containers, specifically, a beverage bottling plant for filling bottles with at least one liquid beverage, in accordance with at least one possible embodiment, in which system or plant could possibly be utilized at least one aspect, or several aspects, of the embodiments disclosed herein. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT OR EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG. 1  shows a filling element  1  of a filling system of a machine that employs a rotary construction and is used to fill bottles  2  or similar containers with a liquid which is composed of two ingredients which are mixed with each other only in the individual bottle  2 . One ingredient can be, for example, an additive in the form of a liquid flavoring such as syrup, and the other ingredient can be the basic ingredient such as carbonated water, e.g. mineral water. The filling element  1  is provided with a plurality of identical or similar filling elements  1  on the periphery of a rotor  3  which is driven in rotation around a vertical machine axis and on which there are, among other things, two bowls  4  and  5  that serve all the filling elements in common, whereby each bowl contains one ingredient of the liquid being bottled, for example the bowl  4  for the additive and the bowl  5  for the basic ingredient. 
     In a filling element housing  6  of each filling element, a liquid duct  7  is realized, the inlet  8  of which is in communication via a flow meter  9  and a connecting line  10  with the outputs of two dosing valves  12  and  13  which can be actuated by an electrical control device  11 . The dosing valves  12  and  13 , which form a control valve device for the control of the mixing ratio of the two ingredients in the individual bottle  2  and which are individually actuated by the control device  11  between an initial closed position and an open position in a manner which is described in greater detail below, are connected with their inputs to each bowl, and in one possible embodiment the dosing valve  12  to the bowl  4  and the dosing valve  13  to the bowl  5 . 
     Therefore a flow meter and the valve system  14  that has the two dosing valves  12  and  13  are associated with each filling element  1  of the filling machine. 
     The flow meter  9  is realized in the form of an MID, i.e. a contactless, magnetically inductive flow meter which in a known manner generates a magnetic field in a measurement duct through which the liquid flows, which magnetic field induces an electrical voltage as a result of the electrically conductive liquid flowing through this measurement duct which is proportional to the flow quantity and is analyzed as the measurement signal that determines the flow quantity. 
     Associated with each filling element  1  is a container carrier  19  which is also located on the rotor  3 , in which the individual bottle is held suspended by a flange  2 . 2  which is realized in the vicinity of the bottle mouth  2 . 1 , and namely so that the bottle mouth  2 . 1  faces the dispensing opening  15  at some distance from it. 
     In the liquid duct  7 , which emerges at its lower end in  FIG. 1  at a discharge opening  15  that is equipped with a gas lock, there is a liquid valve  16 , the valve body  16 . 1  of which is actuated with an actuator device  18  and is controlled by the control device  11 , so that the liquid valve  16  opens at the beginning of the filling process and closes at the end of the filling process. 
     To achieve the desired mixing ratio of the two ingredients of the liquid being bottled in the individual bottle, the dosing valves  12  and  13  are opened by the control device  11 , taking into consideration the quantities measured by the flow meter  9 , whereby when the one dosing valve  12  or  13  is open, the other dosing valve  13  or  12  respectively is closed. In the simplest case, the control system operates so that at the beginning of each filling process and when the liquid valve  16  is open, the dosing valve  12  is opened, and is closed again after a certain length of time has passed, taking into consideration the quantity of liquid measured by the flow meter  9 , the volume of the bottle  2  and the desired mixing ratio of the ingredients. Then the bottle  2  is filled by opening the dosing valve  13  with the second ingredient (e.g. the basic ingredient), until the required or desired quantity of liquid gas been introduced into the bottle  2  and a corresponding signal from the flow meter  9  via the control device  11  causes the closing of the dosing valve  13  and of the liquid valve  16  as a function of the volume. The liquid valve  16  is thereby in one possible embodiment closed before the dosing valve  13 , to prevent, restrict, and/or minimize the connecting or communicating duct  10  from running empty and to achieve clear and always or substantially always identical initial conditions for the start of each filling process. 
     To improve the mixing of the two ingredients of the liquid being bottled in the individual bottle, the filling process can also be controlled so that partial amounts of the required and/or desired total amounts of the ingredients of the liquid being bottled are introduced into the bottle by multiple openings and closings of the dosing valves  12  and  13 , whereby the partial amounts of the ingredients measured by the flow meter  9  are added up in the control device, and the maintenance of the desired mixing ratio is thereby monitored and controlled. 
     If the bottles  2  have different volumes, for example as the result of manufacturing tolerances as is usually the case with glass bottles, and if a filling as a function of the volume is therefore unable to achieve a constant or essentially constant fill level, a probe which is very schematically indicated as  20  in  FIG. 1  is introduced into the individual bottle  2  to monitor the fill level and to terminate the filling process. In other words, a closing of the liquid valve  16  takes place when the desired fill level has been reached, i.e. the process is controlled as a function of the fill level. The fill level can thereby be set, for example, using that ingredient of the liquid being bottled which is introduced into the respective bottle  2  in any case at the conclusion of the filling process, i.e. in the case described above the basic ingredient from the bowl  5 . 
       FIG. 2  shows as an additional example a filling element  1   a  of a filling machine that employs a rotary construction. The filling element  1   a , which is in turn provided together with a plurality of identical filling elements on the rotor  3  of this machine, differs from the filling element  1  in the aspect that is of interest here essentially in that it is realized with a long filling tube  21 , which emerges on its upper end into the liquid duct  7  which is provided in the filling element housing  6   a  and has the liquid valve  16   a , and with its lower end forms the discharge opening  21 . 1 . During the filling process, the individual bottle  2  is pressed by means of its mouth  2 . 1  by a container carrier  22  which is realized in the form of a bottle plate until it comes into sealed contact against the underside of the filling element  1   a  or against a seal  23  which is located there, and is in communication by means of an annular gap that surrounds the filling tube  21  with a return gas path. 
     By opening the liquid valve  16   a  and by a controlled opening and closing of the dosing valves  12  and  13 , taking into consideration the quantity of fluid measured by the flow meter  9  for the ingredients, these ingredients are introduced into and mixed in the individual bottle  2 , and in one possible embodiment in the desired mixing or quantitative ratio. In this embodiment, the filling tube  21  is provided with at least one probe contact  24  by means of which the level of the liquid is determined, i.e. one of the two ingredients, namely the last ingredient introduced into the bottle  2 , is fed via the filling element  1   a  until the probe contact  24  responds when the liquid valve  16  closes and the subsequent closing of the dosing valve  12  or  13  and thus achieves the required and/or desired fill level. 
       FIG. 2A  shows a close up of one possible embodiment of a probe or fill level sensor  24  on a filler tube  21  of the filling element  1  of the present application. As seen in  FIG. 2A , the filler tube  21  comprises a probe contact  24 . The probe contact  24  is disposed as a ring around the outside surface of the filler tube  21 . The probe contact  24  is configured as part of an open circuit. A wire  51  runs from the probe contact  24  to a sensor  50 . The wire  51  and the probe contact  24  are insulated from the filler tube  21 . When a liquid or liquid material or liquid ingredient comes into contact with the probe contact  24 , the liquid material completes the circuit between the probe contact  24  and the filler tube  21 . The sensor  50  is configured to sense when the circuit is completed or closed. The sensor  50  sends a signal to a controller or control device  112  to end the discharge of the liquid material into the bottle  2 . 
     When the filler tube  21  is disposed inside the container  2  for closed jet filling of the container  2 , the liquid material enters the bottle  2  and fills the bottle  2 . Once the liquid material fills the container  2  and reaches the probe contact  24  on the filler tube  21 , the liquid material completes the circuit. The sensor  50  detects that the circuit is closed, and the filling of the bottle  2  is stopped. 
     In an additional realization of the present application,  FIG. 3  shows a filling system with a filling element  1   b  which is provided in turn with a plurality of identical or similar filling elements on the periphery of a rotor of a filling machine that employs a rotary construction and which is used for the filling of the bottles  2  under counterpressure with the liquid formed by the two liquid ingredients. The individual bottle  2  is thereby pressed in sealed contact during the filling by means of its bottle mouth  2 . 1  against the discharge opening which is realized on the underside of the filling element housing  6  and a discharge opening that surrounds in a ring shape a return gas tube  25 , or against a seal  27  which is located around the dispensing opening, and in one possible embodiment is held by the container carrier  28  on which the bottle  2  is held suspended by its flange  2 . 2 . The return gas tube  27  forms, among other things, the valve body of the liquid valve  16  and is in communication with its upper end via gas paths which are controlled by control valves  29  and a ring-shaped gas duct  30  which is common to the filling elements  1   b  of the filling machine with the gas chambers  4 . 1  and  5 . 1  formed in the bowls  4  and  5  respectively, as well as with another gas duct  31  which can lead to the atmosphere, for example. 
     The controlled dispensing of the two ingredients of the liquid being bottled and the mixing of these ingredients in the respective bottle  2  takes place in this embodiment in a manner similar to the one described for the filling system illustrated in  FIG. 1 , and in one possible embodiment by the controlled opening and closing of the dosing valves  12  and  13  as a function of the flow quantity measured by the flow meter  9 , although the fill level is determined by the return as tube  25 , i.e. the feed of the liquid ingredients introduced into the individual bottle  2  at the end of the filling process is terminated when the lower, open end of the return gas tube  25  is immersed in the rising level of the liquid in the respective bottle  2 . 
     The realizations described above therefore have the following features, among others, in common: 
     The mixing of the ingredients of the liquid being bottled takes place in the individual bottle  2 . 
     For each filling system or filling element  1 ,  1   a ,  1   b , one single flow meter  9  is required and/or desired. 
     To achieve the desired mixing ratio between the ingredients, the dosing valves  12  and  13  of the valve arrangement  14  are controlled as a function of the respective flow quantity measured by the flow meter  9  and also in consideration of the volume of the respective bottle  2 . 
     In the illustration in  FIGS. 1 through 3 , the connection  10  is shown relatively long for ease of understanding. In the practical realization of the filling systems or filling machines, however, the dosing valves  12  and  13  are located with their outputs as close as possible to the inlet of the flow meter  9 , so that there is a small remaining volume for the flow path between the dosing valves  12  and  13  and the flow meter  9 , which represents an essential contribution to improving the precision of the mixing of the two ingredients. 
       FIG. 4  shows, in a simplified illustration, a flow meter  31  with an integrated 3/2 way valve  32 , the inputs  33  and  34  of which are each in communication with a respective chamber  4  and  5  and via which the chambers  4  and  5  can optionally be placed in communication with the flow meter  31  or with the fluid duct  7  which has the flow meter or is connected to the flow meter of the respective filling element  1 ,  1   a , or  1   b . In the position of the dosing valve  32  illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the connection to the two chambers  4  and  5  is closed. 
       FIG. 5  is a simplified illustration of a filling element  1   c  of a filling system in which the mixing of the two ingredients takes place outside the respective bottle  2  in a mixing chamber  36  of the filling element  1   c , and namely in the illustrated embodiment, the fill level is controlled by a sensor  37  which is located in the mixing chamber  36 . The mixing chamber  36  is in communication with its input  38  via the dosing valves  12  and  13  with the respective bowl  4  or  5 . To mix the two ingredients that form the liquid being bottled, these dosing valves  12  and  13  are again opened and closed one after the other under the control of the signal from the sensor  37  so that the mixing of the ingredients at the desired mixing ratio is achieved in the mixing chamber  36 . To achieve an unambiguous fill level in the respective bottle  2  in spite of the use of the mixing chamber  36 , the liquid valve  16   c  is closed under the control of the fill level, and namely by a probe  39  which is equipped with at least one probe contact which is located in the bottle  2  during the filling process. 
     In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the filling element  1   c , which is in turn provided with a plurality of identical filling elements on the periphery of a rotor of a filling machine which employs a rotary construction, is realized for an open jet filling. Of course the filling element can also be realized for other filling methods, for example for a filling with a long fill tube or for a filling under counterpressure, whereby in the latter case the fill level in the bottle  2  and/or the closing of the liquid valve  16   c  are in turn controlled by a return gas tube which corresponds to the return gas tube  25 . 
     In this embodiment it is also possible to carry out a mixing of the ingredients in the mixing chamber  36  as a function of the volume, and in one possible embodiment by providing a flow meter which corresponds to the flow meter  9  at the inlet to the mixing chamber  36 , or by connecting the inlet  38  of the mixing chamber  36  via the flow meter  32  with the integrated 3/2 way valve  32  to the bowl  4  or  5  respectively. 
     The present application was described above on the basis of possible embodiments. It goes without saying that numerous modifications and variations can be made without thereby going beyond the teaching of the present application. 
     For example, the filling system or the corresponding filling machine can also be realized so that more than two bowls are used, in which case one bowl then houses the basic ingredient of the liquid to be bottled, such as the beverage being bottled, for example, and the other bowl houses the liquid additives that are to be mixed in with the basic ingredient. 
     It is also possible during the filling operation of the filling machine to control individual filling systems comprising the respective filling element, the flow meter and the dosing valve, so that some of the containers or bottles are filled with the basic ingredient and with an additive ingredient, and other containers or bottles are filled with the basic ingredient and with the additive ingredient, and/or with the basic ingredient. 
       FIG. 6  shows schematically the main components of one possible embodiment example of a system for filling containers, specifically, a beverage bottling plant for filling bottles  130  with at least one liquid beverage, in accordance with at least one possible embodiment, in which system or plant could possibly be utilized at least one aspect, or several aspects, of the embodiments disclosed herein. 
       FIG. 6  shows a rinsing arrangement or rinsing station  101 , to which the containers, namely bottles  130 , are fed in the direction of travel as indicated by the arrow  131 , by a first conveyer arrangement  103 , which can be a linear conveyor or a combination of a linear conveyor and a starwheel. Downstream of the rinsing arrangement or rinsing station  101 , in the direction of travel as indicated by the arrow  131 , the rinsed bottles  130  are transported to a beverage filling machine  105  by a second conveyer arrangement  104  that is formed, for example, by one or more starwheels that introduce bottles  130  into the beverage filling machine  105 . 
     The beverage filling machine  105  shown is of a revolving or rotary design, with a rotor  105 ′, which revolves around a central, vertical machine axis. The rotor  105 ′ is designed to receive and hold the bottles  130  for filling at a plurality of filling positions  113  located about the periphery of the rotor  105 ′. At each of the filling positions  103  is located a filling arrangement  114  having at least one filling device, element, apparatus, or valve. The filling arrangements  114  are designed to introduce a predetermined volume or amount of liquid beverage into the interior of the bottles  130  to a predetermined or desired level. 
     The filling arrangements  114  receive the liquid beverage material from a toroidal or annular vessel  117 , in which a supply of liquid beverage material is stored under pressure by a gas. The toroidal vessel  117  is a component, for example, of the revolving rotor  105 ′. The toroidal vessel  117  can be connected by means of a rotary coupling or a coupling that permits rotation. The toroidal vessel  117  is also connected to at least one external reservoir or supply of liquid beverage material by a conduit or supply line. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 6 , there are two external supply reservoirs  123  and  124 , each of which is configured to store either the same liquid beverage product or different products. These reservoirs  123 ,  124  are connected to the toroidal or annular vessel  117  by corresponding supply lines, conduits, or arrangements  121  and  122 . The external supply reservoirs  123 ,  124  could be in the form of simple storage tanks, or in the form of liquid beverage product mixers, in at least one possible embodiment. 
     As well as the more typical filling machines having one toroidal vessel, it is possible that in at least one possible embodiment there could be a second toroidal or annular vessel which contains a second product. In this case, each filling arrangement  114  could be connected by separate connections to each of the two toroidal vessels and have two individually-controllable fluid or control valves, so that in each bottle  130 , the first product or the second product can be filled by means of an appropriate control of the filling product or fluid valves. 
     Downstream of the beverage filling machine  105 , in the direction of travel of the bottles  130 , there can be a beverage bottle closing arrangement or closing station  106  which closes or caps the bottles  130 . The beverage bottle closing arrangement or closing station  106  can be connected by a third conveyer arrangement  107  to a beverage bottle labeling arrangement or labeling station  108 . The third conveyor arrangement may be formed, for example, by a plurality of starwheels, or may also include a linear conveyor device. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the beverage bottle labeling arrangement or labeling station  108  has at least one labeling unit, device, or module, for applying labels to bottles  130 . In the embodiment shown, the labeling arrangement  108  is connected by a starwheel conveyer structure to three output conveyer arrangements: a first output conveyer arrangement  109 , a second output conveyer arrangement  110 , and a third output conveyer arrangement  111 , all of which convey filled, closed, and labeled bottles  130  to different locations. 
     The first output conveyer arrangement  109 , in the embodiment shown, is designed to convey bottles  130  that are filled with a first type of liquid beverage supplied by, for example, the supply reservoir  123 . The second output conveyer arrangement  110 , in the embodiment shown, is designed to convey bottles  130  that are filled with a second type of liquid beverage supplied by, for example, the supply reservoir  124 . The third output conveyer arrangement  111 , in the embodiment shown, is designed to convey incorrectly labeled bottles  130 . To further explain, the labeling arrangement  108  can comprise at least one beverage bottle inspection or monitoring device that inspects or monitors the location of labels on the bottles  130  to determine if the labels have been correctly placed or aligned on the bottles  130 . The third output conveyer arrangement  111  removes any bottles  130  which have been incorrectly labeled as determined by the inspecting device. 
     The beverage bottling plant can be controlled by a central control arrangement  112 , which could be, for example, computerized control system that monitors and controls the operation of the various stations and mechanisms of the beverage bottling plant. 
     Method for the filling of bottles or similar containers with a liquid being bottled which comprises at least two ingredients, whereby the ingredients are mixed with each other during the filling process and in one possible embodiment controlled by the measurement of the quantity of at least one ingredient which is introduced into the container by means of a flow meter. 
     One feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in a method for filling bottles or similar containers  2  with a liquid comprising at least two ingredients, whereby the ingredients are mixed with one another during the filling of the respective container  2  and the mixing ratio of the ingredients is controlled by measurement of the quantity of at least one ingredient fed into the respective container  2  by a flow meter  9 ,  32 , wherein the mixing of the ingredients takes place in the individual container  2 , and that the mixing of the ingredients takes place during the filling so that at least one ingredient is fed into the individual container  2  using the flow meter  9 ,  32  to control the quantity or volume, and that the ingredient fed into the container  2  at the end of the filling process is introduced into the container  2  to control the fill level. 
     Another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in the method, wherein with two ingredients, the ingredient introduced at the beginning of the filling is controlled as a function of quantity or volume. 
     Yet another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in a method for the filling of bottles or similar containers  2  with a liquid comprising at least two ingredients, whereby the ingredients are mixed with one another during the filling of the individual container  2  and the mixing ratio of the ingredients is controlled by measuring the quantity of at least one ingredient fed into the individual container  2  with a flow meter  9 ,  32 , wherein the mixing of the ingredients takes place in the individual container  2 , and that to control the mixing ratio for the at least two ingredients a common flow meter  9 ,  32  is used, through which these ingredients flow at different times. 
     Still another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in the method, wherein the mixing of the ingredients during the filling takes place so that all or substantially all or most of the ingredients are fed to the individual container  2  using the common flow meter  9 ,  32  and are controlled in terms of quantity or volume. 
     A further feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in the method, wherein the mixing of the ingredients during the filling takes place so that at least one ingredient is fed to the individual container  2  using the flow meter  9 ,  32  and is controlled in terms of quantity or volume, and that the ingredient that is introduced at the end of the filling of the container  2  is introduced with a controlled fill level. 
     Another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in the method, wherein during the filling of the individual container, the ingredients are introduced a plurality of times in alternation to improve the mixing of the ingredients in the individual container  2 . 
     Yet another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in the method, comprising the use of a filling system with at least one filling element  1 ,  1   a ,  1   b  with a discharge opening  15 ,  21 . 1 ,  26  which is controlled by means of a liquid path that has the single flow meter  9 ,  32  as well as a control or dosing valve unit  14 ,  33 , and can optionally be placed in communication with chambers or bowls  4 ,  5 , each of which holds one ingredient. 
     Still another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in the method, wherein the beginning and/or the end of the filling of the individual container  2  are controlled by a liquid valve  16 ,  16   a ,  16   b  which is located in a part of the liquid path of the filling element or filling system which is common to all or substantially all or most of the ingredients. 
     A further feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in the method, comprising the use of a flow meter  9 ,  32  which is realized in the form of a magnetic induction flow meter MID. 
     Another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in a method for the filling of bottles or similar containers  2  with a liquid which comprises at least two ingredients using a filling system with at least one filling element  1   c , whereby the ingredients are mixed with one another before the filling of the container  2  in a mixing chamber  36  of the filling element  1   c  and the container  2  is filled with the liquid after the mixing, wherein the filling of the individual container  2  with the liquid from the mixing chamber  36  is controlled on the basis of the fill level. 
     Yet another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in the method, wherein the filling of the individual container  2  with the liquid from the mixing chamber  36  takes place with the use of means to determine the fill level that extends into the interior of the container  2 . 
     Still another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in the method, wherein the means that determine the fill level are formed by at least one probe that has at least one probe contact or by a return gas tube or a notch in said tube. 
     A further feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in the method, wherein the volume of the mixing chamber  36  is equal to at least the empty volume of a container  2 . 
     One feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in the method, wherein the volume of the mixing chamber  36  is equal to or slightly greater than the empty volume of a container  2 . 
     Another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in the method, wherein the containers  2  are filled using the open jet filling method. 
     Yet another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in the method, wherein the containers  2  are filled using a filling system or filling element  1   b  with a filling tube  21 . 
     Still another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in the method, wherein the containers  2  are filled using a single-chamber or multiple-chamber filling system under counterpressure. 
     A further feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in a filling system for the filling of bottles or similar containers  2  with a liquid that comprises at least two ingredients, whereby the ingredients are mixed with one another during the filling of the respective container  2 , with at least one filling element  1   1   a ,  1   b  with a discharge opening  15 ,  21 . 1 ,  26 , for the dispensing of the liquid being bottled  1 ,  1   a ,  1   b  in the individual container  2 , whereby the discharge opening  15 ,  21 . 1 ,  26  can be placed in communication via a liquid path  7 ,  10  and a dosing valve arrangement  14 ,  33  with bowls or chambers  4 ,  5 , each of which houses one ingredient corresponding to the mixing ratio of the ingredients in the container  2 , wherein a common flow meter  9 ,  32  is provided in the liquid path  7 ,  10  for all or substantially all or most of the ingredients. 
     Another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in the filling system, wherein the at least one dosing valve arrangement  14 ,  33  can be controlled so that during the filling of a container  2 , the ingredients flow into the individual container  2  sequentially one after the other via the liquid path  7 ,  10  and the discharge opening  15 ,  21 . 1 ,  26 . 
     Yet another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in the filling system, comprising means for a termination of the filling based on the quantity or volume in the bottle, as a function of a measurement signal from the common flow meter  9 ,  32 . 
     Still another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in the filling system, comprising means  20 ,  24 ,  27  for a termination of the filling controlled as a function of the fill level. 
     A further feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in the filling system, wherein the means for the termination of the filling as a function of the fill level are formed by at least one probe or by at least one probe contact  24 . 
     Another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in the filling system, wherein the means for the termination of the filling as a function of the fill level are formed by a return gas tube or by a notch in the return gas tube. 
     Yet another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in the filling system, wherein the liquid path is formed at least partly by a liquid duct  7  with a liquid valve  16 ,  16   a ,  16   b.    
     Still another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in the filling system, wherein the dosing valve arrangement  14  has at least one controllable dosing valve  12 ,  13  for each ingredient. 
     A further feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in the filling system, wherein the dosing valve arrangement is formed by a switching valve which is common to all or substantially all or most of the ingredients, for example by a 3/2 way valve  33  with a single valve body. 
     One feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in the filling system, wherein the at least one dosing valve  33  of the dosing valve arrangement is integrated into the flow meter  32 . 
     Another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in a filling system for the filling of bottles or similar containers  2  with a liquid that comprises at least two ingredients with at least one filling element  1   c , whereby the ingredients are mixed with one another before the filling of the containers  2  in a mixing chamber  36  of the filling element  1   c  and the container  2  is filled with the liquid being bottled after the mixing, comprising means with which the filling of the individual container  2  with the liquid from the mixing chamber  36  is controlled as a function of the fill level. 
     Yet another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in the filling system, comprising means that determine the fill level and extend into the interior of the individual container  2 . 
     Still another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in the filling system, wherein the means that determine the fill level are formed by at least one probe that has at least one probe contact or by a return gas tube or a notch in said tube. 
     A further feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in the filling system, wherein the volume of the mixing chamber  36  is at least equal to the empty volume of a container  2 . 
     Another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in the filling system, wherein the volume of the mixing chamber  36  is equal to or slightly greater than the empty volume of a container  2 . 
     Yet another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in the filling system, wherein it is a component of a filling machine that employs a rotary construction with a plurality of filling systems or filling elements  1 ,  1   a ,  1   b  on a rotor  3  which can be driven in rotation around a vertical machine axis. 
     The components disclosed in the various publications, disclosed or incorporated by reference herein, may possibly be used in possible embodiments of the present invention, as well as equivalents thereof. 
     The purpose of the statements about the technical field is generally to enable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public to determine quickly, from a cursory inspection, the nature of this patent application. The description of the technical field is believed, at the time of the filing of this patent application, to adequately describe the technical field of this patent application. However, the description of the technical field may not be completely applicable to the claims as originally filed in this patent application, as amended during prosecution of this patent application, and as ultimately allowed in any patent issuing from this patent application. Therefore, any statements made relating to the technical field are not intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner. 
     The appended drawings in their entirety, including all dimensions, proportions and/or shapes in at least one embodiment of the invention, are accurate and are hereby included by reference into this specification. 
     The background information is believed, at the time of the filing of this patent application, to adequately provide background information for this patent application. However, the background information may not be completely applicable to the claims as originally filed in this patent application, as amended during prosecution of this patent application, and as ultimately allowed in any patent issuing from this patent application. Therefore, any statements made relating to the background information are not intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner. 
     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. 
     The purpose of the statements about the object or objects is generally to enable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public to determine quickly, from a cursory inspection, the nature of this patent application. The description of the object or objects is believed, at the time of the filing of this patent application, to adequately describe the object or objects of this patent application. However, the description of the object or objects may not be completely applicable to the claims as originally filed in this patent application, as amended during prosecution of this patent application, and as ultimately allowed in any patent issuing from this patent application. Therefore, any statements made relating to the object or objects are not intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner. 
     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 summary is believed, at the time of the filing of this patent application, to adequately summarize this patent application. However, portions or all of the information contained in the summary may not be completely applicable to the claims as originally filed in this patent application, as amended during prosecution of this patent application, and as ultimately allowed in any patent issuing from this patent application. Therefore, any statements made relating to the summary are not intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner. 
     It will be understood that the examples of patents, published patent applications, and other documents which are included in this application and which are referred to in paragraphs which state “Some examples of . . . which may possibly be used in at least one possible embodiment of the present application . . . ” may possibly not be used or useable in any one or more embodiments of the application. 
     The sentence immediately above relates to patents, published patent applications and other documents either incorporated by reference or not incorporated by reference. 
     U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/072,634, filed on Mar. 4, 2005, having inventor Ludwig CLÜSSERATH, Attorney Docket No. NHL-HOL-104, and title “BEVERAGE BOTTLING PLANT FOR FILLING BOTTLES WITH A LIQUID BEVERAGE MATERIAL HAVING A FILLING ELEMENT AND A FILLING MACHINE HAVING SUCH FILLING ELEMENTS,” and its corresponding Federal Republic of Germany Patent Application No. 10 2004 011 101, filed on Mar. 6, 2004, are hereby incorporated by reference as if set forth in their entirety herein. 
     Some examples of liquid level sensing apparatuses which may possible be utilized or adapted for use in at least one possible embodiment may possibly be found in the following U.S. Pat. No. 5,885,851, entitled “APPARATUS FOR TRANSFERRING LIQUID HAVING LIQUID LEVEL SENSING FUNCTION;” No. 5,627,522, entitled “AUTOMATED LIQUID LEVEL SENSING SYSTEM;” U.S. Pat. No. 4,912,976, entitled “LIQUID LEVEL SENSING APPARATUS;” U.S. Pat. No. 4,739,658, entitled, “LEVEL SENSING SYSTEM;” U.S. Pat. No. 4,685,332, entitled “LIQUID LEVEL SENSING DEVICE;” and U.S. Pat. No. 4,356,480, entitled “LIQUID LEVEL SENSING CIRCUITRY.” 
     The following patents, patent applications or patent publications, are hereby incorporated by reference as if set forth in their entirety herein: DE 43 24 799 A1, having the following English translation of the German title “DEVICE FOR POURING LIQUID INTO BOTTLES, CANS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS,” published on Jan. 26, 1995 All of the patents, patent applications or patent publications, which were cited in the International Search Report dated Dec. 13, 2007, and/or cited elsewhere are hereby incorporated by reference as if set forth in their entirety herein as follows: DE 200 04 954, having the following German title “SENSORISCHER ABFÜLLAUTOMAT,” published on Feb. 28, 2002; WO 94/24037, having the title “rotating device for filling bottles, cans or similar containers with portions of liquid,” published on Oct. 27, 1994; EP 1 362 825, having the title “device for supplying additives in filling machines and associated filling machine,” published on Nov. 19, 2003; and EP 0 775 668, having the following English translation of the German title “FILLING MACHINE AND FILLING HEAD FOR SUCH A MACHINE,” published on May 28, 1997. 
     The patents, patent applications, and patent publications listed above in the preceding four paragraphs, beginning with the phrase: “U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/072,634 . . . ” and ending with the phrase: “ . . . published on May 28, 1997” are herein incorporated by reference as if set forth in their entirety. The purpose of incorporating U.S. patents, Foreign patents, publications, etc. is solely to provide additional information relating to technical features of one or more embodiments, which information may not be completely disclosed in the wording in the pages of this application. Words relating to the opinions and judgments of the author and not directly relating to the technical details of the description of the embodiments therein are not incorporated by reference. The words all, always, absolutely, consistently, preferably, guarantee, particularly, constantly, ensure, necessarily, immediately, endlessly, avoid, exactly, continually, expediently, need, must, only, perpetual, precise, perfect, require, requisite, simultaneous, total, unavoidable, and unnecessary, or words substantially equivalent to the above-mentioned words in this sentence, when not used to describe technical features of one or more embodiments, are not considered to be incorporated by reference herein. 
     The corresponding foreign and international patent publication applications, namely, Federal Republic of Germany Patent Application No. 10 2006 045 987.3, filed on Sep. 27, 2006, having inventors Ludwig CLÜSSERATH and Manfred MICHL, and DE-OS 10 2006 045 987.3 and DE-PS 10 2006 045 987.3, and International Application No. PCT/EP2007/007818, filed on Sep. 7, 2007, having WIPO Publication No. WO 2008/037338 and inventors Ludwig CLÜSSERATH and Manfred MICHL, are hereby incorporated by reference as if set forth in their entirety herein for the purpose of correcting and explaining any possible misinterpretations of the English translation thereof. In addition, the published equivalents of the above corresponding foreign and international patent publication applications, and other equivalents or corresponding applications, if any, in corresponding cases in the Federal Republic of Germany and elsewhere, and the references and documents cited in any of the documents cited herein, such as the patents, patent applications and publications, are hereby incorporated by reference as if set forth in their entirety herein. 
     The purpose of incorporating the Foreign equivalent patent application PCT/EP2007/007818 and German Patent Application 10 2006 045 987.3 is solely for the purpose of providing a basis of correction of any wording in the pages of the present application, which may have been mistranslated or misinterpreted by the translator. Words relating to opinions and judgments of the author and not directly relating to the technical details of the description of the embodiments therein are not to be incorporated by reference. The words all, always, absolutely, consistently, preferably, guarantee, particularly, constantly, ensure, necessarily, immediately, endlessly, avoid, exactly, continually, expediently, need, must, only, perpetual, precise, perfect, require, requisite, simultaneous, total, unavoidable, and unnecessary, or words substantially equivalent to the above-mentioned word in this sentence, when not used to describe technical features of one or more embodiments, are not generally considered to be incorporated by reference herein. 
     Statements made in the original foreign patent applications PCT/EP2007/007818 and DE 10 2006 045 987.3 from which this patent application claims priority which do not have to do with the correction of the translation in this patent application are not to be included in this patent application in the incorporation by reference. 
     All of the references and documents, cited in any of the documents cited herein, are hereby incorporated by reference as if set forth in their entirety herein. All of the documents cited herein, referred to in the immediately preceding sentence, include all of the patents, patent applications and publications cited anywhere in the present application. 
     The description of the embodiment or embodiments is believed, at the time of the filing of this patent application, to adequately describe the embodiment or embodiments of this patent application. However, portions of the description of the embodiment or embodiments may not be completely applicable to the claims as originally filed in this patent application, as amended during prosecution of this patent application, and as ultimately allowed in any patent issuing from this patent application. Therefore, any statements made relating to the embodiment or embodiments are not intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner. 
     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. 
     The purpose of the title of this patent application is generally to enable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public to determine quickly, from a cursory inspection, the nature of this patent application. The title is believed, at the time of the filing of this patent application, to adequately reflect the general nature of this patent application. However, the title may not be completely applicable to the technical field, the object or objects, the summary, the description of the embodiment or embodiments, and the claims as originally filed in this patent application, as amended during prosecution of this patent application, and as ultimately allowed in any patent issuing from this patent application. Therefore, the title is not intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner. 
     The abstract of the disclosure is submitted herewith as required by 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b). As stated in 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b):
         A brief abstract of the technical disclosure in the specification must commence on a separate sheet, preferably following the claims, under the heading “Abstract of the Disclosure.” The purpose of the abstract is to enable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and gist of the technical disclosure. The abstract shall not be used for interpreting the scope of the claims.
 
Therefore, any statements made relating to the abstract are not intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.
       

     The embodiments of the invention described herein above in the context of the preferred embodiments are not to be taken as limiting the embodiments of the invention to all of the provided details thereof, since modifications and variations thereof may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the embodiments of the invention. 
     AT LEAST PARTIAL NOMENCLATURE 
     
         
           1 ,  1   a ,  1   b ,  1   c  Filling element 
           2  Bottle or container 
           2 . 1  Bottle mouth 
           2 . 2  Bottle flange 
           3  Rotor 
           4 ,  5  Bowl 
           4 . 1 ,  5 . 1  Gas chamber 
           6 ,  6   a ,  6   b  Filling element housing 
           7  Liquid duct 
           8  Inlet 
           9  Flow meter, MID flow meter 
           10  Interface 
           11  Control device 
           12 ,  13  Dosing valve 
           14  Valve or dosing unit 
           15  Discharge opening 
           16 ,  16   a ,  16   b ,  16   c  Liquid valve 
           16 . 1  Valve body 
           18  Actuator device for valve body  16 . 1   
           19  Container carrier 
           20  Probe 
           21  Filler tube 
           21 . 1  Discharge opening 
           22  Container carrier 
           23  Seal 
           24  Probe contact 
           25  Return gas tube 
           26  Discharge opening 
           27  Seal 
           28  Container carrier 
           29  Return gas path control valve arrangement 
           30 ,  31  Return gas duct 
           32  Flow meter 
           33  3/2 way valve or dosing valve 
           34 ,  35  Valve input 
           36  Mixing chamber 
           37  Sensor in the mixing chamber  36   
           38  Inlet of the mixing chamber  36   
           39  Probe