Method for filling bottles or similar containers with an oxygen sensitive effervescent liquid beverage filling material under counterpressure and filling machine for the performance of this method

Abstract

A method for filling bottles or similar containers with an oxygen sensitive effervescent liquid beverage filling material under counterpressure and filling machine for the performance of this method. 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.

1 . A method for filling beverage bottles with an oxygen sensitive effervescent liquid beverage filling material under counterpressure using a beverage filling machine, said method achieving a minimal consumption of carbon dioxide gas, minimizing costs of bottling, and avoiding, restricting, and/or minimizing the absorption of oxygen by the oxygen sensitive effervescent liquid beverage filling material in a liquid reservoir for filling the beverage bottles and thereby maximizing the shelf life of said oxygen sensitive effervescent liquid beverage filling material, said beverage filling machine comprising:
 a plurality of beverage filling positions, each filling position comprising a beverage filling device for filling a beverage bottle;   a gas return duct common to each filling device in said filling machine configured to receive displaced carbon dioxide gas from said beverage bottle during liquid filling and to supply carbon dioxide gas during carbon dioxide gas filling of said beverage bottles;   a gas sink common to each filling device in said filling machine configured to receive displaced carbon dioxide gas from said beverage bottle during liquid filling and to supply carbon dioxide gas to said beverage bottle during pressurizing said beverage bottle;   a connecting line for supplying carbon dioxide gas to said gas sink from a carbon dioxide head space in said liquid reservoir containing said oxygen sensitive effervescent liquid beverage filling material;   said gas sink being large enough to contain at least the volume of gas displaced thereto from said beverage bottle when filling with said oxygen sensitive effervescent liquid beverage filling material and small enough to be substantially flushed with carbon dioxide gas from said connecting line during a pressurizing step, thereby minimizing an amount of oxygen entering said connecting line during liquid filling of said bottle;   said connecting line being configured to contain a smaller volume than a volume configured to be contained by said gas sink and a volume large enough to minimize an amount of oxygen that may enter a head space in the liquid reservoir containing said oxygen sensitive effervescent liquid beverage filling material, upon any gas being displaced from said gas sink to said connecting line, during liquid filling of said bottle;   a vacuum duct common to each filling device in said filling machine; and   a liquid connection configured to deliver said oxygen sensitive effervescent liquid beverage filling material from said liquid reservoir to each of said filling devices;   the method comprising the steps of:   moving a beverage bottle to be filled in sequence with other bottles to said filling machine;   elevating said beverage bottle to be filled to a corresponding filling device thereby placing said beverage bottle in a configuration to be in flow communication with said gas return duct, said gas sink, said vacuum duct, and said liquid connection, with the operation of one or more valves;   sealing said beverage bottle to be filled against the corresponding filling device;   evacuating said beverage bottle sealed to said filling device by opening a first valve, thus providing flow communication between said beverage bottle sealed to said filling device and said vacuum duct;   filling said beverage bottle sealed to said filling device with carbon dioxide gas by closing said first valve and opening a second valve, thus providing flow communication between said beverage bottle sealed to said filling device and said gas return duct;   repeating said evacuating and said filling steps at least one time to displace a desired amount of residual air present out of said beverage bottle sealed to said filling device;   pressurizing said beverage bottle sealed to said filling device with carbon dioxide gas by closing said second valve and opening a third valve, thus providing flow communication between said beverage bottle sealed to said filling device and said gas sink;   maintaining a bottling pressure in said gas sink by maintaining flow communication between said gas sink and carbon dioxide gas in a head space of a said liquid reservoir containing said oxygen sensitive effervescent liquid beverage filling material for filling;   filling said beverage bottle sealed to said filling device with an initial amount of said oxygen sensitive effervescent liquid beverage filling material by opening a fourth valve, thus providing flow communication between said beverage bottle sealed to said filling device and said liquid connection;   displacing a first volume of carbon dioxide gas from said beverage bottle sealed to said filling device into said gas return duct;   displacing a second volume of carbon dioxide gas from said beverage bottle sealed to said filling device into said gas sink;   said first volume of carbon dioxide gas being greater than said second volume of carbon dioxide gas, thereby minimizing an amount of oxygen entering said gas sink;   said second volume of carbon dioxide gas being less than a volume of said gas sink, thereby minimizing an amount of oxygen entering said connecting line;   said second volume of carbon dioxide gas being less than a volume of carbon dioxide gas flowing from said head space of said liquid reservoir containing said oxygen sensitive effervescent liquid beverage filling material to said gas sink during said step of maintaining a bottling pressure in said gas sink, said second volume of carbon dioxide gas and said volume of carbon dioxide gas flowing into said gas sink, during said maintaining step, providing a sum of the volume of said carbon dioxide gas flowing into said gas sink from said carbon dioxide gas in a head space of a said liquid reservoir containing said oxygen sensitive effervescent liquid beverage filling material and carbon dioxide gas flowing out of said gas sink to said beverage bottle sealed to said filling device, the sum of said carbon dioxide gas flowing into and out of said gas sink resulting in a flow of carbon dioxide gas from said head space of a said liquid reservoir containing said oxygen sensitive effervescent liquid beverage filling material to said bottle sealed to said filling device, minimizing contamination of said carbon dioxide gas, in said head space of a said liquid reservoir containing said oxygen sensitive effervescent liquid beverage filling material, with said displaced gas;   filling said beverage bottle sealed to said filling device with a final amount of said oxygen sensitive effervescent liquid beverage filling material by closing said third valve, thus providing flow communication between said beverage bottle sealed to said filling device and said liquid connection and said gas return duct;   displacing a third volume of carbon dioxide gas from said beverage bottle sealed to said filling device into said gas return duct;   sensing the level of oxygen sensitive effervescent liquid beverage filling material in said beverage bottle sealed to said filling device;   stopping the filling of said beverage bottle sealed to said filling device upon said sensed level of oxygen sensitive effervescent liquid beverage filling material in said beverage bottle sealed to said filling device reaching a desired level;   calming the oxygen sensitive effervescent liquid beverage filling material in said beverage bottle sealed to said filling device for a predetermined period of time to attain a pressure below the carbonating material saturation pressure and thus reducing excess bubbles;   reducing the pressure in said beverage bottle sealed to said filling device to a final pressure;   distancing said filled beverage bottle filled with oxygen sensitive effervescent liquid beverage filling material from the sealing relationship with the corresponding filling device; and   removing said filled beverage bottle from said filling machine.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein each filling device is disposed proximate a perimeter of a rotor at a substantially equal distance from one another. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising a step of providing flow communication between said gas sink and said gas return duct, prior to filling a first beverage bottle in a run of beverage bottles to be filled. 
   
   
       4 . A method for filling containers with a gas sensitive material under counterpressure, the method comprising the steps of:
 moving a container to be filled in sequence with other containers to a filling machine;   sealing said container to be filled against a corresponding filling device in said filling machine, thus enabling flow communication between the container to be filled and a gas return duct, a gas chamber, and a gas sensitive material connection;   pressurizing said container sealed to said filling device with an inert gas, substantially unreactive with said sensitive material, by providing flow communication between said container sealed to said filling device and said gas chamber;   maintaining a filling pressure in said gas chamber by maintaining flow communication between said gas chamber and a supply of said inert gas, said gas chamber being maintained in flow communication with said supply of inert gas through an inert gas connecting line, said gas chamber being configured to contain a larger volume than a volume of said inert gas configured to be contained by said connecting line;   filling said container sealed to said filling device with said gas sensitive material by providing flow communication between said container sealed to said filling device and said gas sensitive material connection;   displacing a first portion of gas from said container sealed to said filling device into said gas return duct;   displacing a second portion of gas from said container sealed to said filling device into said gas chamber;   said second portion of gas being less than a portion of said inert gas flowing from said supply of inert gas to said gas chamber during said step of maintaining a filling pressure in said gas chamber;   sensing a level of said gas sensitive material in said container sealed to said filling device;   stopping the filling of said container sealed to said filling device upon said sensed level of said gas sensitive material in said container sealed to said filling device reaching a desired level;   distancing said filled container from the sealing relationship with the corresponding filling device; and   removing said filled container from said filling machine.   
   
   
       5 . A means for performing the method according to  claim 4 , said means comprising:
 means for moving a container to be filled in sequence with other containers to a filling machine;   means for sealing said container to be filled against a corresponding filling device in said filling machine, thus enabling flow communication between the container to be filled and a gas return duct, a gas chamber, and a gas sensitive material connection;   means for pressurizing said container sealed to said filling device with an inert gas, substantially unreactive with said sensitive material, by providing flow communication between said container sealed to said filling device and said gas chamber;   means for maintaining a filling pressure in said gas chamber by maintaining flow communication between said gas chamber and a supply of said inert gas, said gas chamber being maintained in flow communication with said supply of inert gas through an inert gas connecting line, said gas chamber being configured to contain a larger volume than a volume of said inert gas configured to be contained by said connecting line;   means for filling said container sealed to said filling device with said gas sensitive material by providing flow communication between said container sealed to said filling device and said gas sensitive material connection;   means for displacing a first portion of gas from said container sealed to said filling device into said gas return duct;   means for displacing a second portion of gas from said container sealed to said filling device into said gas chamber, said second portion of gas being less than a portion of said inert gas flowing from said supply of inert gas to said gas chamber during said step of maintaining a filling pressure in said gas chamber;   means for sensing a level of said gas sensitive material in said container sealed to said filling device;   means for stopping the filling of said container sealed to said filling device upon said sensed level of said gas sensitive material in said container sealed to said filling device reaching a desired level;   means for distancing said filled container from the sealing relationship with the corresponding filling device; and   means for removing said filled container from said filling machine.   
   
   
       6 . A container filling machine for performing the method according to  claim 4  comprising:
 a container moving arrangement configured to move a container to be filled in sequence with other containers to a filling machine;   a container sealing arrangement configured to seal said container to be filled against a corresponding filling device in said filling machine, thus enabling flow communication between the container to be filled and a gas return duct, a gas chamber, and a gas sensitive material connection;   a container pressurizing arrangement configured to pressurize said container sealed to said filling device with an inert gas, substantially unreactive with said sensitive material, by providing flow communication between said container sealed to said filling device and said gas chamber;   a first gas connecting arrangement configured to maintain a filling pressure in said gas chamber by maintaining flow communication between said gas chamber and a supply of said inert gas, said gas chamber being maintained in flow communication with said supply of inert gas through an inert gas connecting line, said gas chamber being configured to contain a larger volume than a volume of said inert gas configured to be contained by said connecting line;   a gas sensitive material filling arrangement configured to fill said container sealed to said filling device with said gas sensitive material by providing flow communication between said container sealed to said filling device and said gas sensitive material connection;   a second gas connecting arrangement configured to deliver a first portion of displaced gas from said container sealed to said filling device into said gas return duct;   a third gas connecting arrangement configured to deliver a second portion of displaced gas from said container sealed to said filling device into said gas chamber, said second portion of gas being less than a portion of said inert gas flowing from said supply of inert gas to said gas chamber during said step of maintaining a filling pressure in said gas chamber;   a sensing arrangement configured to sense a level of said gas sensitive material in said container sealed to said filling device;   a stopping arrangement configured to stop the filling of said container sealed to said filling device upon said sensed level of said gas sensitive material in said container sealed to said filling device reaching a desired level;   a container moving arrangement configured to distance said filled container from the sealing relationship with the corresponding filling device; and   a container moving arrangement configured to remove said filled container from said filling machine.   
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 4  wherein said supply of inert gas and a supply of said gas sensitive material are maintained in a reservoir common to a plurality of filling devices. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein said reservoir is maintained at a filling pressure with the addition of inert gas and gas sensitive material and maintaining a head pressure of inert gas above said gas sensitive material in said reservoir. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising a step of providing flow connection between said gas chamber and said gas return duct, prior to filling a container in a run of containers to be filled. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein said filling machine further comprises a vacuum duct, said method further comprising the steps of:
 evacuating said container sealed to said filling device, at least once, by providing flow connection between said container sealed to said filling device and said vacuum duct; and   filling, after said at least one evacuation, said container sealed to said filling device with said inert gas by providing flow connection between said container sealed to said filling device and said gas return duct.   
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10  comprising at least one of a), b), c), d), e), and f):
 a) said gas chamber is directly connected with said supply of inert gas and said inert gas connecting line has no valve controlling the flow of said inert gas therethrough;   b) said gas chamber and said gas return duct are in valved flow connection with one another;   c) said gas return duct comprises a single gas return duct which is in flow connection with a plurality of filling devices in said filling machine;   d) said gas chamber comprises a single gas chamber in flow connection with a plurality of filling devices in said filling machine;   e) said filling machine comprising a plurality of filling devices disposed proximate a perimeter of a rotor at a substantially equal distance from one another; and   f) said inert gas is carbon dioxide and said gas sensitive material is an effervescent liquid.   
   
   
       12 . A method for filling containers with a gas sensitive material under counterpressure, the method comprising the steps of:
 moving a container to be filled in sequence with other containers to a filling machine;   sealing said container to be filled against a corresponding filling device in said filling machine, thus enabling flow connection between the container to be filled and a gas return duct, a gas chamber, and a gas sensitive material connection;   pressurizing said container sealed to said filling device with an inert gas, substantially unreactive with said sensitive material, by providing flow connection between said container sealed to said filling device and said gas chamber;   maintaining a filling pressure in said gas chamber by maintaining flow connection between said gas chamber and a supply of said inert gas;   filling said container sealed to said filling device with said gas sensitive material by providing flow connection between said container sealed to said filling device and said gas sensitive material connection;   displacing a first portion of gas from said container sealed to said filling device into said gas return duct;   displacing a second portion of gas from said container sealed to said filling device into said gas chamber;   said second portion of gas being less than a portion of said inert gas flowing from said supply of inert gas to said gas chamber during said step of maintaining a filling pressure in said gas chamber, said second portion of gas and said portion of gas flowing into said gas chamber, during said maintaining step, providing a sum of the volume of said inert gas flowing into said gas chamber from said supply of inert gas and inert gas flowing out of said gas chamber to said container sealed to said filling device, the sum of said inert gas flowing into and out of said gas chamber resulting in a flow of inert gas from said supply of inert gas to said container sealed to said filling device, minimizing contamination of said inert gas, in said supply of inert gas, with said displaced gas;   sensing a level of said gas sensitive material in said container sealed to said filling device;   stopping the filling of said container sealed to said filling device upon said sensed level of said gas sensitive material in said container sealed to said filling device reaching a desired level;   distancing said filled container from the sealing relationship with the corresponding filling device; and   removing said filled container from said filling machine.   
   
   
       13 . A container filling machine for performing the method according to  claim 12  comprising:
 a container moving arrangement being configured to move a container to be filled in sequence with other containers to a filling machine;   a container sealing arrangement configured to seal said container to be filled against a corresponding filling device in said filling machine, thus enabling flow connection between the container to be filled and a gas return duct, a gas chamber, and a gas sensitive material connection;   a container pressurizing arrangement configured to pressurize said container sealed to said filling device with an inert gas, substantially unreactive with said sensitive material, by providing flow connection between said container sealed to said filling device and said gas chamber;   a first gas connecting arrangement configured to maintain a filling pressure in said gas chamber by maintaining flow connection between said gas chamber and a supply of said inert gas;   a gas sensitive material filling arrangement configured to fill said container sealed to said filling device with said gas sensitive material by providing flow connection between said container sealed to said filling device and said gas sensitive material connection;   a second gas connecting arrangement configured to deliver a first portion of displace gas from said container sealed to said filling device into said gas return duct;   a third gas connecting arrangement configured to deliver a second portion displaced gas from said container sealed to said filling device into said gas chamber, said second portion of gas being less than a portion of said inert gas flowing from said supply of inert gas to said gas chamber during said step of maintaining a filling pressure in said gas chamber, said second portion of gas and said portion of gas flowing into said gas chamber, during said maintaining step, providing a sum of said inert gas flowing into said gas chamber from said supply of inert gas and inert gas flowing out of said gas chamber to said container sealed to said filling device, the sum of said inert gas flowing into and out of said gas chamber resulting in a flow of inert gas from said supply of inert gas to said container sealed to said filling device, minimizing contamination of said inert gas, in said supply of inert gas, with said displaced gas;   a sensing arrangement configured to sense a level of said gas sensitive material in said container sealed to said filling device;   a stopping arrangement configured to stop the filling of said container sealed to said filling device upon said sensed level of said gas sensitive material in said container sealed to said filling device reaching a desired level;   a container moving arrangement configured to distance said filled container from the sealing relationship with the corresponding filling device; and   a container moving arrangement configured to remove said filled container from said filling machine.   
   
   
       14 . A means for performing the method according to  claim 12 , said means comprising:
 means for moving a container to be filled in sequence with other containers to a filling machine;   means for sealing said container to be filled against a corresponding filling device in said filling machine, thus enabling flow connection between the container to be filled and a gas return duct, a gas chamber, and a gas sensitive material connection;   means for pressurizing said container sealed to said filling device with an inert gas, substantially unreactive with said sensitive material, by providing flow connection between said container sealed to said filling device and said gas chamber;   means for maintaining a filling pressure in said gas chamber by maintaining flow connection between said gas chamber and a supply of said inert gas;   means for filling said container sealed to said filling device with said gas sensitive material by providing flow connection between said container sealed to said filling device and said gas sensitive material connection;   means for displacing a first portion of gas from said container sealed to said filling device into said gas return duct;   means for displacing a second portion of gas from said container sealed to said filling device into said gas chamber, said second portion of gas being less than a portion of said inert gas flowing from said supply of inert gas to said gas chamber during said step of maintaining a filling pressure in said gas chamber, said second portion of gas and said portion of gas flowing into said gas chamber, during said maintaining step, providing a sum of said inert gas flowing into said gas chamber from said supply of inert gas and inert gas flowing out of said gas chamber to said container sealed to said filling device, the sum of said inert gas flowing into and out of said gas chamber resulting in a flow of inert gas from said supply of inert gas to said container sealed to said filling device, minimizing contamination of said inert gas, in said supply of inert gas, with said displaced gas;   means for sensing a level of said gas sensitive material in said container sealed to said filling device;   means for stopping the filling of said container sealed to said filling device upon said sensed level of said gas sensitive material in said container sealed to said filling device reaching a desired level;   means for distancing said filled container from the sealing relationship with the corresponding filling device; and   means for removing said filled container from said filling machine.   
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the step of maintaining a filling pressure in said gas chamber by maintaining flow connection between said gas chamber and a supply of said inert gas is carried out by maintaining said gas chamber in flow connection with said supply of inert gas through an inert gas connecting line, said gas chamber being configured to contain a larger volume than a volume configured to be contained by said inert gas connecting line. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein said supply of inert gas and a supply of said gas sensitive material are maintained in a reservoir common to a plurality of filling devices. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein said reservoir is maintained at a filling pressure with the addition of inert gas and gas sensitive material and maintaining a head pressure of inert gas above said gas sensitive material in said reservoir. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising a step of providing flow connection between said gas chamber and said gas return duct, prior to filling a first container in a run of containers to be filled. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein said filling machine further comprises a vacuum duct, said method further comprising the steps of:
 evacuating said container sealed to said filling device, at least once, by providing flow connection between said container sealed to said filling device and said vacuum duct;   filling, after said at least one evacuation, said container sealed to said filling device with said inert gas by providing flow connection between said container sealed to said filling device and said gas return duct.   
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19  comprising at least one of a), b), c), d), e), and f):
 a) said gas chamber is directly connected with said supply of inert gas and said inert gas connecting line has no valve controlling the flow of said inert gas therethrough;   b) said gas chamber and said gas return duct are in valved flow connection with one another;   c) said gas return duct comprises a single gas return duct which is in flow connection with a plurality of filling devices in said filling machine;   d) said gas chamber comprises a single gas chamber in flow connection with a plurality of filling devices in said filling machine;   e) said filling machine comprising a plurality of filling devices disposed proximate a perimeter of a rotor at a substantially equal distance from one another; and   f) said inert gas is carbon dioxide and said gas sensitive material is an effervescent liquid.