Method and linear installation for filling containers with a filling material

Abstract

A method for filling containers with a filling material and subsequently sealing the filled containers with container closures includes, using a linear transporter, moving the containers in a container-transport direction and in a timed manner, toward a sealing device, at the sealing device, sealing the containers with a container closure during a stationary phase of a timed movement, moving the containers onward in a subsequent movement phase of the timed movement, and during the subsequent movement phase, and before applying a container closure on the containers, dosing headspaces of the containers with liquid nitrogen to force air out of the headspace and to achieve an internal pressure in the sealed containers.

1 - 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A method for filling containers with a filling material and subsequently sealing said filled containers with container closures, said method comprising using a linear transporter, moving said containers in a container-transport direction and in a timed manner, toward a sealing device, at said sealing device, sealing said containers with a container closure during a stationary phase of a timed movement, moving said containers onward in a subsequent movement phase of said timed movement, and during said subsequent movement phase, and before applying a container closure on said containers, dosing headspaces of said containers with liquid nitrogen to force air out of said headspace and to achieve an internal pressure in said sealed containers. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein dosing headspaces of said containers with liquid nitrogen comprises arranging a dosing nozzle such that a jet of nitrogen emerging from said dosing nozzle has a component of velocity oriented along a container transport direction. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said container closure is a cap-type container closure having an interior, said method further comprising charging said interior to force out air using nitrogen emerging from said dosing nozzle. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising, after dosing headspaces of said containers with liquid nitrogen, placing container closures on said containers in way such that said closures are fixed in an area of said container mouth, and gas can continue to escape from said headspace. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising, after a further movement phase, finally fixing said container closures at a sealing station. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein dosing headspaces of said container with liquid nitrogen comprises placing said containers in a sterile chamber. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising filling said containers, wherein filling said containers and sealing said containers occur together with dosing a headspace of said container with liquid nitrogen on a number of parallel movement paths. 
     
     
         23 . An apparatus for filling and sealing containers with liquid filling material, said apparatus comprising a linear installation comprising a linear transporter for moving said containers along a movement path, a filling section, and a sealing section, wherein said linear transporter is configured to move said containers along said movement path in a timed movement through said filling section and said sealing section, a dosing nozzle disposed above said movement path, said dosing nozzle being disposed to dose headspaces of filled containers with nitrogen during said timed movement of said containers. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein said dosing nozzle is disposed along said movement path between said filling station and a closure transfer station. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein a distance between said dosing nozzle and said closure transfer station is smaller than a length of a movement step of said timed movement. 
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein said closure transfer station comprises a closure supply station at which container closures are arranged, and wherein said dosing nozzle is disposed on a level below a level at which said container closures are arranged. 
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein said closure transfer station is configured for loose application of container closures. 
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein said nozzle extends along a nozzle axis, wherein said movement path extends along a container transport direction, and wherein said nozzle axis and said container transport direction define an acute angle that opens in a direction opposite said container transport direction. 
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , further comprising a nitrogen dosing station, wherein said dosing nozzle comprises a nozzle head of said nitrogen dosing station and a channel, said channel being inclined against said container transport direction. 
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , further comprising a sterile chamber into which container mounts are moved. 
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of  claim 30 , further comprising functional elements that interact directly with said containers during filling and sealing thereof, wherein said functional elements are disposed in said sterile chamber, and wherein said nozzle is disposed in said sterile, and wherein remaining functional elements are disposed outside said sterile chamber. 
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of  claim 30 , further comprising means for cleaning said sterile chamber and functional elements disposed in said sterile chamber, wherein said means for cleaning with a cleaning medium. 
     
     
         33 . The apparatus of  claim 32 , further comprising means for supplying said cleaning medium and means for removing said cleaning medium from a movement area in which containers move during a filling and sealing operation.