EP1584601B1 - Filling machine of the rotary type - Google Patents

Abstract

Filling machine comprises a non-controlled gas path with a throttle formed in each filling element. The gas path connects a return gas pipe with a return gas channel common for all the filling elements on the rotor side. Preferred Features: The return gas pipe is connected with a collecting channel common for all the filling elements via a controlled gas path. A container support is assigned to each filling element to lift a container to be filled and to lower the filled container.

Description

The invention relates to a filling machine of continuous design for filling bottles or the like. Container with a liquid product according to the preamble of claim 1.

A filling machine of this type is known ( EP 1 216 952 A2 ). In this known filling machine, the gas paths formed in the filling elements are connected to a total of three rotor-side gas channels, which means an increased design effort in the filling machine as a whole, but also in the filling elements.

Also known is a filling machine ( EP 0 705 788 A2 ), in which the gas paths of all provided on a rotor filling element are also connected to three rotor-side gas channels, with two rotor-side annular channels and in addition to the gas space of a rotor provided on the ring boiler. Furthermore, all filling elements are also connected to a rotor-side, designed as a ring channel steam channel.

The object of the invention is to show a filling machine that allows for a simplified and yet reliable training of the filling machine and the filling elements filling under pressure and at least in principle, a pressureless filling. To solve this problem, a filling machine according to claim 1 is formed.

All embodiments of the invention have in common that the boiler provided on the rotor of the filling machine is designed so that it is only partly filled with ready-to-use machine with the liquid contents and the interior of this boiler thus forms a filled with the liquid product liquid space and above a gas space. All embodiments of the invention further have in common that in the respective filling element in addition to a throttled non-controlled gas path connecting the return gas tube of each filling element with a common for all filling elements or for each group of filling elements and serving as a return gas collecting channel, a first, controlled Gas channel is provided, via which the gas space of the boiler controlled with the return gas pipe or with a channel formed in this return gas pipe is connectable. Already with this simplified version, a pressure filling (1-chamber pressure filling) as well as a pressureless filling are possible.

In another embodiment of the invention, in each filler element, in addition to the non-controlled gas path and the first controlled gas path, a second controlled throttle path is provided which is operatively arranged in parallel with the throttle of the non-controlled gas path. With this version are by pure driving the Gaswegsteuerventile and without replacing chokes or nozzles optionally at least two filling variants possible, namely a 1-chamber pressure filling or pressureless filling or a 1-chamber pressure filling or 3-chamber pressure filling (also with inert gas bias).

Thus, by suitably controlling the respective liquid valve and the gas path control valves controlling the gas paths, an optimal adaptation of the filling method to the respective requirements of the contents to be filled is possible, so that with a simplified design of the filling machine and the filling elements a broad spectrum of contents, ie. H. In particular, a wide range of beverages can be covered.

In another possible embodiment of the invention, each filler element has a third controlled and throttled, in addition to the throttled non-controlled gas path and the first and second controlled gas paths. provided with a throttle gas path, which is then arranged in function parallel to the throttle of the second controlled gas path. The gas path control valve of this third controlled gas path is constantly closed at a pressure filling and constantly open at a pressureless filling, so that the Gaswegsteuerventile these third controlled gas paths all filling elements of the machine can be controlled via a single, common control line and / or via a single, common control , which results in a very simplified, in particular cost-reducing design of the overall machine despite a variety of different filling.

Fig. 1

in schematischer Darstellung eines der Füllelemente einer Füllmaschine umlaufender Bauart zum Abfüllen eines flüssigen Füllgutes in Behälter bzw. Flaschen, zusammen mit einem Rotor der Füllmaschine und einem am Rotor vorgesehenen Kessel für das Füllgut;

Fig. 2 - 5

Darstellungen ähnlich Figur 1, jedoch bei abgewandelten Ausführungsformen des Füllelementes.

Further developments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims. The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the figures of exemplary embodiments.
Show it:

Fig. 1

in a schematic representation of one of the filling elements of a filling machine of rotating design for filling a liquid filling material in containers or bottles, together with a rotor of the filling machine and a boiler provided on the rotor for the filling material;

Fig. 2-5

Representations similar FIG. 1 but in modified embodiments of the filling element.

In the FIG. 1 1 is a filling element, which is arranged with a plurality of similar filling elements on the circumference of a rotor 2 which can be driven about a vertical machine axis. On the rotor 2, a boiler 3, for example, ring boiler is also provided, the boiler interior 4 partially, that level control is filled to level N level with the liquid product, so that in the boiler interior 4, an upper gas space 4.1 and a lower liquid space 4.2 are formed. During the filling process, the gas space 4.1 is subjected to the pressure of an inert gas, for example CO2 gas, which is supplied via the connection 4.1.1. The liquid product is the liquid space 4.2 supplied from a reservoir via the connection 4.2.1.

In the rotor 2, a vertical machine axis concentrically enclosing and common to all filling elements 1 of the filling machine distributor or annular channel 5 is formed, which is connected via a connection 6 with the gas space 4.1 and 4.1.1 of the gas space in connection. In the rotor 2 is another, the vertical machine axis concentrically enclosing and common to all filling elements 1 of the filling machine collecting or annular channel 7 is provided, which via a line 8, for. vented to the atmosphere and / or communicates with means for purifying and / or recovering inert gas.

The filling element 1 consists essentially of the filling element housing 9, in which the liquid channel 10 is formed with the liquid valve 11. The latter consists of the cooperating with your valve seat in the liquid channel 10 valve body 12 at a coaxially with the Füllelementachse FA arranged return gas pipe 13, which by an actuator 14 for opening and closing the liquid valve 11 to a predetermined stroke in the direction of the axis FA is movable. The actuator 14 consists in the illustrated embodiment of a return spring which biases the liquid valve 11 in the open position and a pneumatic cylinder with which the return gas pipe 13 and the valve body 12 are moved to the closed position and held there.

On the underside 9.1, the liquid channel 10 forms an annular discharge opening 15, which is enclosed by an annular seal 16 and a centering element 17. In the region of the discharge opening 15 is the lower, open end of the return gas pipe 13. With the upper, open end of the return gas pipe 13 opens into a housing 9 formed in the chamber 18, which is formed in a housing 9 non-controlled gas path or gas channel 19 with the for all filling elements 1 common annular channel 7 is in communication.

In the housing 9, a first, controlled gas path or gas channel 20 is further formed, which extends between the common for all filling elements 1 annular channel 5 and formed in the filling element 1 gas channel 19 and in which a first, pneumatically controllable Gaswegsteuerventil 21.1 (gas cylinder) is provided is.

In the gas channel 19, a first nozzle or throttle 22 is arranged, which has a predetermined flow cross-section and is located where the gas channel 20 opens into the gas channel 19, at the leading of this junction to the annular channel 9 portion of the gas channel 19th

The liquid channel 10 is connected at its end remote from the discharge opening 15 with a conduit 23 individually provided for each filling element 1 with the liquid space 4.2. In this line 23, a flow-measuring sensor 24 is provided for volumetric control of the filling process.

The respectively to be filled bottle 25 is held during the filling of a container or bottle carrier 26, which in the illustrated Embodiment, the respective bottle 25 engages behind an under the bottle mouth on the bottleneck formed radially projecting flange. The bottle carrier is for raising and lowering, in particular also for pressing the bottle 25 with its mouth edge against the seal 16 in the direction of the axis FA by a predetermined stroke movable, controlled by a connected to the bottle carrier 26 via a lifting rod, not shown, and By a compression spring 28 and by a force acting on a piston 29 pressure in the chamber 18 of the container carrier 26 is biased for the movement upwards, so that at a pressure filling results in a "Selbstanpressen" ,

With the filling system of FIG. 1 Among other things, a 1-chamber pressure filling is possible, with the following method steps, wherein the single gas path control valve 21.1 is in the closed position, unless expressly stated below is the open position:

Insert and lift the respective bottle

At the beginning of the filling process, the respective bottle 25 is inserted at a bottle inlet into the lowered bottle carrier 26 and then subsequently lifted by the force of the spring 28.

Preloading the bottle

Thereafter, the biasing of the bottle 25 is carried out with the pressurized inert gas from the gas space 4.1 or annular channel 5. For this purpose, the Gaswegsteuerventil 21.1 is opened so that the biasing gas on the open gas channel 20, the chamber 18 and the return gas pipe 13 into the bottle 25 can flow. Due to the pressure building up in the chamber 18, an additional automatic pressing of the bottle 25 takes place with its mouth edge against the seal 16.

The throttle 22 is selected so that only a relatively small amount of inert gas flows to the annular channel 7.

fast Fill

When the valve 21.1 is still open, the liquid valve 11 is also opened so that the liquid product flows via the discharge opening 15 into the bottle 25 which is further in sealing position with the filling element 1 and the gas displaced out of the bottle via the return gas pipe 13 and then for the most part via the open gas channel 20, the annular channel 5 flows back into the gas space 4.1, while a smaller part of the displaced gas but also via the throttle 22 and the annular channel 7 is discharged.

brake filling

When the liquid valve 10 is still open, the gas path control valve 20.1 is closed, so that the gas displaced from the bottle 25 can now flow off solely via the throttle 22 and the annular channel 7.

filling

Once monitored by the sensor 24 a predetermined amount of filling material has entered the bottle 25, and the liquid valve is closed.

Relief and reassurance

After closing the liquid valve 11 takes place via the gas channel 19 and the throttle 22, a relief of the pressure in the interior of the bottle 25 in the annular channel 7, so then then lowered after the relieving by cooperating with the roller 27 cam on the bottle outlet of the bottle carrier 26 and the filled bottle 25 can be removed.

This 1-chamber pressure filling is particularly suitable for soft drinks and mineral waters with CO2 content.

The FIG. 2 shows as another possible embodiment, a filling element 1a, which differs from the filling element 1 essentially only in that in addition to the gas channels 19 and 20, a second controlled gas path or gas channel 30 is provided in the housing 9, which is located between the chamber 18 and the gas channel 19 extends and in which a second Gaswegsteuerventil 21.2 is provided in series with a second throttle 31. The gas channel 30 opens into the gas channel 19 at a portion of this gas channel 19 between the throttle 22 and the annular channel 7 and thus is functionally parallel to the throttle 22nd

With the filling element 1a, the above-described 1-chamber pressure filling is possible, in which only the gas path control valve 21.1 is controlled, in the manner described above for the 1-chamber pressure filling in connection with the filling element 1.

With the filling element 1a is still a non-pressurized filling possible. This pressureless filling, which is particularly suitable for bottling still water, fruit juice drinks with preservatives and in which the gas path control valve 21.2 is constantly open and the gas space 4.1 atmospheric pressure or near atmospheric pressure, is carried out with the following process steps:

Insert and lift the respective bottle

At the bottle inlet turn the insertion and lifting of the respective bottle 25 in sealing position against the filling element 1 a.

fast Fill

When the gas path control valves 21.1 and 21.2 are open, the liquid valve 11 is opened so that the contents flow into the bottle 25 via the discharge opening 15 and the air displaced out of the bottle 25 can flow out through the open gas channel 20 and the likewise open gas channel 30, both via the annular channel 5 in the port 4.1.1 and in the annular channel 7 and via the line 8 to the atmosphere.

brake filling

For the brake filling, the gas path control valve 21.1 is closed, so that when the gas channel 30 is still open, the displaced air flows via the throttles 22 and 31 and, as a result, a braked filling takes place.

filling

Controlled by the signal from the sensor 24, when the gas path control valve 21.2 is still open and the gas path control valve 21.1 is closed, the liquid valve 11 is closed and then the filled bottle is lowered.

In the above-described types of filling (1-chamber pressure filling or non-pressurized filling), it is possible to connect the Gaswegsteuerventile 21.2 all Füllelemente 1 a with a common ring and control line and to control this common control line, in the closed state for the 1-chamber pressure filling and the open state for the non-pressurized filling, so that the filling machine is switchable not only in a particularly simple manner alone by controlling the Gaswegsteuerventile 21.1 and 21.2 between the two types of filling, but for the Gaswegsteuerventile 21.2 all Füllelemente 1a also only one single control line and / or a single control is required.

With the filling element 1a, a single-chamber pressure filling or a three-chamber pressure filling is also possible, optionally, solely by controlling the gas path control valves 21.1 and 21.2. The 3-chamber pressure filling, in which the gas space 4.1 in turn has the inert gas under pressure, then comprises the following process steps:

Inserting and lifting the bottles

At the bottle inlet, the respective bottle is in turn lifted with the bottle carrier 26 and brought into sealing position with the bottle mouth against the filling element.

bias

By opening the gas path control valve 21.1, the biasing and additional pressing of the bottle 25 takes place.

fast Fill

After closing the Gaswegsteuerventils 21.1 and opening the Gaswegsteuerventils 21.2, the opening of the liquid valve 11, so that the liquid product flows through the discharge opening 15 of the bottle 25 and displaced from the bottle gas on the return gas pipe 13 and the open gas passage 30 and on in the Gas channel 19 provided throttle 22 flows to the annular channel 7 and is discharged from there via the line 8.

brake filling

When the liquid valve 11 is still open, the gas path control valve 21.2 is closed, so that the gas displaced from the bottle 25 can now only flow via the gas channel 19 and the throttles 22 into the annular channel 7.

filling

In still closed Gaswegsteuerventilen 21.1 and 21.2, the liquid valve is controlled by the signal of the sensor 24 is closed so that via the gas channel 19 and the local throttle 22 a pre-relief and reassurance and after the pre-discharge the filled bottle 25 can be lowered with the bottle carrier 26.

The 3-chamber pressure filling with the filling elements 1a is u.a. for oxygen-sensitive drinks with low CO2 content, such. B. fruit spritzers, isotonic drinks and wellness drinks, drinks with vitamin C.

The FIG. 3 shows as a further possible embodiment, a filling element 1 b, which differs from the filling element 1a in that in the Füllelementgehäuse 9, a third controlled gas path or gas channel 32 is formed, which is between the directly connected to the annular channel 7 portion of the gas channel 19 and extends between the Gaswegsteuerventil 21.2 and the gas channel 19 lying portion of the gas channel 30 and opens into this section of the gas channel 30 between the Gaswegsteuerventil 21.2 and the throttle 31, so that the third controllable gas channel 32 is operatively parallel to the throttle 31. In the gas channel 32, a third Gaswegsteuerventeil 21.3 is provided in series with a third throttle 33.

With the filling element 1 b are all the aforementioned filling method, d. H. 1-chamber pressure filling, pressureless filling and 3-chamber pressure filling in the manner described above, without replacement of nozzles or restrictors and solely by appropriate control of the liquid valve 11 and the gas path control valves 21.1 and 21.2. The Gaswegsteuerventile 21.3 all filling elements 1 b are in turn controlled via a common control line, d. H. for pneumatically actuated valves 21.3 via a common pneumatic control line, which is actuated by a single solenoid valve. In the case of the 1-chamber pressure filling and the 3-chamber pressure filling, the valves 21.3 are permanently closed and constantly open during the pressureless filling.

Especially in the unpressurised filling the gas path control valves 21.1 and 21.2 are closed when inserting and lifting the bottle 25 and the gas path control valve 21.3 open. The Gaswegsteuerventile 21.1, 21.2 and 21.3 of the filling elements 1 b are then controlled so that during the fast filling all three Gaswegsteuerventile are open, during the brake filling only the two Gaswegsteuerventile 21.2 and 21.3 and again at the filling and when lowering the bottle only the gas path control valve 21.3 is open.

The 3-chamber pressure filling with the filling elements 1 b is u.a. for fruit spritzers with low CO2 content, for microbiologically sensitive and oxygen-sensitive drinks, especially fruit juice drinks, for isotonic drinks and wellness drinks with low CO2 content.

The non-pressurized filling with the filling elements 1b is u.a. for fruit juices and fruit juice drinks, iced tea, isotonic drinks and wellness drinks without CO2 content.

The individual filling methods and their preferred use can be summarized in tabular form as follows: Filling machine with filling Filling material or beverage Filling elements 1 1-chamber pressurized filling Soft drinks (coke, soda, etc.), mineral water with CO2 Filling elements 1 a 1st variant 1-chamber pressurized filling Soft drinks (coke, soda, etc.), mineral water with CO2 non-pressurized filling Still water, fruit juice drinks with preservatives Filling elements 1a 2nd variant 1-chamber pressurized filling Soft drinks (coke, lime, etc.), mineral water with CO2 3-chamber pressure filling (also inert gas bias) 02-sensitive drinks with low CO2 (eg spritzers, isotonic and wellness drinks, drinks with vitamin C) Filling elements 1b 1-chamber pressurized filling Soft drinks (coke, soda, etc.), mineral water with CO2 3-chamber pressure filling (also inert gas bias) Fruit spritzers with low CO2, microbiologically sensitive and O2-sensitive fruit juice drinks, isotonic and wellness drinks with low CO2 Pressure-free filling Fruit juices and fruit juice drinks, ice tea, isotonic and wellness drinks without CO2

When using the filling elements 1 a, depending on the required filling system or required filling variant (variant 1 or variant 2) only nozzles or throttles 22 and / or 31 are used with different sizes, d. H. by replacing the nozzles is also a changeover of the filling machine of the variant 1, in which only by controlling the Gaswegsteuerventile 21.1 and 21.2 switching from the 1-chamber pressure filling to the non-pressurized filling is possible to reach the variant 2, in which only by switching the gas control valves 21.1 and 21.2 switching from the 1-chamber pressure filling to the 3-chamber pressure filling is possible.

The FIG. 4 shows as a further possible embodiment, a filling element 1 c and partially the rotor 34 with a filling machine of rotating design with the rotor 34 provided on the boiler 35 (for example, ring kettle) with the partially filled with the liquid contents boiler interior 36 and the upper gas space 36.1 and lower formed thereby Liquid space 36.2, the gas space 4.1 or liquid space 4.2 of Figures 1 - 3 correspond. About the connection 6 corresponding compound 37 is each filling element 1 c or formed in each filling element gas channel 20 directly to the gas space 36.1 in connection. The filling elements 1 c correspond in terms of their training, especially with regard to the formation and control of the gas paths, ie the gas path control valves 21.1 and 21.2 and with respect to the control of the liquid valve 11, the filling elements 1 a of FIG. 2 ,

The filling element 1 c differs from the filling element 1a only in that instead of the volume-controlled filling a filling height controlled filling takes place and for each filling element 1 c of the filling machine has a filling height determining probe 38 which extends into the respective bottle 25 when filling with its probe tip , Another difference is that, instead of the bottle carrier 26, a bottle carrier 39 controlled by a lifting device 39.1 is provided on each filling element, the bottle carrier in turn the respective bottle 25 engages behind its protruding flange formed on the bottleneck.

With the filling elements 1c, the same filling methods are possible by controlling the liquid valve 11 and the two gas path control valves 21.1 and 21.2, as described above for the filling elements 1 a having filling machine, only with the difference that the respective filling end by a signal of the probe 38 is initiated.

As the FIG. 5 shows, the filling machine of the FIG. 4 Also be designed so that instead of the bottle carrier 39, a bottle carrier 40 is provided on which the respective bottle 25 rests with its bottom, and which is controlled for raising and lowering the respective bottle 25 by a lifting device, not shown.

In all described embodiments, the control of the liquid valve 11 and the respective gas path control valves 21.1, 21.2 and 21.3 by a central control device 41 (computer) of the filling machine. The gas path control valves 21.1, 21.2 and 21.3 are in the illustrated embodiment pneumatically actuated valves, which are then controlled via not shown, electrically controllable pneumatic valves and also not shown pneumatic control lines in the required manner by the controller 41.

All embodiments described is also common that the respective boiler 3 or 35 is only partially filled with the liquid product, so that in this boiler, the gas chamber 4.1 or 36.1 and the liquid space 4.2 or 36.2 result. A level control 42 regulates the level N of the product level in the interior of the boiler.

When in the FIG. 3 illustrated embodiment are still electrically controllable in the connection 6 between the gas chamber 4.1 and the collecting or annular channel 5 Valves 43 and 44 and a further electrically controllable valve 45 provided at an additional connection of the gas space 4.1, in particular for the control of the flow path of a cleaning liquid in a CIP cleaning of the filling machine.

The invention has been described above by means of exemplary embodiments.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1, 1a, 1b

filler

2

rotor

3

boiler

4

Boiler interior

4.1

headspace

4.2

liquid space

4.1.1

connection

4.1.2

connection

5

annular channel

6

management

7

annular channel

8th

management

9

Housing of the filling element

9.1

Housing bottom

10

liquid channel

11

liquid valve

12

valve body

13

Return gas pipe

14

Actuator for liquid valve

15

discharge opening

16

poetry

17

centering

18

chamber

19, 20

gas channel

21.1, 21.2, 21.3

Gas path control valve

22

throttle

23

management

24

sensor

25

bottle

26

bottle carrier

27

control roller

28

compression spring

29

piston

30

gas channel

31

throttle

32

gas channel

33

throttle

34

rotor

35

boiler

36

Boiler interior

36.1

headspace

36.2

liquid space

37

connection

38

probe

39

bottle carrier

39.1

lifting device

40

bottle carrier

41

Control device (computer)

42

level controller

43, 44, 45

Valve

N

level

FA

filling element

Claims (15)

1. Filling machine of the rotary type for filling bottles (25) or similar containers with a liquid product in a selective manner at least through pressure filling or pressureless filling, the said filling machine including a rotor (2, 34) that is driveable in a rotary manner about a vertical machine axis, a liquid reservoir (3, 35) that is provided at the rotor (2, 34), the liquid reservoir space (4, 36) of the said liquid reservoir forming a liquid space (4.2, 36.2) that is occupied by the liquid product and a gas space (4.1, 36.1) that is located above the said liquid space, a plurality of filler elements (1, 1a, 1b, 1c) that are provided at the rotor (2, 34) and each include in a filler element housing (9) a liquid duct (10) with a liquid valve (11) between a liquid connection (23) to the liquid space (4.2, 36.2) and a discharge opening (15) that is provided on the bottom (9.1) of the housing (9), a return gas pipe (13) that is open at the discharge opening and communicates with gas paths that are configured in the filler element housing (9) and are connected at gas ring ducts (5, 7) on the rotor side for the exchange of gas between the filling machine and the filling elements (1, 1 a, 1b, 1 c) by means of gas path connections on the filler element side, wherein in each filler element (1, 1 a, 1 b, 1 c) there is a non controlled gas path (19) with at least one first throttle (22), the said non controlled gas path connecting the return gas pipe (13) to a first return gas ring duct (7) on the rotor side that is common to all filler elements (1, 1a, 1 b, 1 c) or to a group of filler elements (1, 1 a, 1 b, 1 c), and a first controlled gas path (20) with at least one first gas path control valve (21.1), by means of which the return gas pipe (13) is connectable by means of a second gas ring duct (5) on the rotor side in a controlled manner to the gas space (4.1, 36.1) of the liquid reservoir (3, 35), characterised in that each filler element (1, 1a, 1 b, 1c) has only two gas path connections that are connected to gas ducts on the rotor side, one of the said gas path connections being connected to the first and one to the second ring duct (7, 5) on the rotor side.
2. Filling machine according to claim 1, characterised in that the return gas pipe (13) is connectable via the first controlled gas path (20) to a collecting ring duct (5) on the rotor side that is common to all filler elements (1, 1a, 1 b, 1 c) or to a group of filler elements (1, 1 a, 1 b, 1 c), the said collecting ring duct being part of the second gas ring duct on the rotor side and being connected in its turn to the gas space (4.1) of the liquid reservoir (3).
3. Filling machine according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that a container support (26) is associated with each filler element for raising the container (25) to be filled against the filler element (1, 1 a, 1 b) as well as for lowering the filled container (25), and in that a chamber (18) is formed in the filler element housing (9), the said chamber being connected to the return gas pipe (13) and a piston (29) of a lifting element that moves the container support (26) in the direction of the respective filler element (1, 1a, 1 b) being disposed in the said chamber.
4. Filling machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterised by a control device (41), which is configured in such a manner that by means of the said control device (41) the liquid valve (11) and the first gas path control valve (21.1) are controllable for single chamber pressure filling in such a manner that for an initial pressurising of the container (25) that is situated in a sealed position with the respective filler element (1a, 1b, 1 c), the first controllable gas path (20) is opened by the first gas path control valve (21.1) for an initial pressurising of the container from the gas space (6.1, 36.1) of the liquid reservoir (3, 35), in that for a subsequent high-speed filling with the first gas path control valve (21.1) still open, the liquid valve (11) is opened, and in that for terminating the filling process the first gas path control valve (21.1) and the liquid valve (11) are closed.
5. Filling machine according to claim 4, characterised in that control device (41) is configured such that by means of the said control device the first gas path control valve (21.1) is controllable in such a manner that the said valve closes the first controlled gas path (20) for decelerating filling with the liquid valve (11) open.
6. Filling machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that in the housing of each filler element (1, 1a, 1 b) there is a second controlled gas path (30) with at least one second gas path control valve (21.2) parallel to the first throttle (22) of the non-controlled gas path (19).
7. Filling machine according to claim 6, characterised in that at least one second throttle (31) is provided in series with the second gas path control valve (21.2) in the second controlled gas path (30).
8. Filling machine according to claim 6 or 7, characterised in that by means of the control device (41) the second gas path control valve (21.2) is controllable in such a manner that the said valve is closed for pressure filling and open for pressureless filling.
9. Filling machine according to one of claims 6 - 8, characterised in that the second gas path control valves (21.2) of all filler elements (1a, 1c) or of a group of filler elements (1a, 1c) of the filling machine are actuatable via a common control line.
10. Filling machine according to claim 7, characterised in that a third controlled gas path (32) with a third gas path control valve (21.3) is provided in the housing (9) of the filler element (1b), preferably in series with a third throttle (33), parallel to the at least one second throttle (31) of the second controlled gas path (30).
11. Filling machine according to claim 10, characterised in that the third gas path control valve (21.3) is controllable by the control device (41) in such a manner that the third gas path (32) is closed for pressure filling, preferably constantly closed, and is open for pressureless filling, preferably constantly open.
12. Filling machine according to claim 10, characterised by a control device (41) that is configured such that by means of the said control device (41) the liquid valve (11) as well as the first and second gas path control valve (21.1, 21.2) are controllable for pressureless filling in such a manner that for high-speed filling the second gas path (30) and the third gas path (32) are open and for decelerating filling only the third gas path (32) is open.
13. Filling machine according to claim 10, characterised in that control device (41) is configured such that by means of the said control device the liquid valve (11) as well as the first and second gas path control valve (21.1, 21.2) are controllable for a 3 chamber pressure filling in such a manner that for preliminary pressurising of the respective container (25) that is situated in a sealed position with the filler element (1a, 1 b), the second gas path (30) is open, for high-speed filling of the container (25), with the liquid valve (11) open, the third gas path (32) is open and the second gas path (30) is closed and for subsequent decelerating filling the second and third gas paths are closed.
14. Filling machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that for volumetric filling a sensor (24) in the form of a flow meter is provided in a connecting line (23) between the respective filler element (1, 1a, 1b) and the liquid space (4.2) of the liquid reservoir (3).
15. Filling machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that for fill-level-controlled filling the fill elements (1c) each include a probe (38) that determines the fill level.

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