Method and device for filling an open container

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and to a device for filling a container ( 2 ) open at the top with a flowable product, in particular with coffee powder or with milk powder, using a filling head ( 3 ) placed onto the container ( 2 ) in gas-tight manner, wherein the filling head ( 3 ) has a filling channel ( 30 ) and a gas channel ( 32 ), wherein the container ( 2 ) is received in a gas-tight jacketing ( 6 ) which adjoins the filling head ( 3 ) and/or the container ( 2 ) in sealing manner at least in a filling position in order to provide a gas-tightly closed gap ( 62 ) between the jacketing ( 6 ) and an outer container wall; wherein the filling channel ( 30 ) has a free end ( 300 ) which projects into the container ( 2 ) with an immersion depth in the filling position; wherein negative pressure is generated inside the container ( 2 ) and in the gap ( 62 ) in the filling phase for a product discharge; wherein the negative pressure inside the container ( 2 ) effects a product discharge via the filling channel ( 30 ) up to a filling level at least substantially corresponding to the immersion depth; wherein after the filling phase a gas supply to the container ( 2 ) and to the gap ( 62 ) takes place in a gassing phase; wherein an inert gas is supplied at least to the container ( 2 ) the gassing phase; and wherein a fill weight of the container ( 2 ) is determined and compared with a target weight after the filling phase and before the gassing phase, with topping up taking place if the determined fill weight is below the target weight.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for filling a container open at the top with a flowable product, in particular with coffee powder or with milk powder, using a filling head that is gas-tightly placed onto the container,
 wherein the filling head has a filling channel and a gas channel,   wherein the container is received in a gas-tight jacketing which adjoins the filling head and/or the container in sealing manner at least in the filling position in order to provide a gas-tightly closed gap between the jacketing and an outer container wall, wherein the filling channel has a free end which projects into the container with an immersion depth in the filling position,   wherein negative pressure is generated inside the container and the gap in a filling phase,   wherein the negative pressure inside the container effects a product discharge via the filling channel up to a filling level corresponding at least substantially to the immersion depth, and   wherein after the filling phase gas is supplied to the container and to the gap in a gassing phase, wherein an inert gas is supplied at least to the container in the gassing phase,   wherein   after the filling phase and before the gassing phase a fill weight of the container is determined and compared with a target weight, wherein topping up takes place if the determined fill weight is below the target weight.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein at least the filling channel of the filling head is moved relative to the container for topping up, so that the immersion depth of the free end into the container is reduced and a topping-up volume is created inside the container, wherein a gas-tight connection of the filling head to the container is maintained in particular during topping up. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein a tare weight of the container is determined before the filling phase. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the container rests on a bottom element in the filling phase, wherein a load cell of the weighing device is provided at the bottom element. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein negative pressure is generated up to a first pressure level in the filling phase, and before the gassing phase negative pressure up to a second pressure level below the first pressure level is generated for degassing the container in a degassing phase. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein after the filling phase and before a gassing phase, a pressure level inside the container and the gap is kept at a constant pressure level in a rest phase for product settling, wherein topping up takes place before or after the rest phase or as an interruption of it. 
     
     
         7 . A device for filling a container open at the top with a flowable product, in particular with coffee powder or with milk powder, comprising a filling head and a gas-tight jacketing receiving the container in the filling position; wherein the filling head comprises a filling channel having a free end and a gas channel having a container opening and a connection opening; wherein the free end of the filling channel projects into the container with an immersion depth in the filling position; wherein in the filling position gas is dischargeable out of the container and suppliable to the container via the gas channel; wherein the jacketing adjoins the filling head and/or the container in sealing manner at least in the filling position in order to provide a gas-tightly closed gap between the jacketing and the outer container wall; wherein a gap connection opening is provided; wherein gas is dischargeable out of the gap and gas is suppliable to the gap via the gap connection opening; wherein a control device is provided which is configured to connect fluidically the container and the gap to a negative pressure source in a filling phase such that negative pressure is generatable inside the container and the gap; wherein the negative pressure in the container effects a product discharge via the filling channel up to a filling level at least substantially corresponding to the immersion depth; wherein the control device is configured to connect fluidically the container and the gap to a gas source after the filling phase in a gassing phase such that a gas is suppliable to the container and the gap; wherein an inert gas is suppliable in the gassing phase at least to the container,
 wherein 
 a weighing device is provided for determining a fill weight of the container, wherein the control device is further configured to determine a fill weight of the container after the filling phase and before the gassing phase and compare it with a target weight, and to effect topping up if the determined fill weight is below the target weight. 
 
     
     
         8 . The device according to  claim 7 , wherein an actuator is provided which is configured to move at least the filling channel of the filling head relative to the container for topping up, in order to reduce the immersion depth of the free end into the container and to create a topping-up volume inside the container, wherein in particular the filling head is in sealing contact with the container during topping up. 
     
     
         9 . The device according to  claim 7 , wherein the control device is configured to determine a tare weight of the container using the weighing device before the filling phase. 
     
     
         10 . The device according to  claim 7 , wherein the weighing device comprises a load cell, wherein a bottom element is provided on which the container rests in the filling phase, and wherein the load cell is provided at the bottom element. 
     
     
         11 . The device according to  claim 7 , wherein negative pressure is generatable up to a first pressure level in the filling phase, wherein after the filling phase and before the gassing phase the container and the gap are connectable fluidically to the negative pressure source using the control device in a degassing phase for degassing such that negative pressure is generatable up to a second pressure level below the first pressure level inside the container and the gap. 
     
     
         12 . The device according to  claim 7 , wherein the control device is further configured to keep a pressure level in the container and the gap at a constant pressure level in a rest phase for settling of the product after the filling phase and before the gassing phase, wherein topping up can be effected before or after the rest phase or as an interruption of it. 
     
     
         13 . A carousel comprising several positions distributed over the circumference and at each of which a device according to  claim 7  is provided.