Device for filling containers and method for monitoring the filling process

1 . A device for filling a container with a filling product, comprising:

a filling member comprising:

a product chamber that is configured to receive the filling product and to introduce the filling product via an outlet into the container, and

an inlet that is configured to introduce the filling product or a component of the filling product into the product chamber, wherein the product chamber is of an annular configuration and tapers in a lower region to form an annular outlet so that the filling product can be swirled when introduced into the container, and the inlet leads tangentially into the product chamber;

a measuring portion comprising a spectral sensor that is configured to determine one or more properties of the filling product based on a spectroscopic measuring principle, wherein the spectral sensor is installed in the product chamber, and the filling product comprises a filling product in the product chamber; and

a controller configured to control a filling process and communicate with the spectral sensor and is further configured to measure a difference between a first base liquid and a second base liquid in or out of the filling member via the spectral sensor.

2 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the one or more properties of the filling product comprise a Brix content, a CO 2 content, a density, a composition, and/or a mixing ratio of the filling product.

3 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising a discharge portion having a discharge that is connected to the product chamber and is configured to discharge liquid from the product chamber by bypassing the container.

4 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the spectral sensor comprises a transmitter and a receiver, wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit a measuring beam emitted from the transmitter through at least a part of the filling product and the receiver is configured to receive the measuring beam from the transmitter.

5 . The device of claim 4 , wherein the measuring beam is reflected on a path from the transmitter to the receiver from at least one reflective surface.

6 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to measure an absorption in a viewing path through which the first base liquid and the second base liquid flow alternately via the spectral sensor.

7 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the filling member further comprises one or more dosing valves, which are each configured to introduce an additional component into the product chamber.

8 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising a flow meter, wherein:

the flow meter is installed in the inlet,

the controller is further configured to introduce the component into the product chamber, and then to introduce an additional component into the product chamber via a dosing valve, and

the controller is further configured to determine a quantity of fluid passing in the inlet via the flow meter for dosing the additional component.

9 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the filling member further comprises a valve cone having a cylindrical shape that tapers toward the annular outlet and is displaceable via an actuator in an axial direction, and the actuator is configured to adjust the valve cone between an open position and a closed position.

10 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the container comprises a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottle, a glass bottle, a can, or a paper container.

11 . A method for monitoring a process for filling a container with a filling product, comprising:

introducing a liquid into a product chamber of a filling member, wherein the product chamber is configured to introduce the filling product into the container and the filling member further comprises an inlet that is configured to introduce the filling product or a component of the filling product into the product chamber, the product chamber is of an annular configuration and tapers in a lower region to form an annular outlet so that the filling product can be swirled when introduced into the container, and the inlet leads tangentially into the product chamber;

determining one or more properties of the liquid based on a spectroscopic measuring principle via a spectral sensor of a measuring portion, wherein the spectral sensor is installed in the product chamber, and the filling product comprises a filling product in the product chamber; and

measuring a difference between a first base liquid and a second base liquid in or out of the filling member via the spectral sensor.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the one or more properties of the liquid comprises a Brix content, a CO 2 content, a density, a composition, and/or a mixing ratio of the liquid.

13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein measuring the difference between the first base liquid and the second base liquid comprises measuring an absorption in a viewing path through which the first base liquid and the second base liquid flow alternately via the spectral sensor.

14 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the filling product comprises a component and an additional component, and the method further comprises:

introducing the component from the inlet of the filling member into the product chamber;

introducing the additional component via a dosing valve into the product chamber; and

determining a mixing ratio between the component and the additional component via the spectral sensor.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the component comprises water and the additional component comprises a syrup and/or carbon dioxide.

16 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

installing a flow meter in the inlet of the filling member;

introducing a component into the product chamber;

after introducing the component, introducing an additional component via a dosing valve; and

determining a quantity of fluid that passes in the inlet via the flow meter for dosing of the additional component.

17 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the container comprises a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottle, a glass bottle, a can, or a paper container.