Method and filling station for filling a container comprising a pressurized additive chamber

1 . A method of filling a container comprising:

Placing a pressurizing medium in a container having an outflow opening and containing a substance,

Closing off the outflow opening of the container with a closure member, either prior to or after placing the pressurizing medium in the container, the closure member comprising an additive chamber and a valve,

Placing the valve in fluid communication with the pressurized container in such a manner that the valve is in a closed position when contacted by the pressure in the container, characterized by

Placing an additive substance and a liquefied or solid gas pressurizing medium into the additive chamber of the closure member via an additive fill opening, allowing the liquefied or solid gas pressurizing medium to evaporate and build pressure in the additive chamber,

Sealing the additive fill opening by ultrasonic welding while the pressure is building up in the additive chamber such that there is a predetermined pressure in the additive chamber that is smaller than the pressure inside the container and larger than an atmospheric pressure, wherein the seal does not comprise a valve.

2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the pressurizing medium comprises the same gas that is applied to the container and to the additive chamber in different amounts.

3 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein after application of the liquefied or solid gas pressurizing medium to the additive chamber, gas is allowed to evaporate from the additive chamber until the pressure in the additive chamber is below the pressure in the container.

4 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the pressurizing medium in the container comprises a liquified or solid gas pressurizing medium and is placed in the container prior to closing off the outflow opening of the container with the closure member.

5 . The method according to claim 4 , wherein the pressurizing medium comprises the same gas that is applied to the container and to the additive chamber in different amounts.

6 . The method according to claim 4 , wherein after application of the liquefied or solid gas pressurizing medium to the additive chamber, gas is allowed to evaporate from the additive chamber until the pressure in the additive chamber is below the pressure in the container.

7 . A method of filling a container comprising:

feeding a container holding a substance, to a pressurizing unit,

moving the container along a first pressurizing station having an applicator that places a pressurizing medium into the filled container,

feeding a cap to the filled container comprising a valve and an additive chamber,

closing the container with the cap either prior to or after placing the pressurizing medium in the container,

placing the valve in fluid communication with the pressurized container in such a manner that the valve is in a closed position by contact with the pressure in the container,

feeding the assembled container and cap along a second pressurizing station,

placing a liquid or solid pressurizing medium into the additive chamber via an additive fill opening such that a pressure in the additive chamber is lower than the pressure in the container,

allowing a predetermined time interval for the liquefied or solid pressurizing medium to evaporate and for excess pressurizing gas to escape from the additive chamber,

after a predetermined time interval, feeding the assembled container and cap along a sealing station, and

placing a pressure sealing member on the additive fill opening of the additive chamber of the cap, wherein the pressure sealing member does not comprise a valve, wherein the predetermined time interval is set such that the pressure in the additive chamber reaches a controlled value lower than the pressure in the container.

8 . The method according to claim 7 , wherein an applicator at the first pressurizing station supplies a first amount of liquified or solid pressurizing medium and at the second pressurizing station an applicator supplies a second amount of the pressurizing medium that is smaller than the first amount.

9 . The method according to claim 8 in which the applicator and the sealing station are situated along a rotating feeding station.

10 . The method according to claim 7 in which the applicator and the sealing station are situated along a rotating feeding station.

11 . A pressurizing unit comprising a first and a second pressurizing stations, a transport member for transporting containers along the pressurizing stations, an applicator that is adapted to supply pressurizing medium into the containers at the first pressurizing station, a feeding unit adapted to supply a cap with an additive chamber and closing off the pressurized container with the cap, upstream or downstream from the first pressurizing station, such that a pressure inside the container is at a first pressure value, wherein the applicator at the second pressurizing station is adapted to supply liquid or solid pressuring medium to the additive chamber of the cap via an additive fill opening and a sealing station adapted to seal the additive chamber with a pressure sealing member not comprising a valve, such that the pressure inside the additive chamber is lower than the pressure in the container.

12 . The pressurizing unit according to claim 11 , wherein the applicator at the first pressurizing station is adapted to supply a first amount of liquid or solid pressurizing medium into the containers, and wherein the applicator at the second pressurizing station being adapted to supply a second amount of liquid or solid pressurizing medium that differs from a first amount of pressurizing medium that is supplied by the applicator at the first pressurizing station.

13 . The pressurizing unit according to claim 12 , comprising between the first and second pressurizing stations, an additive filling station for filling of the additive chamber with an additive product.

14 . The pressurizing unit according to claim 11 , comprising between the first and second pressurizing stations, an additive filling station for filling of the additive chamber with an additive product.