Method for the filling of beverage cans in a beverage can filling plant, a method for the filling of cans in a can filling plant, and an apparatus therefor

1. A method of flushing an empty food or beverage can, using a flushing arrangement comprising a valve cylinder, a tube disposed at least partially within said valve cylinder, a sleeve disposed about an outer surface of said valve cylinder, and an exhaust gas line, a portion of which is formed in and as part of said valve cylinder, and is disposed a distance and separate from said tube, said method comprising the steps of:

moving said sleeve, with respect to said valve cylinder, and thereby moving a sealing portion of said sleeve past a lower end surface of said valve cylinder and into sealing engagement with an empty can filled with air, and thereby sealing the space between said valve cylinder and the sealed empty can;

moving said tube, with respect to said valve cylinder, and thereby inserting said tube into the sealed empty can through a can opening in the sealed empty can;

flowing a flushing gas through said tube and out of a discharge end of said tube, and thereby filling the sealed empty can with flushing gas and flushing air out of the sealed empty can; and

exhausting the air by flushing the air into said sealed space between said valve cylinder and the sealed empty can, then through an inlet opening of said exhaust gas line disposed in said lower end surface of said valve cylinder, and then through said exhaust gas line and out of said flushing arrangement.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said steps of flowing said flushing gas and exhausting the air are performed simultaneously.

3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein:

said tube is of a length sufficient to traverse a substantial portion of the height of the empty can;

said step of inserting said tube into the empty can comprises moving said discharge end to a position a short distance from a bottom interior surface of the empty can; and

said step of flowing said flushing gas comprises flowing flushing gas into a bottom portion of the empty can and thereby pushing air up and out of the empty can.

4. The method according to claim 3 , wherein:

said valve cylinder comprises a first portion of a first diameter, and a second portion of a second diameter that is less than both said first diameter and an inner diameter of said sleeve;

said lower end surface of said valve cylinder is disposed on said first portion; and

said second portion is disposed to project out from said lower end surface into said sealed space between said valve cylinder and the sealed empty can, to thereby reduce the volume of said sealed space and form, together with said lower end surface and said sleeve, an exhaust gas channel configured to guide exhausted flushed air to said inlet opening; and

said step of exhausting the air comprises guiding exhausted air through said exhaust gas channel to said inlet opening.

5. The method according to claim 4 , wherein:

said flushing arrangement further comprises a vacuum arrangement operatively connected to said exhaust gas line; and

said method further comprises drawing flushed air through said exhaust gas line using said vacuum arrangement.

6. The method according to claim 5 , wherein:

said flushing arrangement further comprises a movable arm connected to said sleeve; and

said method further comprises moving said movable arm up and down and thereby raising and lowering said sleeve.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein:

said tube is of a length sufficient to traverse a substantial portion of the height of the empty can;

said step of inserting said tube into the empty can comprises moving said discharge end to a position a short distance from a bottom interior surface of the empty can; and

said step of flowing said flushing gas comprises flowing flushing gas into a bottom portion of the empty can and thereby pushing air up and out of the empty can.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein:

said valve cylinder comprises a first portion of a first diameter, and a second portion of a second diameter that is less than both said first diameter and an inner diameter of said sleeve;

said lower end surface of said valve cylinder is disposed on said first portion; and

said second portion is disposed to project out from said lower end surface into said sealed space between said valve cylinder and the sealed empty can, to thereby reduce the volume of said sealed space and form, together with said lower end surface and said sleeve, an exhaust gas channel configured to guide exhausted flushed air to said inlet opening; and

said step of exhausting the air comprises guiding exhausted air through said exhaust gas channel to said inlet opening.

9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein:

said flushing arrangement further comprises a vacuum arrangement operatively connected to said exhaust gas line; and

said method further comprises drawing flushed air through said exhaust gas line using said vacuum arrangement.

10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein:

said flushing arrangement further comprises a movable arm connected to said sleeve; and

said method further comprises moving said movable arm up and down and thereby raising and lowering said sleeve.

11. A flushing arrangement for flushing an empty food or beverage can, said flushing arrangement comprising:

a valve cylinder and a tube disposed at least partially within said valve cylinder;

a sleeve disposed about an outer surface of said valve cylinder;

said sleeve being movable with respect to said valve cylinder;

said sleeve being movable to bring a sealing portion of said sleeve into sealing engagement with an empty can filled with air;

said tube being movable with respect to said valve cylinder, and being configured to be inserted into the sealed empty can through a can opening in the sealed empty can;

said tube being configured to permit flow of a flushing gas therethrough and out of a discharge end of said tube to fill the sealed empty can with flushing gas and thereby flush air out of the sealed empty can;

an exhaust gas line configured to exhaust flushed air;

a portion of said exhaust gas line being formed in and as part of said valve cylinder, and being disposed a distance and separate from said tube;

said exhaust gas line comprises an inlet opening disposed in a lower end surface of said valve cylinder;

said sealing portion of said sleeve is configured to project past said lower end surface of said valve cylinder upon said sleeve being moved into sealing engagement with the empty can to seal the space between said valve cylinder and the sealed empty can; and

said inlet opening is configured to receive air flushed out of the sealed empty can through the can opening upon flushing gas being flowed out of said tube into the sealed empty can.

12. The flushing arrangement according to claim 11 , wherein said tube is of a length sufficient to traverse a substantial portion of the height of the empty can, such that, upon insertion of said tube into the empty can, said discharge end is positioned a short distance from a bottom interior surface of the empty can.

13. The flushing arrangement according to claim 12 , wherein:

said valve cylinder comprises a first portion of a first diameter, and a second portion of a second diameter that is less than both said first diameter and an inner diameter of said sleeve;

said lower end surface of said valve cylinder is disposed on said first portion; and

said second portion is disposed to project out from said lower end surface into said sealed space between said valve cylinder and the sealed empty can, to thereby reduce the volume of said sealed space and form, together with said lower end surface and said sleeve, an exhaust gas channel configured to guide exhausted flushed air to said inlet opening.

14. The flushing arrangement according to claim 13 , wherein said flushing arrangement further comprises a vacuum arrangement operatively connected to said exhaust gas line and configured to draw flushed air through said exhaust gas line.

15. The flushing arrangement according to claim 14 , wherein said flushing arrangement further comprises a movable arm connected to said sleeve and configured to be moved up and down to raise and lower said sleeve.

16. The flushing arrangement according to claim 11 , wherein:

said valve cylinder comprises a first portion of a first diameter, and a second portion of a second diameter that is less than both said first diameter and an inner diameter of said sleeve;

said lower end surface of said valve cylinder is disposed on said first portion; and

said second portion is disposed to project out from said lower end surface into said sealed space between said valve cylinder and the sealed empty can, to thereby reduce the volume of said sealed space and form, together with said lower end surface and said sleeve, an exhaust gas channel configured to guide exhausted flushed air to said inlet opening.

17. The flushing arrangement according to claim 11 , wherein said flushing arrangement further comprises a vacuum arrangement operatively connected to said exhaust gas line and configured to draw flushed air through said exhaust gas line.

18. The flushing arrangement according to claim 11 , wherein said flushing arrangement further comprises a movable arm connected to said sleeve and configured to be moved up and down to raise and lower said sleeve.