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A beverage bottling plant for filling bottles with a liquid beverage, having a filling element of a filling machine with a rotary construction for filling bottles or similar containers with a liquid has, in a filling element housing, a liquid duct for the controlled dispensing of a liquid at a dispe

A beverage bottling plant for filling bottles with a liquid beverage, having a filling element of a filling machine with a rotary construction for filling bottles or similar containers with a liquid has, in a filling element housing, a liquid duct for the controlled dispensing of a liquid at a dispensing opening. The dispensing opening is located in a recess into which the respective container extends with its container mouth during the filling, and into which at least one additional duct of the filling element empties. During a cleaning or rinsing phase, the recess can be closed by a plate-shaped closing element.

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The invention claimed is: 1. A method of operating a beverage bottling plant for filling beverage bottles with liquid beverage material, said beverage bottling plant comprising: a beverage bottle cleaning machine being configured and disposed to clean beverage bottles; a feed arrangement to supply

The invention claimed is: 1. A method of operating a beverage bottling plant for filling beverage bottles with liquid beverage material, said beverage bottling plant comprising: a beverage bottle cleaning machine being configured and disposed to clean beverage bottles; a feed arrangement to supply beverage bottles to said beverage bottle cleaning machine; a beverage filling machine being configured and disposed to fill beverage bottles with liquid beverage material; at least one storage unit being configured and disposed to store a supply of liquid beverage material; at least one supply line being configured and disposed to connect said at least one storage unit to said beverage filling machine to supply liquid beverage material to said beverage filling machine; a first conveyer arrangement being configured and disposed to move beverage bottles from said beverage bottle cleaning machine into said beverage filling machine; said first conveyer arrangement comprising a star wheel structure; a beverage bottle closing machine being configured and disposed to close tops of filled beverage bottles; a second conveyer arrangement being configured and disposed to move filled beverage bottles from said beverage filling machine into said beverage bottle closing machine; said second conveyer arrangement comprising a star wheel structure; a beverage bottle labeling machine being configured and disposed to label filled, closed beverage bottles; a third conveyor arrangement being configured and disposed to move filled, closed beverage bottles from said beverage bottle closing machine into said beverage bottle labeling machine; said third conveyer arrangement comprising a star wheel structure; a beverage bottle packing station being configured and disposed to package labeled, filled, closed beverage bottles; a fourth conveyor arrangement being configured and disposed to move labeled, filled, closed beverage bottles from said beverage bottle labeling machine to said beverage bottle packing station; said fourth conveyer arrangement comprising a linear conveyor structure being configured and disposed to arrange beverage bottles in groups for packing; said beverage filling machine comprising a rotatable carousel being configured and disposed to be rotated about a central, vertical axis of rotation; said beverage filling machine comprising a plurality of beverage filling devices for filling beverage bottles with liquid beverage material; said beverage filling devices being disposed on the periphery of said rotatable carousel; each of said beverage filling devices comprising: a dispensing arrangement being configured and disposed to control the dispensation of liquid beverage material into a beverage bottle; a liquid duct being configured and disposed to permit the flow of liquid beverage material into a beverage bottle upon filling, and being configured and disposed to permit the outflow of cleaning fluid upon cleaning of said beverage filling device; at least one additional duct being configured and disposed to permit the flow of gas out of a beverage bottle upon filling, and being configured and disposed to permit the inflow of cleaning fluid upon cleaning of said beverage filling device; a discharge opening being configured and disposed to be brought into sealing engagement with a mouth of a beverage bottle upon filling of the beverage bottle with liquid beverage material; a housing being configured and disposed to house said dispensing arrangement, said liquid duct, and said at least one additional duct; said housing comprising a projecting portion which projects beyond and encloses said discharge opening, said projecting portion comprising a perimeter edge disposed about the end of said projecting portion; said housing projecting portion forms a recess being configured and disposed to receive and enclose at least a portion of a mouth of a beverage bottle; a lifting device being configured and disposed to lift a mouth of a beverage bottle into sealing engagement with said discharge opening; said lifting device comprising: a support and centering structure to hold a neck of a beverage bottle; lifting rods being connected to said support and centering structure and being configured to be moved vertically to permit vertical movement of said support and centering structure; and a closing element being configured to be moved and to be brought into sealing engagement with said perimeter edge of said housing projection portion to close said recess to create a rinsing space that is closed toward the outside environment to permit cleaning of the interior of said beverage filling device and essentially prevent leakage of cleaning fluid upon cleaning, said method comprising the steps of: supplying beverage bottles to said beverage bottle cleaning machine; cleaning beverage bottles; transporting beverage bottles to said beverage filling machine; filling beverage bottles with liquid beverage material; transporting filled beverage bottles to said beverage bottle closing machine; closing tops of filled beverage bottles; transporting filled beverage bottles to said beverage bottle labeling machine; attaching labels onto filled beverage bottles; transporting filled beverage bottles to said beverage bottle packing station; arranging filled beverage bottles into groups of beverage bottles; packing groups of beverage bottles; performing a cleaning operation for cleaning each of said filling devices, said cleaning operation comprising the steps of: moving said support and centering structure vertically downward; moving said closing element from an inactive position adjacent said housing projection portion to an active position below and aligned and centered with said housing projection portion; moving said support and centering structure vertically upward to bring said closing element into a sealing engagement with said edge of said housing projection portion to create said rinsing space within said housing projection portion; supplying cleaning fluid through said at least one additional duct to said rinsing space to clean said at least one additional duct and said discharge opening; transferring cleaning fluid through said liquid duct and said dispensing arrangement to clean said liquid duct and said dispensing arrangement; evacuating cleaning fluid out of said filling device; moving said support and centering structure vertically downward and disengaging said closing element from said edge of said housing projection portion; and moving said closing element back to its inactive position; and resuming filling beverage bottles with said beverage filling machine upon completion of said cleaning operation. 2. A beverage bottling plant for filling beverage bottles with liquid beverage material, said beverage bottling plant comprising: a beverage bottle cleaning machine being configured and disposed to clean beverage bottles; a feed arrangement to supply beverage bottles to said beverage bottle cleaning machine; a beverage filling machine being configured and disposed to fill beverage bottles with liquid beverage material; at least one storage unit being configured and disposed to store a supply of liquid beverage material; at least one supply line being configured and disposed to connect said at least one storage unit to said beverage filling machine to supply liquid beverage material to said beverage filling machine; a first conveyer arrangement being configured and disposed to move beverage bottles from said beverage bottle cleaning machine into said beverage filling machine; said first conveyer arrangement comprising a star wheel structure; a beverage bottle closing machine being configured and disposed to close tops of filled beverage bottles; a second conveyer arrangement being configured and disposed to move filled beverage bottles from said beverage filling machine into said beverage bottle closing machine; said second conveyer arrangement comprising a star wheel structure; a beverage bottle labeling machine being configured and disposed to label filled, closed beverage bottles; a third conveyor arrangement being configured and disposed to move filled, closed beverage bottles from said beverage bottle closing machine into said beverage bottle labeling machine; said third conveyer arrangement comprising a star wheel structure; a beverage bottle packing station being configured and disposed to package labeled, filled, closed beverage bottles; a fourth conveyor arrangement being configured and disposed to move labeled, filled, closed beverage bottles from said beverage bottle labeling machine to said beverage bottle packing station; said fourth conveyer arrangement comprising a linear conveyor structure being configured and disposed to arrange beverage bottles in groups for packing; said beverage filling machine comprising a rotatable carousel being configured and disposed to be rotated about a central, vertical axis of rotation; said beverage filling machine comprising a plurality of beverage filling devices for filling beverage bottles with liquid beverage material; said beverage filling devices being disposed on the periphery of said rotatable carousel; each of said beverage filling devices comprising: a dispensing arrangement being configured and disposed to control the dispensation of liquid beverage material into a beverage bottle; a liquid duct being configured and disposed to permit the flow of liquid beverage material into a beverage bottle upon filling, and being configured and disposed to permit the outflow of cleaning fluid upon cleaning of said beverage filling device; at least one additional duct being configured and disposed to permit the flow of gas out of a beverage bottle upon filling, and being configured and disposed to permit the inflow of cleaning fluid upon cleaning of said beverage filling device; a discharge opening being configured and disposed to be brought into sealing engagement with a mouth of a beverage bottle upon filling of the beverage bottle with liquid beverage material; a housing being configured and disposed to house said dispensing arrangement, said liquid duct, and said at least one additional duct; said housing comprising a projecting portion which projects beyond and encloses said discharge opening, said projecting portion comprising a perimeter edge disposed about the end of said projecting portion; said housing projecting portion forms a recess being configured and disposed to receive and enclose at least a portion of a mouth of a beverage bottle; a lifting device being configured and disposed to lift a mouth of a beverage bottle into sealing engagement with said discharge opening; said lifting device comprising: a support and centering structure to hold a neck of a beverage bottle; lifting rods being connected to said support and centering structure and being configured to be moved vertically to permit vertical movement of said support and centering structure; and a closing element being configured to be moved and to be brought into sealing engagement with said perimeter edge of said housing projection portion to close said recess to create a rinsing space that is closed toward the outside environment to permit cleaning of the interior of said beverage filling device and essentially prevent leakage of cleaning fluid upon cleaning. 3. The beverage bottling plant according to claim 2, wherein each of said filling devices comprises a filling element (1), with a liquid duct realized in the form of a filling element housing (2) for the controlled dispensing of the liquid via a dispensing opening ( 4) on an underside of the filling element housing (2) into a container (6) that is placed against the filling element (1) with a container carrier (7) that can be moved in a controlled manner in the direction of a filling element axis (FA), and that grasps the respective container (6) on a stop or contact or carrier surface (6.2) on the container for filling with its container mouth (6.1) against a stop (12) that is formed in a recess (15) on the filling element, with at least one additional duct (5.1) that empties into the recess ( 15) or into the container pressed against the filling element ( 1), characterized by the fact that in or on the container carrier ( 7) there is a closing element (16, 16a) to close the recess (15) to create a rinsing space that is closed toward the outside during a cleaning or rinsing of the filling element (1) . 4. The beverage bottling plant according to claim 3, wherein one of: the closing element (16, 16a) located on the container carrier (7) can be pressed by the container carrier (7) against a sealing surface (2.1.1) that surrounds the opening of the recess (15); and the closing element (16, 16a) is realized flat on its side that is pressed against the sealing surface ( 2.1.1). 5. The beverage bottling plant according to claim 4, wherein: the surface of the closing element (16, 16a) that is pressed against the sealing surface (2.1.1) is formed by a seal (16.1, 16.a.1) that is located on the closing element (16, 16a); the closing element (16, 16a) is realized in the shape of a plate at least in a partial area that interacts with the sealing surface (2.1.1); the closing element is a rinsing plate (16, 16 a); the container carrier (7) is realized in the shape of a fork, so that it can grasp and hold the respective container (6) on a container flange (6.2) that is formed on the container below the container mouth (6.1); at least one receptacle or guide (17) is provided on the container carrier (7) for the positioning of the closing element (16, 16a) below the opening of the recess (15); the closing element (16, 16a) can be positioned in a rinsing position by introduction or movement radial to the filling element axis below the opening of the recess (15); the closing element (16a) can be moved into or positioned in the rinsing position manually; the closing element (16) is provided on the filling element (1) or on the container carrier (7) so that it can be moved between an idle or initial position outside a space occupied by the respective container (6) during filling and the rinsing position; the closing element (16) can be moved in a guide ( 17) of the container carrier (7) between the initial position and the rinsing position radially or approximately radially with respect to the filling element axis (FA); the closing element (16) is connected with an actuator mechanism (18, 19) for the movement between the rest position and the rinsing position; the recess (15) that holds the container (6) during the filling with its container mouth (6.1) is realized in the filling element housing (2) or in a projection ( 2.1) of a filling element housing (2); the recess (15) is formed by a centering element on the filling element housing or by a centering groove; the receptacle or guide (17) for the closing element (16, 16a) is located on the container carrier ( 7) above a stop or contact or driver surface (7.2) for the container (6); the additional duct is a return gas duct (5.1) formed by a return gas pipe (5); and the filling element comprises one of: a filling element without a filler pipe; and a filling element with a short filling pipe. 6. A beverage filling device for use in a rotatable beverage filling machine to fill beverage bottles with a liquid beverage material, said beverage filling device comprising: a dispensing arrangement being configured and disposed to control the dispensation of liquid beverage material into a beverage bottle; a liquid duct being configured and disposed to permit the flow of liquid beverage material into a beverage bottle upon filling, and being configured and disposed to permit the outflow of cleaning fluid upon cleaning of said beverage filling device; at least one additional duct being configured and disposed to permit the flow of gas out of a beverage bottle upon filling, and being configured and disposed to permit the inflow of cleaning fluid upon cleaning of said beverage filling device; a discharge opening being configured and disposed to be brought into sealing engagement with a mouth of a beverage bottle upon filling of the beverage bottle with liquid beverage material; a housing being configured and disposed to house said dispensing arrangement, said liquid duct, and said at least one additional duct; said housing comprising a projecting portion which projects beyond and encloses said discharge opening, said projecting portion comprising a perimeter edge disposed about the end of said projecting portion; said housing projecting portion forms a recess being configured and disposed to receive and enclose at least a portion of a mouth of a beverage bottle; a lifting device being configured and disposed to lift a mouth of a beverage bottle into sealing engagement with said discharge opening; said lifting device comprising: a support and centering structure to hold a neck of a beverage bottle; lifting rods being connected to said support and centering structure and being configured to be moved vertically to permit vertical movement of said support and centering structure; and a closing element being configured to be moved and to be brought into sealing engagement with said perimeter edge of said housing projection portion to close said recess to create a rinsing space that is closed toward the outside environment to permit cleaning of the interior of said beverage filling device and essentially prevent leakage of cleaning fluid upon cleaning. 7. The beverage filling device according to claim 5, further comprising a filling element (1) duct realized in the form of a filling element housing (2) for the controlled dispensing of the liquid via a dispensing opening (4) on an underside of the filling element housing (2) into a container (6) that is placed against the filling element (1) with a container carrier (7) that can be moved in a controlled manner in the direction of a filling element axis (FA), and that grasps the respective container (6) on a stop or contact or carrier surface (6.2) on the container for filling with its container mouth (6.1) against a stop (12) that is formed in a recess (15) on the filling element, with at least one additional duct (5.1) that empties into the recess (15) or into the container pressed against the filling element (1), characterized by the fact that in or on the container carrier (7) there is a closing element (16, 16 a) to close the recess (15) to create a rinsing space that is closed toward the outside during a cleaning or rinsing of the filling element (1). 8. The beverage filling device according to claim 7, characterized by the fact that the closing element (16, 16 a) is realized flat on its side that is pressed against the sealing surface (2.1.1). 9. The beverage filling device according to claim 7, characterized by the fact that the closing element (16, 16 a) located on the container carrier (7) can be pressed by the container carrier (7) against a sealing surface (2. 1.1) that surrounds the opening of the recess (15). 10. The beverage filling device according to claim 9, characterized by the fact that the surface of the closing element ( 16, 16a) that is pressed against the sealing surface (2.1.1) is formed by a seal (16.1, 16.a.1) that is located on the closing element ( 16, 16a). 11. The beverage filling device according to claim 10, characterized by the fact that the closing element (16, 16 a) is realized in the shape of a plate at least in a partial area that interacts with the sealing surface (2.1.1). 12. The beverage filling device according to claim 11, characterized by the fact that the closing element is a rinsing plate ( 16, 16a). 13. The beverage filling device according to claim 12, characterized by the fact that the container carrier (7) is realized in the shape of a fork, for example, so that it can grasp and hold the respective container (6) on a container flange (6. 2) that is formed on the container below the container mouth ( 6.1). 14. The beverage filling device according to claim 13, characterized by the fact that the closing element (16, 16 a) can be positioned in a rinsing position by introduction or movement radial to the filling element axis below the opening of the recess (15). 15. The beverage filling device according to claim 13, characterized by the fact that at least one receptacle or guide (17 ) is provided on the container carrier (7) for the positioning of the closing element (16, 16a) below the opening of the recess (15). 16. The beverage filling device according to claim 15, characterized by the fact that the closing element (16a) can be moved into or positioned in the rinsing position manually. 17. The beverage filling device according to claim 16, characterized by the fact that the closing element (16) can be moved in a guide (17) of the container carrier (7) between the initial position and the rinsing position radially or approximately radially with respect to the filling element axis (FA). 18. The beverage filling device according to claim 16, characterized by the fact that the closing element (16) is provided on the filling element (1) or on the container carrier (7) so that it can be moved between an idle or initial position outside a space occupied by the respective container (6) during filling and the rinsing position. 19. The beverage filling device according to claim 18, wherein: the closing element (16) is connected with an actuator mechanism (18, 19) for the movement between the rest position and the rinsing position; the recess (15) that holds the container (6) during the filling with its container mouth (6.1) is realized in the filling element housing (2) or in a projection ( 2.1) of a filling element housing (2); the recess (15) is formed by a centering element on the filling element housing or by a centering groove; the receptacle or guide (17) for the closing element (16, 16a) is located on the container carrier ( 7) above a stop or contact or driver surface (7.2) for the container (6); the additional duct is a return gas duct (5.1) formed by a return gas pipe (5); and the filling element comprises one of: a filling element without a filler pipe; and a filling element with a short filling pipe.