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

Abstract

The invention relates to a method of filling a container (62) and a pressurizing unit (60) comprising a first pressurizing station (64) and a second pressurizing station (75). A transport member (61) transports the container (62) along the pressurizing stations (64, 75). An applicator (66) supplies a liquid pressurizing medium into the container (62) at the first pressurizing station (64). A supply unit (68) closes the container with a cap (70). The cap has an additive chamber in fluid communication with the interior of the container through a valve. An applicator (77) at the second pressurizing station (75) supplies a liquid pressurizing medium to the additive chamber of the cap (70). A sealing station (80) seals the additive chamber such that the pressure within the additive chamber is lower than the pressure in the container. When the consumer opens the cap, the contents of the additive chamber are injected into the container.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for filling a container, the method comprising the steps of: placing a liquefied or solid gas pressurized medium in a container having an outflow opening and containing a substance; and closing the outflow opening of the container with a sealing member by configuring a valve in fluid communication with the pressurized container such that the valve is in a closed position when in contact with the pressure in the container, the sealing member comprising an additive chamber and a valve.

[0002] The present invention also relates to a filling station for implementing the filling method. Background Technology

[0003] EP1979253 describes a container, such as a bottle, for pressurized beverages. A known bottle is filled at a bottling line, and the beverage is placed in the bottle at an overpressure relative to the environment by introducing liquid nitrogen droplets into the bottle and immediately sealing it with a cap. Nitrogen gas boils in the top space of the bottle, and the resulting expanding nitrogen creates overpressure. The cap includes a sealed, pressurized additive chamber containing an additive product, such as a flavoring agent, coloring agent, vitamin, pharmaceutical composition, etc. The additive chamber is sealed at a pressure higher than the ambient pressure but lower than the pressure in the top space of the bottle. The additive chamber is in fluid communication with the interior of the bottle via a one-way valve, such as a duckbill valve or umbrella valve, which closes due to the overpressure in the bottle acting on the valve. When the user turns the cap to open the bottle, the overpressure in the bottle is released, and the pressure in the top space of the bottle drops below the pressure inside the additive chamber, thereby releasing the contents from the additive chamber into the bottle.

[0004] According to WO2017 / 207962, a container closure member is known having a cap screwed onto a threaded neck of a bottle. The cap has a pre-filled and pressurized additive chamber, which is closed by a stopper member, and the additive chamber releases its contents into the bottle when the cap is released from the bottle and the pressure in the top space of the bottle decreases below the pressure in the additive chamber.

[0005] Known filling methods utilize pre-filled additive containers, which are filled and pressurized at different locations and then conveyed to an assembly location, such as a bottling line, so that they are applied to the container immediately after it has been filled with the product. This involves relatively complex logistics and requires careful handling and transportation of the pre-filled containers to prevent damage and ensure that the correct contents meeting appropriate quality and safety standards are present at the assembly site. Known containers comprise a relatively large number of parts, particularly two duckbill valves. One object of the present invention is to provide a filling method and filling station in which the pressurization of the filled bottle and the steps of connecting the small container containing the additive substance to the bottle can be precisely controlled. Another object of the present invention is to provide a filling method and filling station that reduces the number of parts in the container and additive chamber. Another object of the present invention is to provide a universal and rapid filling station for assembling pressurized bottles and additive chambers. Summary of the Invention

[0006] Therefore, the method according to the invention includes the following steps: placing an additive substance and a liquefied or solid gas pressurized medium into an additive chamber of a closed component, such that the pressure in the additive chamber is less than the pressure inside the container but greater than atmospheric pressure; and sealing the additive chamber.

[0007] By introducing a liquefied or solid gaseous pressurizing medium into both the main container and the sub-container, the bottles and containers can be pressurized at the same filling station, with only a short time between pressurization steps. Therefore, ambient temperature and pressure, air humidity, and other filling conditions can be maintained at stable settings, and the pressure in both the main container and the sub-container can be precisely controlled. For example, the pressure in the bottle can be set to 2 bar, while the pressure in the additive chamber can be set to 1 bar, with each pressure variation not exceeding 3%.

[0008] By filling the additive chamber with a liquefied or solid gas pressurized medium, the filled and pressurized additive chamber can be sealed while the pressure increases to the desired level, and excess pressurized gas is allowed to escape during the sealing process. By adjusting the amount of pressurizing agent, the escape of gas during welding can be accounted for, thus allowing sufficient time to achieve proper sealing for the welding technique used, such as by using ultrasonic welding or any other suitable sealing method, while simultaneously reaching the desired final pressure in the sealed additive chamber.

[0009] The short time between filling and pressurizing the bottle and the small container, as well as between using the same pressurizing medium in the container and the chamber, allows for proper control over the quality and consistency of the product in the container and the additive substances in the chamber.

[0010] The amount of liquefied or solid gaseous pressurizing medium applied can be precisely measured. The terms "liquefied" and "solid" gas are intended to describe the state of the pressurizing medium in application, where the pressurizing medium is a gas at ambient temperature and pressure.

[0011] After a solid or liquid pressurized medium is applied to the product chamber or additive chamber, the pressurized medium evaporates. Shortly after the application of the pressurized medium, a seal can be applied to the product chamber and additive chamber, thereby filling the sealed top space with pressurized gas. By setting the time interval between the application of the pressurized medium and the application of the seal, the amount of pressurized medium that evaporates and is released into the surrounding environment can be varied, and the pressure in the top space can be controlled.

[0012] An additive chamber containing the additive substance can be integrated with a closure member of the outlet opening of a sealed container. The closure member may include a plug, an adhesive seal, or, for example, a threaded cap that screws onto a complementary threaded neck of the container. The container can be pressurized by introducing a liquid pressurizing medium through the outlet opening and then sealing the pressurized container by applying the closure member, together with the additive chamber, to the outlet opening. The additive substance and the liquid pressurizing medium can then be introduced into the additive chamber, which can then be sealed.

[0013] Preferably, the sealing member is used to seal the additive chamber and does not have a valve function, such as a closure cap, plug, or membrane. In this way, the use of expensive and sensitive valve elements in the additive chamber is avoided, costs are reduced, and the precise operation of the filling container and the additive chamber is improved.

[0014] In one embodiment, the additive chamber is separate from the container's sealing member. After the container is filled and pressurized via the outflow opening and the sealing member is placed over the outflow opening, for example by inserting it into a recess in the container wall, the additive chamber can come into contact with the container, after which the additive chamber is filled, pressurized, and sealed.

[0015] The substance in the container may be a beverage or liquid medicine, or it may be a chemical substance not intended for consumption, such as paint or adhesive. The substance in the container is free-flowing and may be in liquid, paste, or powder form.

[0016] The substance in the additive chamber may be a flavoring agent, coloring agent, vitamin, pharmaceutical composition, or a chemical substance not intended for consumption, such as a component of a two-component adhesive or coating system. The substance in the additive chamber is free-flowing and may be in liquid, paste, or powder form, making it easy to eject from the additive chamber and easily mix with the contents of the container.

[0017] The pressurizing medium includes liquefied or solid gases, such as liquid nitrogen or solid CO2.

[0018] The pressurizing media that can be used for containers and additive chambers include different liquefied or solid gases that result in different pressures when they evaporate in the top space of the container and additive chamber. Alternatively, the pressurizing media may include a single type of liquefied or solid gas that is applied to the container and additive chamber in different amounts before sealing.

[0019] After a liquefied or solid gas pressurizing medium is applied to the additive chamber, the gas may be allowed to evaporate from the additive chamber until the pressure in the additive chamber is lower than the pressure in the container.

[0020] An embodiment of the method for filling a container according to the present invention includes the following steps:

[0021] The container holding the substance is supplied to the pressurization unit;

[0022] The container is moved along a first pressurization station, the first pressurization station having an applicator component for placing a liquid or solid pressurization medium into a filled container;

[0023] A lid, including a one-way valve and an additive chamber, is supplied to the filling container;

[0024] While the valve is connected to the pressurized container, the container is sealed with a cap, so that the valve is in the closed position by contact with the pressure in the container;

[0025] The cap is supplied to the filling station, and the additive material is placed in the additive chamber;

[0026] The assembled containers and smaller containers are supplied along the second pressurization station;

[0027] A liquid or solid pressurizing medium is placed in the additive chamber, so that the pressure in the additive chamber is lower than the pressure in the container;

[0028] The assembled containers and caps are supplied along the sealing station; and

[0029] Place a seal on the additive chamber of the lid.

[0030] At the first pressurization station, the applicator can supply a first quantity of liquefied or solid pressurized medium from a first supply source. At the second pressurization station, a second quantity of pressurized medium is supplied from the same supply source; this second quantity may be less than the first quantity, or it may be similar to the first quantity but evaporated before sealing the additive chamber, so that the pressure in the additive chamber is at the desired lower value.

[0031] The applicator and sealing station can be positioned along a rotating feed station, such as a disc conveyor belt.

[0032] An embodiment of the filling station according to the present invention includes: a first pressurization station and a second pressurization station; a conveying member for conveying a container along the pressurization station; an applicator adapted to supply a liquid or solid pressurization medium into the container at the first pressurization station; a supply unit adapted to supply an additive chamber downstream of the first pressurization station to a cap and close the pressurized container such that the pressure inside the container is at a first pressure value, wherein at the second pressurization station, the applicator is adapted to supply a liquid or solid pressurization medium into the additive chamber; and a sealing station adapted to seal the additive chamber such that the pressure inside the additive chamber is lower than the pressure inside the container.

[0033] The additive chamber can be supplied to the filling station in a filled state, or the additive filling station for filling the additive chamber with the additive product can be located between the first pressurization station and the second pressurization station.

[0034] In an embodiment of the filling station, the applicator at the second filling station is adapted to supply a second amount of liquid pressurized medium that is different from the first amount of pressurized medium supplied at the first pressurization station.

[0035] A relatively simple and precise pressurization station is provided by adjusting the volume of a single type of pressurizing medium for the container and for the additive chamber. The required pressure can also be obtained by setting the time before applying the seal, so as to control the amount of gas escaping before sealing and to set the pressure.

[0036] The method according to the present invention can be applied to the fields of beverages, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals or chemicals.

[0037] While the filling method according to the invention has various applications, it is particularly suitable for filling containers for containing beverages. For beverage applications, the additives within the container may include vitamins. Products containing vitamins are generally perishable because vitamins in prolonged contact with liquid products become unstable, for example, due to oxidation. According to the invention, the vitamins in the additive chamber are maintained under optimal conditions. After the consumer removes the closure, the vitamins are injected into the product container and consumed at their peak function. Thus, preparing beverages containing “freshly” added vitamins is very simple. For example, it is known that vitamin C deteriorates in aqueous and alcoholic liquids; that is, it is difficult to preserve aqueous and / or alcoholic beverages containing added vitamin C. According to the invention, the aqueous and / or alcoholic product and the vitamin C additive can be contained separately in the container, and they are only mixed before consumption by opening the container.

[0038] According to the invention, additives may include: proteins and / or peptides, such as casein hydrolysate; and / or carotenoids, such as lycopene; and / or antioxidants, such as quercetin; and / or flavorings, such as flavor concentrates or flavor extracts. Proteins and peptides have several functions. For example, various proteins and peptides are "muscle fuel." However, these compounds deteriorate in alcohols. Therefore, they may cause bitterness and / or reduced functionality. An alcoholic sports beverage can be produced by filling a container according to the method of the invention. An alcoholic product, such as beer, is then filled into the product chamber, while the additive chamber contains the casein hydrolysate or any other protein and / or peptide. This "sports beer" is particularly advantageous according to the invention.

[0039] Proteins and peptides also degrade in acidic liquids, i.e., liquids with a pH < 7. Most soft drinks, such as cola, are acidic. The container filled according to the invention can also combine the acidic soft drink in the product chamber with the protein and / or peptide in the additive chamber, resulting in a "sports soft drink." This combination is also advantageous according to the invention.

[0040] Carotenoids, such as lycopene, improve the consumer's visual perception. Depending on the pH value, they will affect the overall color of the beverage. Antioxidants, such as quercetin, also have various functions. For example, antioxidants are believed to reduce wrinkle formation. Therefore, it is particularly advantageous to contain these additives in the additive chamber of the container according to the invention. The filling method according to the invention allows these additives to combine with water, beer, milk, or any other product, unlike known containers in which these additives cannot remain separate from the product.

[0041] As an example of a flavoring agent such as a flavoring concentrate, the product chamber still contains carbonated water, while the additive chamber is filled with liquid syrup. One packaging company can fill the product chamber of the container according to the invention, while another company can fill the additive chamber with flavoring ingredients and assemble the additive chamber into the container. Thus, a range of flavors for both carbonated and still products can be provided. Companies that install the additive chamber can also serve the catering industry that sells various flavored or health drinks over the counter.

[0042] Many carotenoids, such as lycopene, antioxidants, such as quercetin, and flavorings are known to degrade under the influence of light. In this case, the additive chamber of the container according to the invention is opaque or opaque, while the product container can be transparent.

[0043] The container according to the invention is also suitable for medical applications. In this case, according to the invention, the product and additives, after mixing, may comprise a pharmaceutical composition, particularly a drug. The pharmaceutical composition may only require mixing of different components at the time of use. The container according to the invention provides accurate metered dispensing of these different components, eliminating human error because the metered dispensing is automated. Furthermore, the mixing of the different components is completely hygienic.

[0044] The filling method according to the invention is also applicable to cosmetic applications. The container holds products and additives that, when mixed, comprise cosmetic compositions, such as lotions. The cosmetic industry has developed packaging for lotions and skin systems that relies on mixing two or more components upon use, such as dual-packaging systems. However, these packages are relatively expensive and do not provide automated mixing. The container according to the invention provides a cost-effective alternative for packaging such cosmetics.

[0045] Ideally, the additive comprises more than one composition. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the additive comprises at least two liquid compositions that separate after mixing, for example, compositions with different densities and / or incompatible chemical properties. Due to their different densities and / or chemical incompatibility, the two liquid components float above and below each other within the additive chamber. After depressurization of the product chamber, the additive chamber will continuously discharge the liquid components. If the liquid components have different colors, the consumer will see multiple jets of different colors flowing into the product chamber.

[0046] The color injection acts as a tamper-proof enclosure, with the color indicating that the enclosure has been opened.

[0047] The product contained in the container can be any flowable material, such as powder, paste, or liquid.

[0048] Another application of the filling method according to the invention is the use of pressure indicators, such as on powder-based fire extinguishers or on gasoline tanks, where pressure loss in the container causes the additive chamber to be emptied, thus providing an indication of the pressure loss. Attached Figure Description

[0049] The method for filling containers and embodiments of filling stations according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings by way of non-limiting example. In the drawings:

[0050] Figure 1 The pressurization of a container with a lid and an additive chamber according to the present invention is shown;

[0051] Figures 2a to 2d schematically illustrate embodiments of the pressurization method according to the invention, wherein the bottle is filled through its neck;

[0052] Figures 3a and 3b schematically illustrate one embodiment in which the bottle is filled through its bottom;

[0053] Figures 4a to 4d schematically illustrate an implementation using a separate cap and additive chamber;

[0054] Figures 5a to 5d schematically illustrate another embodiment of the method according to the invention; and

[0055] Figure 6 A pressurization unit according to the present invention is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0056] Figure 1 A container in the form of a bottle 1 is shown, the bottle 1 including a neck 2 with threads 3. A cap 4 engages with the threaded neck 2 via internal threads 5. The cap 4 includes an additive chamber 7 for retaining additive substance 8. The cap is sealed to the seal 9 of the neck 2. An outlet opening 14, closed by a valve 13, is provided at the bottom surface 12 of the chamber 7. The valve 13 is closed by overpressure in a top space 15 located above the product chamber 16. The overpressure may be, for example, 2 bar, and is provided by introducing liquid nitrogen droplets 17 into the interior of the bottle 1 via the opening neck 2. This has been shown schematically.

[0057] After nitrogen droplet 17 is placed into bottle 1, cap 4 is placed on neck 2 to seal the bottle. Liquid nitrogen will boil back to its gaseous state and fill headspace 15 while valve 13 is closed. Shortly before or after cap 4 is placed, additive substance 18 is placed into additive chamber 7. Liquid nitrogen droplet 20 is introduced into additive chamber 7, and sealant 22 is applied, for example by ultrasonic welding, to seal chamber 7. Nitrogen 20 returns to its gaseous state and creates a pressure of 1 bar in headspace 19.

[0058] The cover 4 has an outer sleeve 25 and an inner reservoir 26 with a wall 27, which is slidably engaged with the inner surface 28 of the outer sleeve 25. The upper portion 29 of the wall 27 is supported within an annular cavity defined by an inner annular ridge 30 extending from the top of the cover 4.

[0059] When the user rotates the outer sleeve to open bottle 1, the outer sleeve 25 moves upward. The internal pressure in the top space 15 pushes the inner reservoir 26 upward, causing it to disengage from the seal 9, and the pressure in the top space 15 is released to the surrounding environment. This causes a pressure drop, which in turn causes valve 13 to open under the influence of the pressure in the top space 19, and the contents of the additive chamber 7 are injected into the product chamber 16 of bottle 1 to mix with the product contained in the product chamber 16.

[0060] Figures 2a and 2d illustrate the steps of filling container 35 with liquid product 36 through container neck 37 in step a, and introducing droplets of liquid pressurized medium 38 through neck 37 in step b. Then, cap 39 is placed on neck 37 while valve 40 contacts headspace 45, thereby closing it due to headspace pressure. Additive substance 42 is placed in additive chamber 41, and droplets 43 of pressurized medium 43 are introduced into chamber 41. In step d, seal 46 is applied to cap 39 by ultrasonic welding.

[0061] In Figures 3a and 3b, container 35 is shown being filled via a filling nozzle 47 at the bottom of the container, through a relatively large filling opening that allows for rapid filling. The neck 37 includes a small opening 49 through which droplets of pressurized material 38 are introduced in step 3b. A seal 50 is applied to close the filling opening at the bottom 48 before the introduction of pressurized material 38. After step 3b, a cap 39, including an additive chamber 41, can be applied to the neck 37 and can be pressurized in the same manner as shown in Figures 2c and 2d.

[0062] In Figures 4a and 4d, it is shown that the cap 52 of the outlet opening in the neck 37 of the closed container 35 and the small container 55 containing the additive substance are separate components. The cap 52 closes the outlet opening in the neck 37, while the small container 55 is housed in a recess 51 in the bottom 48 of the container 35. The small container 55 is provided with a riser 53, which allows the additive chamber to be emptied when the small container is rotated, so that the valve 40 faces upward. As shown in Figure 4a, the container 35 is filled with the inverted product 36 through the filling opening 56 in the recess 51, with the cap 52 on the neck 37. In Figure 4b, the pressurizing medium is introduced through the filling opening 56. In Figure 4c, the small container 55 is shown placed in the recess 51 while the valve 40 is in contact with the pressurized top space 45. The small container 55 is filled with the additive substance 42, and droplets 43 of liquefied, solid, or solid gas are applied. In Figure 4d, a sealant 50 is applied to close the recess 51 and to secure the small container 55 in place.

[0063] Figures 5a to 5d illustrate one embodiment in which container 35 is filled with product 36 through its neck 37. After the pressurizing medium 38 is introduced, the neck 37 is closed with a cap 52, as shown in Figure 5c. A small container 55 is inserted into the recess 51 such that a valve 40 protrudes through the container wall and contacts the interior of the container. The small container 55, with a riser 53, is filled and pressurized through the bottom of the small container, and a seal 50 is applied in step 5d. As shown in Figure 5c, container 35 with the cap 52 in place can be inverted before the small container 55 is inserted into the recess 51. This will provide easy filling and pressurization of the small container 55 under gravity flow conditions.

[0064] Figure 6 A pressurization unit 60 is shown, comprising a disc conveyor 61 that rotates in the direction of arrow R. The disc conveyor 61 receives filled bottles 62, which are conveyed on a conveyor 63 in the direction of arrow T. The pressurization unit 60 includes a first pressurization station 64 having an arm 65 at its end supporting an applicator 66, through which droplets of liquid nitrogen are supplied from a central supply source 67 and introduced into the bottle via the bottle's open neck.

[0065] Next, the bottle rotates along the cap supply and placement station 68, which attaches a cap 70 with an empty additive chamber to the bottle, thereby sealing the bottle under a pressure of, for example, 2 bar.

[0066] In filling station 71, the additive chamber of cover 70 is filled with additive material via arm 72 and applicator 73.

[0067] In the second pressurization station 75, an applicator 77 at the end of arm 76 introduces a drop of liquid nitrogen into the filled additive chamber of cap 70. In the sealing station 80, which includes an ultrasonic welding head 81 on arm 82, a seal is placed on the filled additive chamber.

[0068] The amount of liquid nitrogen supplied by the second pressurization station 75 may be less than the amount supplied by the first pressurization station 64, such that after the seal is applied to the additive chamber, the pressure in the top space of the additive chamber is lower than the pressure in the container, and is measured, for example, 1 bar. The first pressurization station 64 and the second pressurization station 75 may also supply equal amounts of liquid nitrogen, and the time for transporting the filled additive chamber from the second pressurization station 75 to the sealing station 80 may be regulated to allow sufficient nitrogen to evaporate into the surrounding environment and to allow the pressure in the additive chamber to reach the desired value.

[0069] In another embodiment, different liquefied or solid or solid gases can be used in pressurization stations 64 and 75 to pressurize the container and additive chamber at their respective pressures.

[0070] After the sealing process is completed, the filled bottles are transported back to conveyor 63 and conveyed through labeling station 85 for labeling, and then transported to the packaging unit.

Claims

1. A method for filling containers (1, 35, 62), the method comprising: The pressurized medium (17, 38) is placed in a container (1, 35, 62), which has an outflow opening and contains a substance (36). Before or after the pressurized medium is placed in the container (1, 35, 62), the outflow opening of the container is closed with a sealing member (4, 39, 52), the sealing member including an additive chamber (7, 41) and a valve (13, 40). The valves (13, 40) are positioned in fluid communication with the pressurized container such that the valves are in the closed position when in contact with the pressure in the container; Its features are, Additive substances (18, 42) and liquefied gas pressurizing medium or solid gas pressurizing medium (20, 43) are placed into the additive chamber (7, 41) of the closed member (4, 39, 52) through the additive filling opening (21); The required pressure is obtained by setting the time before the seal (22, 46, 50) on the additive filling opening (21) is applied, such that a required final pressure exists in the sealed additive chamber (7, 41), which is less than the pressure inside the container (1, 35, 62) but greater than atmospheric pressure; and The additive chamber (7, 41) is sealed using the seals (22, 46, 50) that do not have a valve function and include a closed cap, plug or membrane.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein, The pressurizing medium in the containers (1, 35, 62) includes a liquefied gas pressurizing medium or a solid gas pressurizing medium, and the pressurizing medium is placed in the containers before the outflow opening of the containers is closed with the sealing members (4, 39, 52).

3. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein, The pressurized medium (17, 38, 43) comprises the same gas applied in different amounts to the containers (1, 3, 35, 62) and the additive chambers (7, 41, 55).

4. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein, After the liquefied gas pressurizing medium or solid gas pressurizing medium (17, 38, 43) is applied to the additive chamber (7, 41, 55), the gas is allowed to evaporate from the additive chamber until the pressure in the additive chamber is lower than the pressure in the container (1, 35, 62).

5. A method for filling a container (62), the method comprising: The container (62) containing the substance is supplied to the pressurization unit (60). The container is moved along a first pressurization station (64) with an applicator (66) that places pressurized media (17, 38) into a filled container (62); A cap (70) is supplied to a filling container (62), the cap including valves (13, 40) and an additive chamber (7, 41). Before or after the pressurized medium is placed in the container (1, 35, 62), the container (62) is closed with the lid (70). The valves (13, 40) are positioned in fluid communication with a pressurized container such that the valves are in the closed position by contact with the pressure in the container; The assembled container (62) and the lid (70) are supplied along the second pressurization station (75); Liquid or solid pressurizing media (20, 43) are placed into the additive chamber (7, 41) through the additive filling opening (21) such that the pressure in the additive chamber is lower than the pressure in the container; The assembled container (62) and the lid (70) are supplied along the sealing station (80). as well as The pressure seals (22, 46) are placed on the filling opening of the additive chamber (7, 41) of the cover (70), the seals (22, 46) having no valve function and comprising a closed cover, plug or membrane.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein, The first amount of liquefied gas pressurizing medium or solid gas pressurizing medium (20, 43) is supplied by the applicator (66) at the first pressurizing station (64), and the second amount of the pressurizing medium (20, 43) is supplied by the applicator (66, 77) at the second pressurizing station (75) in a second amount less than the first amount.

7. The method of claim 5 or 6, wherein, The applicator (66, 77) and the sealing station (80) are positioned along the rotary feed station (61).

8. A pressurizing unit (60) comprising: First pressurization station (64) and second pressurization station (75); A conveying component (61) is used to convey a container (62) along the first pressurization station (64) and the second pressurization station (75); An applicator (66) is adapted to supply pressurized medium to the container (62) at the first pressurization station (64); A supply unit (68) is adapted to supply a cap (70) having an additive chamber and, downstream of the first pressurization station (64), to close a pressurized container (62) with the cap such that the pressure inside the container is at a first pressure value, wherein an applicator (77) at the second pressurization station (75) is adapted to supply a liquefied gas pressurizing medium or a solid gas pressurizing medium to the additive chamber of the cap (70) via an additive filling opening (21); and a sealing station (80) is adapted to seal the additive chamber with a pressure seal (22, 46, 50) that does not have a valve function and includes a closed cap, plug or membrane such that the pressure inside the additive chamber is lower than the pressure inside the container.

9. The pressurizing unit (60) according to claim 8, wherein A first amount of liquefied gas pressurizing medium or solid gas pressurizing medium is supplied to the container (62) by the applicator (66) at the first pressurizing station, and the applicator (77) at the second pressurizing station (75) is adapted to supply a second amount of liquefied gas pressurizing medium or solid gas pressurizing medium, the second amount of liquefied gas pressurizing medium or solid gas pressurizing medium being equal to or less than the first amount of pressurizing medium supplied by the applicator (66) at the first pressurizing station (64).

10. The pressurizing unit (60) according to claim 8 or 9, comprising: An additive filling station (71) between the first pressurization station (64) and the second pressurization station (75) is used to fill the additive chamber with additive products.

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