Method and device for filling containers with carbonized filling material and subsequently closing the filled containers

A method for simultaneously forming and filling a container having an opening with a carbonated liquid filling material in a device having at least one filling station that includes a filling head and for closing the opening of the container after the container has been filled with the carbonated liquid filing material, the method comprising steps of:

• inserting a preform into a mold in the filling station such that, after insertion of the preform, the filling head is axially aligned above an opening of the preform and the filling head is spaced apart from the preform;
• after the inserting step, moving the filling head axially toward the inserted preform to a working position in which an end region of the filling head seals off the opening of the preform;
• filling the preform in the filling station by introducing the carbonated liquid filing material into the preform through the filling head in the working position at a defined pressure such that the preform is simultaneously filled and expanded by the introduced carbonated liquid filling material and the container is formed to have a contour predetermined by the mold;
• during the filling step, lowering a stretching rod from the filling head into the preform and stretching the preform in a longitudinal direction;
• after completion of the filling step, retracting the stretching rod into the filling head and moving the filling head out of the working position such that the filling head is axially spaced apart from the container;
• closing the container in the filling station using a closure cap such that carbonated liquid filling material cannot escape from the container;
• and
• removing the filled and capped container from the filling station;
• wherein, before moving the filling head out of the working position, an overpressure is set in a pressure chamber of the filling station surrounding the opening of the container,
• wherein the overpressure is a pressure between ambient pressure and the defined filling pressure at which foaming up of the carbonated liquid filling material introduced in the container is minimized enough that the carbonated liquid filling material does not escape from the container when the filling head is moved out of the working position and the closing step is performed, and
• wherein, to close the container, the closure cap, which is arranged in the pressure chamber of the filling station surrounding the opening of the container, is pressed onto the opening of the container by the filling head at least up into a first sealing position.