Device and method for treating containers filled with foamable liquid filling material

An apparatus for treating a container that has been filled with a foamable liquid, said container selected from the group consisting of a can and a bottle, wherein said apparatus comprises a transport segment, a foaming unit, a closing station, an ejection unit, and an image-processing control device, said image-processing control device comprising a first sensor and a controller, wherein said container moves along said transport segment in a downstream direction, where said closing station is downstream of said foaming unit along said transport segment, wherein said ejection unit is downstream of said closing station along said transport segment, wherein said foaming unit is configured to introduce a foaming medium into said container so as to cause foaming within said container, wherein said first sensor is an optoelectronic sensor that is downstream of said foaming unit, wherein said first sensor is in data communication with said controller, wherein said image-processing and control device that is configured to detect and monitor a feature selected from the group consisting of foam that has emerged from said container's mouth and collected on said container's outer surface and a filling height of liquid in said container while closing said container or after having closed said container and to do so based on a first monitoring criterion, and wherein said ejection station is configured to eject said container after having received a signal from said controller indicating that said feature lies outside a target range specified by said first monitoring criterion.

A method specially adapted for treating a container that has been filled with a foamable liquid, said container selected from the group consisting of a can and a bottle, using an apparatus that comprises a transport segment, a foaming unit configured to introduce a foaming medium into said container so as to cause foaming within said container, a closing station for closing said container, an ejection unit, an optoelectronic sensor, and a controller in data communication with said sensor, said method comprising moving said container along said transport direction in a downstream direction, said container having been filled with liquid and being unclosed, using said foaming unit, introducing a foaming medium into said container so as to cause foaming within said container, while closing said container or after having closed said container, causing said sensor and said controller to detect and monitor a feature selected from the group consisting of foam that has emerged from a mouth edge of said container's mouth and has collected on said container's outer surface and a filling height of liquid in said container and to do so based on a monitoring criterion, and at said controller, determining that said feature lies outside a target range specified by said first monitoring criterion and transmitting an ejection signal to said ejection station, and at said ejection station, responding to said ejection signal by ejecting said container.