A keg filling plant for filling both kegs having flat fittings and kegs having basket fittings, with a liquid beverage, such as beer, wine, soft drinks, or juice, said keg filling plant comprising:
- a cleaning machine being configured and disposed to clean empty kegs;
- a filling machine being configured and disposed to fill cleaned, empty kegs with a liquid beverage;
- a first conveyor arrangement being configured and disposed to convey kegs from said cleaning machine to said filling machine;
- said cleaning machine comprising:
- a handling head being configured and disposed to support a keg thereon;
- said handling head comprising a centering device being configured and disposed to center a keg on said handling head;
- an applicator element being configured and disposed to apply a force to a keg on said handling head to press the keg into a sealing engagement with said handling head;
- feed and discharge lines being configured and disposed to permit the delivery and removal of cleaning media into and out of a keg;
- an actuator element being configured and disposed to move a movable valve element of a fitting of a keg to permit entry and exit of cleaning media into and out of the keg;
- and
- said actuator element comprising:
- a first plunger comprising an elongated, substantially cylindrical body being configured to be axially moved to engage and move a ring-shaped movable valve element disposed about an end of a keg filler tube in a keg to open a keg with a flat fitting;
- a second plunger comprising an elongated body being configured to be axially moved to engage and move a movable valve element disposed on a tip end of a keg filler tube in a keg to open a keg with a basket fitting;
- and
- at least a portion of said second plunger being disposed within said substantially cylindrical body of said first plunger;
- and
- said filling machine comprising:
- a handling head being configured and disposed to support a keg thereon;
- said handling head comprising a centering device being configured and disposed to center a keg on said handling head;
- an applicator element being configured and disposed to apply a force to a keg on said handling head to press the keg into a sealing engagement with said handling head;
- feed lines being configured and disposed to permit filling of a keg with liquid beverage;
- gas lines being configured and disposed to permit flow of gas out of a keg being filled with liquid beverage;
- an actuator element being configured and disposed to move a movable valve element of a fitting of a keg to permit entry of liquid beverage into a keg and exit of gas out of the keg;
- and
- said actuator element comprising:
- a first plunger comprising an elongated, substantially cylindrical body being configured to be axially moved to engage and move a ring-shaped movable valve element disposed about an end of a keg filler tube in a keg to open a keg with a flat fitting;
- a second plunger comprising an elongated body being configured to be axially moved to engage and move a movable valve element disposed on a tip end of a keg filler tube in a keg to open a keg with a basket fitting;
- and
- at least a portion of said second plunger being disposed within said substantially cylindrical body of said first plunger.