PURGING AIR WITH NON-OXIDISING GAS FROM BOTTLE PRIOR TO CAPPING

A process and apparatus for continuously producing bottled beverages and closing bottles with caps, each bottle having an externally threaded mouth and having been charged with a liquid product for drinking, the apparatus includes a timing screw for advancing bottles continuously at fixed spatial intervals, each bottle having an externally threaded mouth and having been charged with a liquid product for drinking. An inlet star wheel having a plurality of recesses at the periphery thereof at fixed spatial intervals is provided. The recesses receive bottles with externally threaded mouths that have been conveyed by the timing screw. A cap release applies caps onto the threaded mouths of bottles. A nozzle ejects a stream of a non-oxidizing gas into bottles with the nozzle being situated immediately ahead of the cap release. A capper having a plurality of recesses at the periphery thereof at fixed spatial intervals is provided. The recesses receive bottles with externally threaded mouths to which caps have been applied. The capper closes the threaded mouths of bottles with the caps while bottles with the threaded mouths are being shifted in place in the recesses. An outlet star wheel having a plurality of recesses at the periphery thereof at fixed spatial intervals is mounted adjacent to the capper. The recesses receive bottles with the threaded mouths from the capper with the externally threaded mouths closed with the caps. The process includes the steps of purging air from bottles with a non-oxidizing gas immediately before applying a cap to the bottle.