Filling element for filling a container with a fill product

Abstract

A filling device for filling a container with a fill product, such as a free-jet filler valve, a dosing unit or a piston filler in a filling plant for fluid, paste-like or viscous food products is provided, wherein the filling element has a fill product outlet and an operating element disposed in direct contact with the fill product outlet for influencing the discharge of the fill product from the fill product outlet, wherein on the operating element an ejection device is provided for ejecting a fill product residue in the direction of discharge.

1 . A filling device for filling a container with a fill product, comprising:
 a fill product outlet;   an operating element in contact with the fill product outlet for influencing the discharge of the fill product from the fill product outlet; and   an ejection device at an end of the fill product outlet for ejecting a fill product residue in a direction of discharge of the fill product.   
     
     
         2 . The filling device of  claim 1 , wherein the operating element comprises a valve cone of a filling valve. 
     
     
         3 . The filling device of  claim 1 , wherein the operating element comprises a plunger shaft of a dosing unit or a piston filler. 
     
     
         4 . The filling device of  claim 1 , wherein the ejection device comprises a gas-permeable membrane for applying a stream of gas in the direction of discharge. 
     
     
         5 . The filling device of  claim 4 , wherein the operating element comprises a gas supply line supplying a gas to the gas-permeable membrane. 
     
     
         6 . The filling device of  claim 4 , further comprising a diffuser located above the gas-permeable membrane. 
     
     
         7 . The filling device of  claim 6 , wherein the diffuser comprises a screen, a screen pack, or a porous filling. 
     
     
         8 . The filling device of  claim 4 , wherein the gas-permeable membrane is impermeable to the fill product. 
     
     
         9 . The filling device of  claim 9 , wherein the gas-permeable membrane is further impermeable to fluid. 
     
     
         10 . The filling device of  claim 9 , wherein the fluid comprises water. 
     
     
         11 . The filling device of  claim 4 , wherein the gas-permeable membrane comprises PTFE. 
     
     
         12 . The filling device of  claim 1 , wherein the operating element comprises a plunger shaft with a hollow portion in communication with the ejection device. 
     
     
         13 . The filling device of  claim 1 , wherein the ejection device comprises a vibration means for vibrating an area of the operating element that can be brought into contact with the fill product. 
     
     
         14 . The filling device of  claim 1 , wherein the ejection device comprises a membrane expandable in the direction of discharge in order by the expansion of the membrane to impress upon a fill product residue an impulse in the direction of discharge. 
     
     
         15 . The filling device of  claim 14 , further comprising means for expanding the membrane. 
     
     
         16 . The filling device of  claim 15 , wherein the means comprises a mechanical expansion element. 
     
     
         17 . The filling device of  claim 15 , wherein the means comprises a gas. 
     
     
         18 . The filling device of  claim 14 , wherein the membrane is pre-stressed in an initial state. 
     
     
         19 . The filling device of  claim 18 , wherein the initial state is a non-expanded position. 
     
     
         20 . A method of filling a container, the method comprising:
 flowing a fill product through an element having openings and into the container; and   ejecting residual fill product from the openings into the container.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , the ejecting comprises forcing gas through the openings. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the element comprises a gas permeable membrane.