A rotary filling machine includes a hub member and a hub insert. The hub member includes an internal bore defining an inner surface portion with a plurality of material transfer openings. The hub insert includes a portion disposed within the bore, wherein the portion includes an outer surface portion that includes a plurality of material transfer openings. One of the hub member or the hub insert is rotatable and the other of the hub member or the hub insert is stationary.

A filling valve for filling a container with a filling product, e.g., a beverage in a beverage filling system, includes a valve base body. The valve base body includes an outlet configured to discharge the filling product into the container; a swirl chamber configured to receive the filling product and is able to be brought into a fluidic connection with the outlet; and a main inlet, which feeds into the swirl chamber and is configured to introduce at least one main component of the filling product into the swirl chamber such that the filling product is swirled in the swirl chamber, whereby after exiting from the outlet the filling product flows downwardly in a spiral movement in the container. The swirl chamber has an annular shape, the cross-sectional contour thereof having a rounded shape, substantially without corner points, in the direction of extent and perpendicular to the direction of extent.

A filling valve includes a valve seat, an axially-movable valve tappet extending through the valve seat and having an axial portion that defines a product-delivery space through which filling product flows, and axially-displaced first and second seal-seats disposed so that liquid product flows from the first seal-set, through the product-delivery space, to the second seal-seat and out through an outlet. The first seal-seat and the second seal-seat are arranged on the valve tappet in such a way that, in response to a closing movement of the valve tappet, the first seal-seat closes before the second seal-seat, and wherein the first seal-seat, after having been closed as a result of the closing movement, permits further axial movement of the valve tappet to permit closing of the second seal-seat.

A filling method includes storing liquid in a liquid tank; pressing a seal member of a filling head against a mouth of a vessel to seal the mouth; providing a liquid valve in a liquid passageway which connects an inside of the liquid tank to the vessel via the filling head; providing a gas valve in a gas passageway connecting a headspace of the liquid tank to the vessel via the filling head; providing a snifting valve in a snifting passage which connects the vessel to an outside via the filling head; detecting an amount of the liquid supplied to the vessel; and when the liquid is a non-fizzy liquid, opening the liquid valve to supply the liquid to the vessel while a compressor pressurizes the inside of the liquid tank, the gas valve is closed, the snifting valve is opened, and the mouth of the vessel is sealed.

A filling device for a filling machine configured to fill receptacles with a pourable product, comprising: a tubular body having a longitudinal axis, defining a central flowing channel for the pourable product, and terminating at a lower end with an axial outlet opening adapted to deliver the pourable product to a receptacle to be filled, wherein the channel includes a tapered-section portion located at a given axial distance from, and above, the outlet opening and tapering towards the outlet opening up to a narrowed-section zone; a shutter movable within the channel; and at least one exhaust conduit arranged on an outer circumference than the channel with reference to the longitudinal axis; wherein the channel includes an enlarged-section portion located immediately below the tapered-section portion, having a larger diameter than the narrowed-section zone, and defining an expansion chamber receiving a bottom end opening of the exhaust conduit.

A method for filling with a filling product, for example for filling with a beverage in a beverage filling plant by the free jet method, includes supplying a flow of filling product through a filling product supply line by opening a filling valve disposed in the filling product supply line and opening an associated regulating valve for regulating a volume flow, and closing the regulating valve and the filling valve in order to end the flow of filling product at the end of filling. The closing of the regulating valve and the filling valve are synchronized. A corresponding device is also described.

A flow control valve for a filling machine configured to fill receptacles with a pourable product, the flow control valve comprising: a tubular body defining a channel for the pourable product, the tubular body having a longitudinal axis and terminating with at least one narrowed end mouth; and a shutter movable within the channel between a closed position, and an open position. The shutter includes a main portion coupled in a sliding manner with an inner surface of the tubular body; and a narrowed closing head, wherein the main portion of the shutter includes a flat plate extending along a diameter of the channel with respect to the longitudinal axis, contacting the inner surface of the tubular body at opposite sides and defining, with the remaining portions of the inner surface, two opposite cavities, which have respective profiles shaped as circular segments and through which the pourable product can flow during operation.

A filling valve for filling liquid into a bottle is provided that comprises a nozzle having an outlet on its bottom end and a seat on its interior surface, a stem arranged inside the nozzle and having a plug provided on its outer periphery, a helical vane provided on the outer periphery of the stem for inducing a spiral flow, and a bevel with expanding diameter in the downward direction is provided at the bottom end of the stem. The filling valve is closed when the stem descends and the plug makes contact with the seat. The filling valve is opened when the stem ascends and the plug separates from the seat. The bevel is extended below the outlet when the plug is opened. The liquid revolved via the helical vane and ejected from the outlet is spread by the bevel toward a bottle finish or neck.

A filling device includes a product space that ends in a filling valve with first and second valve elements disposed in a region thereof and moved by an actuator, a sealing face, a valve stem, a valve housing having a reduced-diameter edge, and a profiled plastic sleeve that runs over the reduced-diameter edge. One of the valve elements has a plastic lining. A valve stem forms one of the valve elements and the valve housing forms the other.

A filling element for filling containers includes a liquid valve disposed to control flow into the container. The valve has an elastic diaphragm and a valve surface. An actuator causes the diaphragm to transition between a first state, in which it butts against the valve surface, and a second state, in which it is spaced apart from the valve surface.