DOSING DEVICE AND METHOD FOR A DOSING OF LIQUID OR PASTE-LIKE PRODUCTS, IN PARTICULAR FOOD PRODUCTS, AND FILLING INSTALLATION WITH SUCH A DOSING DEVICE

Abstract

A dosing device for dosing liquid or pasty products includes at least one dosing unit (12) having at least one movably supported dosing nozzle (16) for filling containers (18). The dosing device further includes at least one cleaning unit (20) at least for cleaning and/or sterilizing the dosing nozzle (16), and also includes at least one sterile chamber (22) which section-wise surrounds a packaging carrier (24). The device also includes at least one dosing chamber (26) which is arranged above the sterile chamber (22) and in which at least the cleaning unit (20) is arranged. The dosing chamber (26) has a bottom (28) which faces the sterile chamber (22) and which has at least one dosing opening (30) which faces the sterile chamber (22) and through which the containers (18) arranged in the sterile chamber (22) can be filled by the dosing nozzle (16) in at least one operating state.

Claims

1. A dosing device for dosing liquid or pasty products, comprising at least one dosing unit (12) which comprises at least one movably supported dosing nozzle (16) for filling containers (18), at least one cleaning unit (20) at least for cleaning and/or sterilizing the dosing nozzle (16), at least one sterile chamber (22) which section-wise surrounds a packaging carrier (24), and at least one dosing chamber (26) in which at least the cleaning unit (20) is arranged, wherein the dosing chamber (26) has a bottom (28) which faces the sterile chamber (22) and which has at least one dosing opening (30) which faces the sterile chamber (22) and through which the containers (18) arranged in the sterile chamber (22) can be filled by the dosing nozzle (16) in at least one operating state.

2. The dosing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the dosing nozzle (16) extends into the dosing opening (30) or through the dosing opening (30) in at least one operating state.

3. The dosing device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at least one lifting unit (32) which is configured to move at least the dosing nozzle (16) relative to the dosing opening (30).

4. The dosing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cleaning unit (20) comprises at least one movably supported closure element (34), for closing the dosing opening (30) of the dosing chamber (26) in at least one operating state.

5. The dosing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cleaning unit (20) comprises at least one closure element (34) which is movably supported on a cleaning element (36) of the cleaning unit (20), for closing or for opening the dosing opening (30).

6. The dosing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cleaning unit (20) has at least one cleaning element (36), which is movably supported inside the dosing chamber (26) and which in at least one operating state covers the dosing opening (30).

7. A method for operating a dosing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein in at least one method step (40, 42) at least one dosing nozzle (16) of a dosing unit (12) of the dosing device is moved out of or into a dosing opening (30) of a dosing chamber (26) of the dosing device.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein in at least one method step (44) the dosing opening (30) of the dosing chamber (26) is closed by a closure element (34) of a cleaning unit (20) of the dosing device.

9. A filling system for liquid, pasty or solid products, comprising at least one dosing device as claimed in claim 1.

10. The filling system as claimed in claim 9, further comprising at least one packaging carrier (24), and at least one packaging guide unit (48) for guiding the packaging carrier (24), wherein the dosing chamber (26) is arranged in a direction running transversely to a guide axis (50) of the packaging guide unit (48) spatially above the packaging carrier (24).

11. The dosing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the dosing nozzle (16) is movably supported in a vertical direction (14).

12. The dosing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the dosing chamber (26), viewed in a vertical direction (14), is arranged above the sterile chamber (22).

13. The dosing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the dosing nozzle (16) extends into the dosing opening (30) or through the dosing opening (30) in at least one operating state in order to fill the containers (18) arranged in the sterile chamber (22).

14. The dosing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the closure element (34) is translationally movably supported.

15. The dosing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cleaning element (36) is embodied as a flushing plate or flushing bar.

16. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein in at least one method step (40, 42) the dosing nozzle (16) is moved by means of a lifting unit (32) of the dosing device in a vertical direction (14).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] Further advantages are found in the following description of the drawings. An exemplary embodiment of the invention is shown in the drawings. The drawings, the description and the claims contain numerous features in combination. A person skilled in the art will expediently also consider the features individually and combine them to form further meaningful combinations.

[0022] In the drawings:

[0023] FIG. 1 shows a filling system according to the invention having at least one dosing device according to the invention in a schematic view,

[0024] FIG. 2 shows a detailed view of the dosing device according to the invention in a schematic view,

[0025] FIG. 3 shows a detailed view of the dosing device according to the invention in a filling operating state in a schematic view,

[0026] FIG. 4a shows a detailed view of the dosing device according to the invention in a cleaning or sterilizing operating state with a dosing nozzle moved upwardly in a schematic view,

[0027] FIG. 4b shows a detailed view of the dosing device according to the invention in the cleaning or sterilizing operating state with the dosing nozzle arranged in a cleaning element in a schematic view,

[0028] FIG. 5a shows a detailed view of the dosing device according to the invention in a filling nozzle changing operating state with the dosing nozzle moved upwardly in a schematic view,

[0029] FIG. 5b shows a detailed view of the dosing device according to the invention in the filling nozzle changing operating state, before transferring into the cleaning or sterilizing operating state or into the filling operating state, in a schematic view and

[0030] FIG. 6 shows a method sequence of a method according to the invention for the operation of the dosing device according to the invention in a schematic view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] FIG. 1 shows a filling system 46 for liquid, pasty or solid products (not shown here in more detail), in particular food products. The filling system 46 comprises at least one dosing device 10 for dosing the liquid or pasty products. The filling system 46 is preferably configured for producing and/or filling food products. The filling system 46 can be realized, for example, as a food-product filling machine, as a food production machine, or the like. The filling system 46 can have further devices and/or units which appear expedient to a person skilled in the art and which are used for producing and/or filling products, in particular food products, such as for example a sterilizing device, a closure device, an overpackaging device, a container feed device, a container transport device, or the like. The filling system 46 preferably comprises at least one packaging carrier 24 (see FIG. 2) in which containers 18 which can be filled by means of the dosing device 10 (see FIG. 2) can be arranged. The containers 18 are preferably embodied as cups. It is also conceivable, however, that the containers 18 have a different design which appears expedient to a person skilled in the art, such as for example a design as trays, as cans, as bottles, as tubes, or the like. Moreover, the filling system 46 comprises at least one packaging guide unit 48 (see FIG. 2) for guiding the packaging carrier 24, in particular at least inside a sterile chamber 22 of the dosing device 10.

[0032] FIG. 2 shows a detailed view of the dosing device 10 for dosing liquid or pasty products, in particular food products, into the containers 18. The dosing device 10 comprises at least one dosing unit 12 which comprises at least one dosing nozzle 16 which is movably supported, in particular along a vertical direction 14, for filling the containers 18. The dosing unit 12 preferably comprises a plurality of dosing nozzles 16 which are configured for filling the containers 18 with a liquid or pasty product. The dosing nozzles 16 are preferably mounted so as to be jointly movable relative to a dosing chamber 26 and/or a sterile chamber 22 of the dosing device 10. It is also conceivable, however, that the dosing nozzles 16 are mounted so as to be individually movable relative to the dosing chamber 26 and/or the sterile chamber 22. Preferably, the dosing nozzle(s) 16 is/are movably supported, in particular relative to the dosing chamber 26 and/or to the sterile chamber 22, in a direction running at least substantially perpendicularly to a standing surface 52 of the filling system 46 (see FIG. 1) or to a standing surface of the dosing device 10, operating forces being able to be supported thereby on a substrate, such as for example a production hall floor or the like. Preferably, the dosing nozzle(s) 16 is/are movably supported in the vertical direction 14, in particular relative to the dosing chamber 26 and/or to the sterile chamber 22. Preferably, the dosing nozzle(s) 16 is/are movably supported in a translational manner, in particular relative to the dosing chamber 26 and/or to the sterile chamber 22. It is also conceivable, however, that the dosing nozzle(s) 16 is/are movably supported in a different direction which appear expedient to the person skilled in the art and/or that the dosing nozzle(s) 16 is/are movably supported in a different manner, such as for example pivotably movably supported, or the like. The dosing nozzles 16 preferably have a design which is already known to a person skilled in the art. Preferably, the dosing nozzles 16 have an at least substantially similar design relative to one another. It is also conceivable, however, that the dosing unit 12 has differently implemented dosing nozzles 16, in particular as a function of a field of application or an application of the dosing unit 12. Preferably, a description of an individual dosing nozzle 16 can be applied to the other dosing nozzles 16 of the dosing unit 12.

[0033] The dosing device 10 also comprises at least one cleaning unit 20, at least for cleaning and/or sterilizing the dosing nozzle(s) 16, the sterile chamber 22, which at least section-wise surrounds the packaging carrier 24, in particular with containers 18 arranged therein, and the dosing chamber 26 which is arranged, in particular in the vertical direction 14, above the sterile chamber 22 and in which at least the cleaning unit 20 is arranged. The cleaning unit 20, when viewed in the vertical direction 14, is preferably arranged in a region between a barrier 56 which is arranged on the dosing unit 12 (see also FIGS. 3, 4a, 4b, 5a and 5b) of the dosing device 10 and a bottom 28 of the dosing chamber 26. Preferably, the cleaning unit 20 has at least one cleaning element 36, in particular flushing plate or flushing bar, which defines a cleaning space in which the dosing nozzle(s) 16 can be arranged. Preferably, the cleaning unit 20 is movably supported in a horizontal direction 54, in particular relative to the dosing unit 12. Preferably, the cleaning unit 20 is movably supported in the dosing chamber 26, in particular relative to the dosing unit 12, in particular movably supported translationally. The cleaning unit 20 is preferably movably supported in a direction running at least substantially parallel to the standing surface 52 of the filling system 46 or the dosing device 10, in particular relative to the dosing unit 12. At least the cleaning element 36 of the cleaning unit 20 is preferably movably supported in the dosing chamber 26 in the horizontal direction 54, in particular relative to the dosing unit 12.

[0034] The sterile chamber 22 and the dosing chamber 26 are in each case preferably separate and at least substantially self-contained chambers which in at least one operating state can be connected via a dosing opening 30 of the dosing chamber 26, in particular in order to be able to fill the containers 18 located in the sterile chamber 22 by means of the dosing unit 12. The sterile chamber 22 preferably comprises side walls 58 and at least one bottom 60 via which the side walls 58 are connected together. Preferably, when viewed in the vertical direction 14, the sterile chamber 22 is defined, in particular closed, upwardly by an external wall of the dosing device 10 or of the filling system 46 or by the packaging carrier 24. The dosing chamber 26 preferably comprises side walls 62 and the bottom 28, via which the side walls 62 are connected together. Preferably, when viewed in the vertical direction 14, the dosing chamber 26 is defined, in particular closed, upwardly by the barrier 56 of the dosing device 10 which is arranged on the dosing unit 12, or an upper closure wall. Preferably, when viewed in the vertical direction 14, the sterile chamber 22 is arranged below the dosing chamber 26. Preferably, when viewed in the vertical direction 14, the dosing chamber 26 is arranged above the sterile chamber 22. It is also conceivable, however, that the dosing chamber 26 is at least partially or entirely arranged inside the sterile chamber 22. Preferably, when viewed in the vertical direction 14, the dosing chamber 26 is arranged at least above the packaging guide unit 48.

[0035] The dosing chamber 26 has the bottom 28 which faces the sterile chamber 22 and which has the at least one dosing opening 30 which faces the sterile chamber 22 and through which the containers 18 arranged in the sterile chamber 22 can be filled by means of the dosing nozzle(s) 16 in at least one operating state. The dosing chamber 26, in particular at least the bottom 28 of the dosing chamber 26, is preferably arranged in a direction running transversely to a guide axis 50 of the packaging guide unit 48, in particular in the vertical direction 14, spatially above the packaging carrier 24. Preferably, the bottom 28 of the dosing chamber 26 extends in a plane extending transversely, in particular at least substantially perpendicularly, to the vertical direction 14. Preferably, the bottom 28 of the dosing chamber 26 extends at least substantially parallel to the horizontal direction 54. The bottom 28 of the dosing chamber 26 extends at least substantially parallel to the guide axis 50 of the packaging guide unit 48. It is also conceivable, however, that the bottom 28 of the dosing chamber 26 runs in an inclined manner relative to the plane extending transversely, in particular at least substantially perpendicularly, to the vertical direction 14, in particular in order to permit an outflow of cleaning or sterilizing agent located, for example, in the dosing chamber 26 after a cleaning or sterilizing of the dosing unit 12 and/or the dosing chamber 26. Further arrangements of the bottom 28 which appear expedient to a person skilled in the art are also conceivable. The bottom 28 preferably defines a maximum extent of the dosing opening 30. Preferably, the bottom 28 comprises an edge defining the dosing opening 30. It is conceivable that the dosing chamber 26 has a plurality of dosing openings 30 which are arranged in the bottom 28 of the dosing chamber 26 or that the dosing chamber 26 has a single dosing opening 30 which is arranged in the bottom 28 of the dosing chamber 26. In an embodiment of the dosing chamber 26 with a plurality of dosing openings 30, it is conceivable that in each case a single dosing nozzle 16 of the dosing unit 12 is assigned to a dosing opening 30 or that a plurality of dosing nozzles 16 of the dosing unit 12 are assigned to a dosing opening 30.

[0036] Preferably, the dosing nozzle(s) 16 extends/extend, in particular in the vertical direction 14, into the dosing opening 30 or through the dosing opening 30 in at least one operating state, in particular in order to fill the containers 18 arranged in the sterile chamber 22. Preferably, the dosing nozzle(s) 16 extends/extend into the dosing opening 30 or through the dosing opening 30 in at least one filling operating state in which the containers 18 can be filled by means of the dosing nozzle(s) 16 with liquid or pasty products (see FIG. 3). The dosing nozzle(s) 16 extends/extend from the dosing chamber 26 into the sterile chamber 22, in particular through the dosing opening 30 in at least one operating state, in particular in the filling operating state. It is also conceivable, however, that the dosing nozzle(s) 16 only extends/extend in the dosing opening 30 and does/do not protrude into the sterile chamber 22 in the filling operating state or that the dosing nozzle(s) 16 is/are arranged above the dosing opening 30 and the containers 18 arranged below the dosing opening 30 are filled through the dosing opening 30 in the filling operating state. Further arrangements of the dosing nozzle(s) 16 in the filling operating state which appear expedient to a person skilled in the art are also conceivable. Preferably, the dosing nozzle(s) 16 is/are arranged outside the dosing opening 30 (see FIGS. 4a, 4b, 5a and 5b) in at least one operating state, in particular in at least one cleaning or sterilizing operating state. Preferably, the dosing nozzle(s) 16 can be moved into the dosing opening 30 or out of the dosing opening 30 as a result of a lifting movement in the vertical direction 14.

[0037] Preferably, the dosing device 10 comprises at least one lifting unit 32 which is configured to move the dosing nozzle(s) 16, in particular in the vertical direction 14, relative to the dosing opening 30, in particular at least into the dosing opening 30 or out of the dosing opening 30. Preferably, the lifting unit 32 comprises at least one drive element 64, such as for example a drive motor, a drive cylinder or the like, for a movement of the dosing nozzle(s) 16, in particular in the vertical direction 14. A drive axis of the drive element 64 preferably runs at least substantially parallel to the vertical direction 14. The drive element 64 is preferably embodied as a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder. Preferably, the lifting unit 32 comprises at least four drive elements 64 (a number of drive elements 64 deviating from four is also conceivable), the dosing nozzle(s) 16 being movably supported thereby, in particular in the vertical direction 14. The lifting unit 32 preferably comprises at least one transverse carrier element 66 on which the dosing nozzle(s) 16 is/are arranged so as to be moved by means of the drive element 64. The transverse carrier element 66 preferably has a longitudinal axis which extends at least substantially perpendicularly to the vertical direction 14. Preferably, the lifting unit 32 comprises at least two transverse carrier elements 66, wherein in each case two drive elements 64 are provided for each transverse carrier element 66. It is also conceivable, however, that the lifting unit 32 has a different design which appears expedient to a person skilled in the art, such as for example a design with at least one or more linear guide element(s), such as for example guide rails, guide rods, toothed racks, or the like, which has/have a longitudinal axis oriented at least substantially parallel to the vertical direction 14 and by means of which the dosing nozzle(s) 16 is/are movably supported, in particular in the vertical direction 14, wherein the lifting unit 32 has at least one or more drive element(s), such as for example one or more electric motor(s) or the like, the dosing nozzle(s) 16 being movable thereby along the guide element(s).

[0038] Preferably, the cleaning unit 20 comprises at least one movably supported closure element 34 for closing the dosing opening 30 of the dosing chamber 26 in at least one operating state. Preferably, the closure element 34 is configured for closing the dosing opening 30 in the cleaning or sterilizing operating state (see FIGS. 4a and 4b). Preferably, at least one sealing element (not shown in more detail here) of the cleaning element 20 is arranged on the closure element 34 and/or on the edge of the bottom 28 of the dosing chamber 26 defining the dosing opening 30, in particular in order to permit a fluid-tight closure of the dosing opening 30. The closure element 34 covers the dosing opening 30, preferably entirely. In an embodiment of the dosing device 10 with a plurality of dosing openings 30 in the bottom 28 of the dosing chamber 26, it is conceivable that the cleaning unit 20 comprises a single closure element 34 which can close all of the dosing openings 30 or that the cleaning unit 20 comprises a plurality of closure elements 34, wherein in each case a single closure element 34 of the plurality of closure elements 34 is assigned to one of the dosing openings 30. Preferably, the closure element 34 is movably supported in a translational manner, in particular in a direction running at least substantially parallel to the vertical direction 14. It is also conceivable, however, that the closure element 34 is pivotably mounted about a direction running at least substantially parallel to the vertical direction 14 or to the horizontal direction 54 relative to the dosing chamber 26 and/or to the sterile chamber 22 or that the closure element 34 is movably supported in a translational manner in a direction running at least substantially parallel to the horizontal direction 54. The closure element 34 can be moved by a drive of the cleaning unit 20 by a movement of the dosing nozzle(s) 16 in the vertical direction 14, for example as a result of pushing the closure element 34 closed by a projection, or the like, arranged on the dosing nozzle(s) 16. It is conceivable that the drive of the cleaning unit 20 is embodied, for example, as a pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder, as an electric motor, or the like, for moving the closure element 34. It is also conceivable that the closure element 34 is moved by the lifting unit 32, such as for example by a couplable connection between the lifting unit 32 and the closure element 34, when the closure element 34 is arranged above the dosing opening 30, in particular such that with a movement of the dosing nozzle(s) 16 in the vertical direction 14 toward the sterile chamber 22 a coupling of a movement mechanism with a movement of the closure element 34, or the like, takes place.

[0039] The cleaning unit 20 preferably comprises the closure element 34 which is movably supported, in particular in a translational manner, on the cleaning element 36 of the cleaning unit 20 for closing or for opening the dosing opening 30. The cleaning element 36 is preferably embodied as a flushing plate or a flushing bar. It is also conceivable, however, that the cleaning element 36 has a different design which appears expedient to a person skilled in the art. Preferably, the closure element 34 is movably supported on the cleaning element 36 in a translational manner, in particular in a direction running at least substantially parallel to the vertical direction 14. It is also conceivable, however, that the closure element 34 is pivotably mounted on the cleaning element 36 about a pivot axis running at least substantially parallel to the vertical direction 14 or at least substantially parallel to the horizontal direction 54. It is also conceivable that the cleaning unit 20 comprises at least one spring element which applies a spring force to the closure element 34 in the direction of the dosing opening 30, in particular such that the closure element 34 is movably supported in a spring-pretensioned manner on the cleaning element 36. It is conceivable that the cleaning unit 20 has a single cleaning element 36 for each dosing nozzle 16 or that the cleaning unit 20 comprises a single cleaning element 36 for all of the dosing nozzles 16, in which the dosing nozzles 16 can be arranged together for the cleaning or sterilizing, as is represented in the exemplary embodiment shown here.

[0040] Preferably, the cleaning unit 20 comprises the cleaning element 36 which is movably supported inside the dosing chamber 26 and which in at least one operating state covers the dosing opening 30, in particular when viewed along a vertical direction 14 (see FIGS. 4a, 4b, 5a and 5b). Preferably, the cleaning element 36 is arranged above the dosing opening 30 and covers this opening at least in the cleaning or sterilizing operating state (see FIGS. 4a and 4b) or in the filling nozzle changing operating state (see FIGS. 5a and 5b). In an alternative embodiment of the dosing device 10, it is conceivable that the closure element 34 is realized integrally with the cleaning element 36 and, in particular, the cleaning element 36 itself forms the closure element 34. In the one-piece embodiment of the closure element 34 with the cleaning element 36, the cleaning element 36 is movably supported relative to the dosing unit 1, in particular additionally in a direction running at least substantially parallel to the vertical direction 14 in order to close or to open the dosing opening 30. Further embodiments which appear expedient to a person skilled in the art are also conceivable.

[0041] FIG. 6 shows a schematic sequence of a method 38 for operating the dosing device 10. In at least one method step 40, 42 of the method 38, the dosing nozzle(s) 16 of the dosing unit 12 of the dosing device 10 is/are moved, in particular, by means of the lifting unit 32 of the dosing device 10 out of or into the dosing opening 30 of the dosing chamber 26 of the dosing device 10, in particular in the vertical direction 14. Preferably, the dosing nozzle(s) 16 is/are moved by means of the lifting unit 32 out of the dosing opening 30 for transferring from the filling operating state (see FIG. 3) into the cleaning or sterilizing operating state (see FIGS. 4a and 4b) or into the filling nozzle changing operating state (see FIGS. 5a and 5b). Preferably, the cleaning element 36, in particular after moving the dosing nozzle(s) 16 out of the dosing opening 30, is moved in the horizontal direction 54, in particular below the dosing nozzle(s) 16 and above the dosing opening 30. In particular, as a result of the movement below the dosing nozzle(s) 16 and above the dosing opening 30, the cleaning element 36 is connected to a fluid interface 68 (see FIGS. 3, 4a, 4b, 5a and 5b) of the cleaning unit 20 via which cleaning or sterilizing fluid can be supplied to the cleaning element 36. Preferably, in particular after moving the cleaning element 36 below the dosing nozzle(s) 16 and above the dosing opening 30, the closure element 34 is moved into a closed position, in particular in the vertical direction 14, in order to close the dosing opening 30. Preferably, in at least one method step 44 of the method 38, the dosing opening 30 of the dosing chamber 26 is closed, in particular automatically, by means of the closure element 34 of the cleaning unit 20 of the dosing device 10.

[0042] The dosing nozzle(s) 16 is/are moved by means of the lifting unit 32 in the vertical direction 14 into the cleaning element 36 for transferring into the cleaning or sterilizing operating state, in particular after moving the cleaning element 36 below the dosing nozzle(s) 16 and above the dosing opening 30 and preferably after the dosing opening 30 is closed by means of the closure element 34. Preferably, the dosing nozzle(s) 16 and/or the dosing chamber 26 are cleaned in the cleaning or sterilizing operating state, in particular in the method step 44 or in a method step of the method 38 following the method step 44.

[0043] In particular, in a method step 70 of the method 38 following the method step 42, which preferably takes place alternatively or additionally to the method step of the method 38, in which the dosing device 10 is in the cleaning or sterilizing operating state, the dosing unit 12, in particular the dosing nozzle(s) 16, is/are moved further in the vertical direction 14 in a direction facing away from the dosing chamber 26 for transferring into the filling nozzle changing operating state, in particular after moving the cleaning element 36 below the dosing nozzle(s) 16 and above the dosing opening 30 and preferably after the dosing opening 30 is closed by means of the closure element 34, or entirely removed from the dosing chamber 26, in particular in order to change the individual dosing nozzles 16 or all of the dosing nozzles 16. After changing the individual dosing nozzles 16 or all of the dosing nozzles 16, the dosing unit 12, in particular the dosing nozzle(s) 16, is/are moved back in the vertical direction 14 in the direction of the dosing chamber 26 or arranged again on the dosing chamber 26. In particular, the dosing nozzle(s) 16 is/are transferred into the cleaning or sterilizing operating state, in particular by moving the dosing nozzle(s) 16 into the cleaning element 36 and subsequently cleaning or sterilizing the dosing nozzle(s) 16.

[0044] Preferably, a cleaning or sterilizing of the dosing chamber 26 takes place by means of a chamber cleaning element 74 (see FIGS. 3, 4a, 4b, 5a and 5b) of the cleaning unit 20 at the same time as or after the cleaning or sterilizing of the dosing nozzle(s). The chamber cleaning element 74 may be embodied, for example, as a spray head, spray nozzle, or the like. Preferably, the chamber cleaning element 74 is arranged inside the dosing chamber 26. Preferably, the dosing nozzle(s) 16 is/are moved by means of the lifting unit 32 out of the cleaning element 36 after the cleaning or sterilizing has taken place. Preferably, the closure element 34 is moved in the vertical direction 14 in a direction facing away from the sterile chamber 22 into an open position in which the dosing opening 30 is open. Preferably, the cleaning element 36 is moved in the horizontal direction 54 away from the dosing opening 30. Preferably, the dosing nozzle(s) 16, in particular in the method step 40 of the method 38, is moved by means of the lifting unit 32 into the dosing opening 30 for transferring into the filling operating state, in particular after cleaning or sterilizing the dosing nozzle(s) 16 and/or the dosing chamber 26. As a result of the closed dosing opening 30, the sterile chamber 22 advantageously remains sterile in the cleaning or sterilizing operating state and in the filling nozzle changing operating state. It is also conceivable, however, that the sterile chamber 22 is also cleaned or sterilized in the cleaning or sterilizing operating state. In at least one method step 72 of the method 38, the containers 18 are filled by means of the dosing nozzle(s) 16, in particular, while the dosing device 10 is in the filling operating state. It is conceivable that the method 38 according to the invention has further method steps which appear expedient to a person skilled in the art and which are not explicitly mentioned here and which can be found, in particular, in the description of the dosing device 10 according to the invention and/or the filling system 46 according to the invention.