EP0581155B1 - Filling head - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a filling element according to the preamble of claim 1.

Filling elements for filling machines for filling a liquid product into bottles, cans or the like. Containers are known in numerous designs. Filling elements with electrical probes which determine filling heights and which are formed by a probe element projecting beyond the underside of the filling element are also known. This probe element has an electrode forming an electrode contact on at least one probe region.

Also known are filling elements with a return gas tube enclosed by the discharge opening and forming a gas channel, which protrudes downward beyond the discharge opening of the filling element and on which the valve body and also an umbrella-like deflector are provided (DE-OS 39 09 398), with opening and Closing the liquid valve, the return gas pipe can be moved back and forth together with the valve body and with the umbrella-like deflector in the direction of the filler element axis. The umbrella-like deflector is arranged in this known filling element both in the blocked and in the open position of the liquid valve in a section of the liquid channel following the liquid valve in the direction of flow of the liquid filling material and essentially serves to be used in connection with a discharge opening cone-widening cross-section of this section of the liquid channel to impress a radially outward flow component on the liquid filling material when the liquid valve is open, so that the liquid filling material flows downward on the inner surface of the wall of this container after entering the container to be filled.

The invention has for its object to show a filling element in which an exact and reproducible response of the probe and thus an exact closing of the liquid valve are ensured when the desired filling level is reached.

To solve this problem, a filling element is designed according to the invention in accordance with the characterizing part of patent claim 1.

The probe determining the filling levels accordingly consists of an inner first probe element and an outer second probe element which at least partially encloses the first probe element or an active probe region there. This ensures precise and trouble-free response of the probe.

Developments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

Fig. 1

in schematischer Darstellung und im Schnitt eine Ausführungsform des erfindungsgemäßen Füllelementes, zusammen mit einer Teildarstellung des dieses Füllelement tragenden Teils einer Füllmaschine;

Fig. 2

in vergrößerter Detaildarstellung den Bereich des Flüssigkeitsventils sowie einen sich zwischen dem Flüssigkeitsventil und der Abgabeöffnung erstreckenden Kanal für das flüssige Füllgut, zusammen mit dem oberen Ende einer zu füllenden Flasche;

Fig. 3

in einer gegenüber der Fig. 1 um 90^o geänderten Seitenansicht, d.h. in einer Ansicht, die der durch den Pfeil A angedeuteten Blickrichtung der Fig. 1 entspricht, eine weitere, mögliche Ausführungsform des erfindungsgemäßen Füllelementes;

Fig. 4

eine Abwandlung des Füllelementes der Fig. 1;

Fig. 5

in Teildarstellung eine weitere Ausführungsform des erfindungsgemäßen Füllelementes.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the figures using an exemplary embodiment. Show it:

Fig. 1

in a schematic representation and in section, an embodiment of the filling element according to the invention, together with a partial representation of the part of a filling machine carrying this filling element;

Fig. 2

in an enlarged detail the area of the liquid valve and a channel for the liquid filling material, which extends between the liquid valve and the discharge opening, together with the upper end of a bottle to be filled;

Fig. 3

in a side view changed by 90 ^o from FIG. 1, ie in a view corresponding to the viewing direction indicated by arrow A in FIG. 1, a further possible embodiment of the filling element according to the invention;

Fig. 4

a modification of the filling element of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5

in partial representation a further embodiment of the filling element according to the invention.

Figure 1 shows a filling element 1, which is characterized by a particularly inexpensive and robust construction and is usually attached to container or bottle filling machines with several similarly designed filling elements 1 on the circumference of a part 2 of a rotor of the bottle filling machine rotating around a vertical axis. Part 2 forms a container 3 or distribution channel for the liquid filling material and a return gas channel 4.

The filling element 1 has a housing 5 fastened to the part 2, which consists of the housing part 6, the housing part 7, the insert 6 and the housing part 9, these elements being arranged in the aforementioned order in the vertical direction, i.e. Connect to each other in the direction of the filling element axis VA or are tightly connected to one another using appropriate sealing rings.

In the housing part 7, an annular liquid channel 10 is formed, which communicates with the container 3 via an opening 11 and encloses a pipe section or return gas pipe 12 arranged coaxially with the filling element axis VA. The upper end of the liquid channel 10 is closed by the housing part 6. In its lower region, the liquid channel 10 continues in a section 13 ′ which narrows in the shape of a truncated cone downwards, of an opening 13 formed in the insert 8 and concentrically surrounding the filling element axis VA, to the extent of a liquid valve 14 or a valve seat 15 for the valve body 16 or the seal 17 of the liquid valve 14 there. The valve seat 15 is from a partial region of the inner surface of a section 13 ′ adjoining in the vertical direction downwards and downwards conically widening section 13 '' of the opening 13, in the vicinity of the transition between the sections 13 'and 13''.

The valve body 16 is provided on the return gas tube 12, which, however, continues downward via this valve body in the direction of the filler element axis VA, specifically with an open tube section 12 ′ at its lower end with an enlarged internal and external cross section compared to the remaining return gas tube 12.

Below the liquid valve 14, an annular channel 18 is formed in the housing part 9, which surrounds the valve body 16, but also the section 12 ', and forms a dispensing opening 19 of the filling element 1 on the underside of the housing part 9. In the area of this dispensing opening, a seal 20 is provided on the underside of the filling element 1, against which the bottle 21 to be filled in each case is pressed with its mouth 22 in a known manner, at least during the filling phase, and specifically against a truncated cone-shaped, the dispensing opening 19 enclosing section 20 'of the seal 20. On the outer surface of section 12', a screen-like deflector 23 is attached, which is in or at the discharge opening 19 when the liquid valve 14 is closed and thereby closes the annular channel 18 in the region of the discharge opening 19. To open the liquid valve 14, the return gas tube 12, which is sealed with its upper end through the housing part 6, by an electrical actuating device 24, ie by a magnet against the action of a compression spring 25 by a predetermined amount in the direction of the filling element axis VA down movable, whereby the seal 17 from the valve seat 15 and at the same time the deflector 23 lift off the seal 20. When the liquid valve 14 is open, but also when it is closed, the lower end of the return gas tube 12 formed at the section 12 ′ projects beyond the underside of the filling element 1 or the seal 20 there.

A rod-shaped probe 26 is arranged in the return gas pipe 12 as a fill-level-determining member, the lower end of which projects beyond the lower end of the return gas pipe 12 or the section 12 ′ there, and its upper end also projects beyond the upper side of the filling element 1. Since the rod-shaped probe 26 has a circular cross-section that is smaller than the inner cross-section that the return gas tube 12 also has outside the section 12 ′, a gas channel 27 enclosing the probe 26 is formed in the interior of the return gas tube 12 (FIG. 2) to the area of the housing part 6 or to a local chamber 28 surrounding the return gas tube 12, with which the gas channel 27 is connected via at least one opening provided in the wall of the return gas tube 12. In the vertical direction above the chamber, the gas channel 27 is closed by the probe 26 and possibly by sealing elements, not shown, in such a way that when the probe 26 does not move in the direction of the filling element axis VA, the return gas tube 12 for opening and closing the liquid valve 14 in can be moved axially in the manner described above. The chamber 28 is connected to the return gas duct 4 via a duct 29 forming a gas path.

A clamping piece 30 is fastened to the upper side of the actuating device 24, through which the probe 26 is guided and in which the probe 26 can be clamped with the aid of a clamping or knurled screw 31. At its upper end, the probe 26 has a head or a grip piece 32 with an enlarged cross section, from which the electrical connection of the probe 26 also leads away. Between the handle 32 and the top of the clamping piece 30, a spacer 33 is arranged, which in the illustrated embodiment has a substantially U-shaped cross-sectional profile in a sectional plane perpendicular to FIG. 1 and with two legs and a section of this profile connecting these legs the probe 26 grips like a clamp at its end projecting above the top of the clamping piece 30. By designing the spacer 33 as the length of a U-profile, it is possible to do this Slide the spacer 33 with the clamping screw 31 loosened and the probe 26 slightly raised onto it laterally and then lower it so far that the handle 32 rests against the upper end of the spacer 33 and the lower end thereof stands on the clamping piece 30. Due to the length of the spacer 33, the position of the probe 26 with respect to the filling element 1 or its underside is thus precisely defined. So that the spacer 33 is not lost, this is not only clamped between the handle 32 and the clamping piece 30 when the clamping screw 31 is tightened, but additionally engages with its lower end in a recess 34 of the clamping piece 30. On the housing 5 of the filling element 1, a centering tulip 37 is provided in the direction of the filling element axis VA by means of two guide rods 35 in the usual way against the action of two compression springs 36, namely between a position in which the centering tulip 37 is below the lower end of the Probe 26 is located, and a position in which the centering tulip 37 rests against the underside of the filling element 1.

The general mode of operation of the filling element 1, which in the form described is intended for filling bottles 21 at atmospheric pressure, corresponds to conventional filling elements, i.e. after pressing the respective bottle 21 against the seal 20, the liquid valve 16 is opened so that the liquid contents of the bottle 21 can flow in via the discharge opening 19. The gas or air volume displaced by the inflowing filling material is discharged in a known manner via the gas channel 27, the chamber 28, the channel 29 and the return gas channel 4.

Regardless of special features in the constructive detail, the filling element 1 has the following features in combination:
To open the liquid valve 14, the valve body 16 and with it also the deflector 23 are moved downward.
When the liquid valve 14 is closed, the deflector 23 closes the discharge opening 19.
Through the section 12 'with an enlarged internal cross section, the gas channel 27 has an enlarged flow cross section in the lower region or at the return gas opening there.

The above-mentioned measures have a considerable advantage in combination, ie the combination of the above-mentioned measures effectively prevents residues or droplets of filling material from getting into the gas channel 27 and increasing it, which at least lengthens the time required for the filling process and thus the performance the filling machine would reduce. The umbrella-like deflector 23 initially prevents liquid contents from flowing downward directly on the outer surface of section 12 ′ and thus being able to get into the opening of the gas channel 27. Because the gas channel 27 has an enlarged flow cross section in its lower region, that is to say in section 12 ', there is a greatly reduced flow velocity for the air displaced during filling or for the gas displaced during filling, so that even such quantities result from this of liquid contents which, despite the deflector 23, have reached the lower end of the return gas tube 12, are not carried into the gas channel 27. Characterized in that the liquid valve 14 is opened by moving the valve body 16 downward, it is also possible to use the deflector 23 at the same time to close the discharge opening 19 when the liquid valve 14 is closed, at least to the extent that when the liquid valve 14 is closed in the annular channel 18 existing filling material residues cannot emerge from the discharge opening 19 downwards and possibly pass the deflector 23 past the lower, open end of the section 12 ′ or the gas channel 27, in order to then possibly be carried into the gas channel 27 during the next filling process.

Due to the aforementioned combination of features, extremely effective protection against entrainment of liquid into the gas channel 27 is thus achieved with a simple construction. This also means that the gas channel 27 is fully permeable to the air displaced from the bottle 21 to be filled or to the gas displaced and the respective filling process can thus be carried out completely in a short time, in order to achieve high performance for the filling machine . The latter is also supported by the fact that the connecting paths formed in the filling element 1 for the liquid filling material and in particular also the liquid channel 10 and the opening 11 to the container 3 have a large cross section. This includes possible that the gas channel 27 into the housing part 6, i.e. extends into an area above the liquid channel 10 or the connection to the container 3. However, this means a relatively long length for the gas channel 27, which in turn is possible in spite of a desired high performance for the filling machine in that in the above-described manner entrainment of filling material residues in the gas channel 27 is effectively prevented.

Figure 2 shows a filling element 1 a, which differs from the filling element 1 essentially only in that an element 38 is arranged in the connecting or liquid path between the liquid valve 14 and the discharge opening 19, which at least in the liquid filling material when the liquid valve 14 is open a partial area of the aforementioned connecting path forces a flow path surrounding the filling element axis VA in a helical manner and thus a swirl, so that the liquid filling material flows downward only after passing the dispensing opening 19 essentially only on the inner surface of the bottle 21.

FIG. 3 shows an embodiment in which the guide rods 35 for the centering tulip 37 are guided in a bracket 39, against which the upper ends of the guide rods 35 rest with a stop 40 each when the centering tulip 37 is lowered. In the illustrated embodiments, the each formed as a collar and over the circumferential surface associated guide rod 35 radially projecting stops 40 in a cylinder-like housing or section 39 'of the bracket 39 which is axially aligned with the axis of the associated guide rod 35. Instead of the compression springs 36, a compression spring 41 is provided in each section 39 '. With a bracket section 39 ″ connecting the sections 39 ′, from which the sections 39 ′ project downward, the bracket 39 is fastened to the upper end of the probe 26 and, in this embodiment, forms a handle piece corresponding to the handle piece 32.

The particular advantage of the filling element 1b is that when the position of the probe 26 is adjusted by means of the spacers 33 of different lengths, the bracket 39 and thus the lower end position of the centering bell 37 are also adjusted in the vertical direction, so that regardless of the setting of the probe 26 the centering tulip 37 is arranged in its lower position with a predetermined constant amount below the lower end of the probe 26. In this way, an excessively large vertical stroke of the bottles 21 at the beginning and at the end of the filling process can be avoided and a substantial increase in the filling angle during the rotation of the filling machine and thus ultimately a substantial increase in the performance of the filling machine can be achieved.

FIG. 4 shows a filling element 1c, which differs from the filling element 1 of FIG. 1 only in that the gas path from the chamber 28 to the return gas channel 4 can be controlled with regard to its effective flow cross section. For this purpose, the chamber 28 is not connected to the channel 29, but rather to a channel 42 formed in the housing part 6, which opens into a chamber 44 formed on a control block 43. At this chamber, the gas path is divided into two parallel channels 45 and 46 formed in the control block 43, which then finally open into the control block 43 into a common channel 47, which is partly formed in the control block 13 and partly in the housing part 6 and leads to the return gas chamber 4. A throttle or throttle section 48 is provided in the channel 45, through which the channel 45 has an effective flow cross-section which is significantly reduced compared to the channel 46. In the filling element 1c shown in FIG. 4, the channel 46 also has a throttle or throttling section 49, but the diameter of this throttling section is considerably larger than the passage of the throttling section 48. Furthermore, on the control block 43 there is an actuating device 50 or provided by a magnet actuable valve 51, which opens or closes the channel 46 as a function of the actuation of the actuating device 50, so that when the valve 51 is closed, the return gas path occurs exclusively via the channel 45 having the throttle section 48 and, when the valve 51 is open, both Channels 45 and 46 and mainly leads through channel 46. With the help of the control block 43 and the elements provided there, it is thus possible to control the return gas path in such a way that a rapid filling phase takes place at the beginning of the filling of a bottle 21 with the channel 46 open, during which the liquid filling material flows into the bottle 21 at high speed and thus the rate of increase of the contents in the bottle 21 is also high. After this rapid filling phase, a slow filling phase with reduced speed is then initiated, for example by time specification, by control by a sensor etc., and specifically before the liquid filling material rising in the bottle 21 reaches the narrow neck of the bottle. This slow filling phase is initiated by closing the valve 21 or the channel 46 through the actuating device, so that the air or the displaced gas displaced by the liquid filling material in the bottle 21 only escape more slowly and thus the rate of increase of the liquid filling material is slowed down.

In normal operation of the bottle filling machine, the actuation devices 50 of all the filling elements 1c are individually controlled in the above-described sense. When the filling machine is at a standstill, the actuating devices 50 of all the filling elements 1c are actuated to close the respective channel 46, with the advantage that even when the bottle filling machine is at a standstill, all of the bottles 21, and in particular also the bottles 21 that arrived last before the standstill are filled properly and gently. This would not be guaranteed in the absence of the aforementioned central actuation of the actuating devices 50, since when the bottle filling machine is at a standstill, as the bottles 21 become increasingly full, the flow rate and the volume flow of the liquid filling material to the bottles 21 that have just come in become greater. This then means that the filling level at which the probe 24 causes the liquid valve 14 to close is reached much earlier than is the case when the bottle filling machine is running, so that the slow filling phase is no longer effective at all.

The gentle filling with rapid filling phase and subsequent slow filling phase not only requires a constant exact filling level, but also prevents bubbles from forming in the liquid filling material and thus makes a decisive contribution to preventing the entry of filling material residues into the gas channel 27.

5 shows a filling element 1d, which largely corresponds to the filling element 1a in FIG. 2, so that those parts of the filling element 1d which correspond to parts of the filling element 1a are designated by the same reference numbers that are already used for the filling element 1a .

The filling element 1d differs from the filling element 1a in that the upper end of a probe element or a tube piece open at both ends or a sleeve 52 which is open at both ends is fastened to the underside of the deflector 23 or to the section 12 ′ of the return gas tube 12 there Filler element axis VA, but also concentrically encloses a probe element 53 arranged coaxially with the filler element axis VA. The sleeve 52 consists of an electrically conductive material, ie of corrosion-resistant metal. The rod-shaped probe element 53 is in the filling element 1d in the same way as was described for the probe 26 provided or held and in particular also protrudes downward from the gas channel 26 via the deflector 23 with a lower length. The probe element 53 consists essentially of an electrode or a rod 54 made of electrically conductive material, preferably of corrosion-resistant metal, which is coated with an electrically insulating material. The lower end of the probe element 53 is located within the sleeve 52 at a distance above the lower, open end 52 'of the sleeve 52. At the lower end of the probe element 53, the sheathing made of electrically insulating material is missing, ie there is the rod 54 with its beveled end free and constitutes the active region of the probe 53 'of the probe member 53. the sleeve 52 is provided at its periphery with a plurality of openings, namely, in the illustrated embodiment with two longitudinal slots 55 which extend parallel to the filling element axis VA and about this axis by 180 ^o are offset from each other.

In the case of the filling element 1d, the sleeve 52 and the probe element 53 form the electrical probe which determines the filling height, ie the sleeve 52 and the rod 54 are in a switching or control circuit which is then closed via the sleeve 52 and the rod 54 and the termination of the filling process when, when a bottle 21 is filled, the level of the filling material rising in the bottle has reached the probe region 53 '. A compensation of the filling level inside and outside the sleeve 52 is possible through the slots 55. Furthermore, gas displaced through the slots 55 can flow into the sleeve 52 and from there into the gas channel 27 even when filling a bottle 21. Through the probe formed by the sleeve 52 and the probe element 53, an exact and reproducible response of the probe and thus an exact closing of the liquid valve 14 is ensured when the desired filling level is reached, even when the liquid filling material is foaming.

In the embodiment shown, the sleeve 52 is connected to the positive pole of a voltage source via the housing 5 of the filling element 1d, while the rod 54 is connected to the negative pole of the voltage source via at least one control element.

Instead of the probe element 53 formed by the rod 54 with the jacket made of insulating material, a rod-shaped probe element can also be provided, which consists of an insulating material and only has an exposed electrode made of an electrically conductive material on its active probe region, which electrode is then connected to an inside of the probe element is connected leading conductor. Furthermore, it is also possible to provide a plurality of electrodes on the probe element, namely electrically insulated from one another.

Instead of the slots 55, the sleeve 52 can also have differently shaped openings or openings. In principle, it is also possible to use a cylinder or sleeve-like element instead of a sleeve 52, which consists of a lattice or mesh material and forms an exposed electrode at least in the vicinity of the probe region 53 '.

Finally, it is also possible to provide, instead of the sleeve 52, which surrounds the probe element 53 over its entire circumference, a channel-like element which extends with its axis parallel to the filler element axis VA and only partially surrounds the probe element 53. This channel-like element then corresponds, for example, to one half of the sleeve 52 divided in the longitudinal direction.

The filling element 1d in turn has the centering tulip 37, which is displaceably guided on the housing 5 in the direction of the filling element axis VA. In this centering tulip 37, an insert 56 made of plastic is provided, which has an upper, essentially hollow cylindrical section 56 'with a circular inner and outer cross section and thereon to subsequently has a section 56 ″ below, in which both the outer cross section and the inner cross section widen downwards in the shape of a funnel or truncated cone. With the outer surface of the section 56 ″, the insert 56 is held in the likewise frustoconical recess in the centering bell 37 and projects with the section 56 ′ over the top of the centering bell 37. The insert 56 is secured against falling out of the centering bell 37 by a retaining ring 57. At the transition area between the interior of section 56 ', which is open at the top, and the interior of section 56'', which is open at the bottom, there is a sealing ring 58 forming a container seal inside the insert 56.

When filling a bottle 21, this is raised so far together with the centering tulip 37 that on the one hand the mouth 22 of the bottle 21 in the sealing position against the sealing ring 58 and on the other hand the upper opening of the insert 56 or an annular surface 59 there of the insert 56 in the sealing position against the Seal 20 bear. The hollow cylindrical section 56 ', which concentrically and spacedly encloses the sleeve 52 with its inner surface, then forms an extension of the liquid path between the dispensing opening 19 of the filling element 1d and the mouth 22 of the bottle 21 that is sealed off from the environment when the liquid valve is open.

With the insert 56, which is produced rotationally symmetrically to an axis of symmetry and is arranged with this axis of symmetry essentially coaxially with the filling element axis VA, it is ultimately determined how far the probe formed by the sleeve 52 and the probe element 53 when filling a bottle 21 through the mouth 22 extends into the inside of this bottle. The insert 56 thus also determines the filling level for the liquid filling material in the respective bottle 21. By optionally using inserts 56 with different axial lengths of section 56 ', the filling height achieved during filling can be changed, or the filling element 1d and the other, similar filling elements 1d of a filling machine can be changed to different sizes of bottles 21 can be adapted, without the need to replace the sleeve 52 and / or to replace or adjust the probe element. The fastening ring 57 enables the respective insert 56 to be released and fastened quickly.

In order to exactly center the centering bell 37 and in particular also the insert 56 when filling a bottle 21 with respect to the housing 5 or the filling element axis VA, a centering ring 60 is provided on the centering bell 37, which, however, extends over the top of the centering bell 37 also protrudes above the annular surface 59. The centering ring 60, which concentrically surrounds the section 56 ', has in the area of its upper edge on the inside a bevel 61 which forms an upper section of the opening of the centering ring 60 which widens in the shape of a truncated cone. The centering ring 60 interacts with a circular-cylindrical centering section on the housing 5 which concentrically surrounds the filling element axis VA. This centering section is formed in that the housing 5 is circular cylindrical in its lower region. The inner diameter which the centering ring 60 has below the section 61 is slightly larger than the outer diameter which the housing 5 has in its aforementioned lower, circular-cylindrical area.

The invention has been described above using exemplary embodiments. It goes without saying that changes and modifications are possible without thereby departing from the invention as defined in the claims. In particular, the probe formed by the probe element 53 and the sleeve 52 or another probe element corresponding to this sleeve can also be used with filling elements for counterpressure fillers.

List of the reference symbols used

1, 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d

Filling element

2nd

part

3rd

container

4th

Return gas duct

5

casing

6

Housing part

7

Housing part

8th

commitment

9

Housing part

10th

Liquid channel

11

opening

12th

Return gas pipe

12 '

section

13

opening

13 '

section

13 ''

section

14

Liquid valve

15

Valve seat

16

Valve body

17th

poetry

18th

Ring channel

19th

Delivery opening

20th

poetry

20 '

section

21

bottle

22

muzzle

23

Deflector

24th

Actuator

25th

Compression spring

26

probe

27

Gas channel

28

chamber

29

channel

30th

Clamp

31

Clamping screw

32

Head or handle

33

Spacer

34

Recess

35

Guide rod

36

Compression spring

37

Centering tulip

38

element

39

hanger

39 '

section

39 ''

section

40

attack

41

Compression spring

42

channel

43

Control block

44

chamber

45

channel

46

channel

47

channel

48

Throttle section

49

Throttle section

50

Actuator

51

Valve

52

Sleeve

52 '

The End

53

Probe element

53 '

Probe area

54

Rod

55

slot

56

commitment

56 '

section

56 ''

section

57

Mounting ring

58

Sealing ring

59

Ring surface

60

Centering ring

61

section

Claims (9)

1. Filling element for filling machines for filling a liquid filling stock into bottles, cans or the like vessels, with a liquid valve (14), which is provided in a liquid channel (10, 13, 18) of the filling element and which displays a valve body (16), which co-operates with a valve seat (15) and is movable to and fro between a setting which blocks the liquid valve and one which opens this valve, with a delivery opening (19), which is provided at the underside of the filling element and by way of which the liquid filling stock flows to the vessel respectively to be filled when the liquid valve (14) is open, with a gas channel (27), which is open at a return gas opening for a return gas flow at the underisde of the filling element and is arranged in the region of this return gas opening with its axis concentric with a filling element axis (VA) as well as surrounded by the delivery opening, as well as with an electric probe which determines the filling height and displays a first probe element (53), which projects beyond the underside of the filling element and is preferably arranged co-axially with the filling element axis (VA) and which at at least one probe region (53') comprises at least one electrode which forms a probe contact which is associated with a further probe contact, characterised thereby, that the probe region (53') of the first probe element (53) is at least partially surrounded by a second probe element (52), which is provided at the filling element, extends in the direction of the filling element axis (VA) and which by its lower end (52') displays a greater spacing from the underside of the filling element than the probe region (53') and is open axially at this lower end (52') as well as also radially at at least one lateral region.
2. Filling element according to claim 1, characterised thereby, that the second probe element (52) displays or forms an electrode as further probe contact.
3. Filling element according to claim 2, characterised thereby, that the second probe element (52) is made of an electrically conductive material, preferably of metal.
4. Filling element according to claim 2 or 3, characterised thereby, that the electrode (54), which is provided at the first probe element (53) and forms the probe contact, and the electrode formed by the second probe element (52) display different electrical potentials, wherein the electrode formed by the second probe element (52) preferably has a positive electrical potential relative to the electrode (54) of the first probe element (53).
5. Filling element according to one of the claims 1 to 4, characterised thereby, that the second probe element is a tubular member or a sleeve (52) and that the region open in radial direction is formed by at least one opening (55) in the sleeve and/or by a gridlike or meshlike material of the second probe element.
6. Filling element according to claim 5, characterised thereby, that the at least one opening is a slot (55) extending in the direction of the filling element axis (VA).
7. Filling element according to one of the claims 1 to 6, characterised thereby, that that region of the second probe element, which is open in a direction radially of the filling element axis (VA) is formed by this probe element surrounding the first probe element (53) at only a partial region of the circumference.
8. Filling element according to one of the claims 1 to 7, characterised thereby, that the first probe element (53) displays at least two electrically separate electrodes each forming a probe contact at the probe region (53').
9. Filling element according to one of the claims 1 to 8, characterised thereby, that an umbrella-like deflector (23) for the liquid filling stock is present at the second probe element (52).

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