How a piston filler works
- The valve connects the hopper to the cylinder; the piston pulls back and draws product in.
- The valve switches to the nozzle.
- The piston moves forward and pushes the dose into the container.
- A shut-off nozzle closes to prevent drips.
Valve types
- Check-valve pistons — for thin to medium liquids without particles.
- Rotary-valve pistons — for thick products and products with particles, such as peanut butter, jam or chili sauce.
- Rotor (lobe) pumps — an alternative for very viscous products, used on our Piston & rotor-pump filler for honey, sauce and cream.
Pneumatic vs servo pistons
Pneumatic pistons are simple and robust. Servo-driven pistons set the volume digitally, change faster between products and keep accuracy across speeds.
Products piston fillers handle
Honey, sauces, ketchup, mayonnaise, peanut butter, jam, creams, lotions, shampoos, gels, oils and many chemicals. Heated versions such as the J4B heated filling machine for gel, wax and solid perfume fill wax, gel and solid perfume.
Piston fillers in our catalogue
| Machine | Nozzles | Range | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Piston & rotor-pump filler for honey, sauce and cream | 4 | 50–1000 ml | 10–40/min |
| J8B peanut butter & sauce filling and capping machine | 8 | 50–1000 ml | 20–80/min |
| J4B heated filling machine for gel, wax and solid perfume | 4 | 50–1000 ml | 10–40/min |
Compare with other principles in liquid filling machine types.
Questions and answers
What is a piston filling machine used for?
Filling liquids and pastes — from thin liquids to thick sauces, creams and peanut butter — by a set volume per piston stroke.
How accurate is a piston filler?
Typically around ±1% depending on product; our catalogue piston fillers list 99% or better.
Can a piston filler handle particles?
Yes, with a rotary valve and large nozzles sized for the particles.
What is the difference between a piston filler and a pump filler?
A piston filler displaces a fixed volume per stroke; a pump filler doses by running time or counted pump revolutions.
Related buying guides
Browse machines: Paste, sauce & hot filling machines · Liquid filling & capping machines
