Patent ID: 8511350

Claim:
A system for filling cartridges comprising: a cartridge having at least one chamber for receiving a filling mass and a closeable outlet opening for the discharge of the filling mass; a piston slidably mounted in sealed relation in said chamber of said cartridge for pushing of the filling mass from said chamber through said outlet opening; a venting valve positioned in said piston for movement from a closed position to an open position to allow air within said chamber between the filling mass and said piston to vent through said piston in a direction away from said chamber; and a piston setting device including a housing for abutting against said piston in said cartridge, a plunger in said housing for moving said venting valve to said open position, a conduit extending through said housing and having at least one inlet adjacent said plunger, and an attachment element in communication with said conduit and connectable to a vacuum source for drawing a vacuum within said conduit whereby, in response to movement of said venting valve to said open position and a vacuum within said conduit, air within said chamber between the filling mass and said piston may be vented through said piston and said conduit.