A device for filling a container with a filling product, preferably for filling a glass container with a beverage in a bottling plant, comprising a filling valve for introducing the filling product into the container to be filled, a control device for controlling the filling valve, and a filling level sensor which communicates with the control device for detecting the presence of a target filling level (H.sub.S) of the filling product in the container, the control device being configured to close the filling valve upon detection of the target filling level (H.sub.S), the control device being configured to determine the presence of the target filling level (H.sub.S) by means of the filling level sensor again after the filling valve has been closed and to initiate an ejection process for the container if it is detected that the target filling level (H.sub.S) has been undershot.

A filling device with a filling failure is identified less costly, and the filling amount by the filling device is adjusted quickly. The filling/sealing device includes a filler including a filling turret having a plurality of holding parts and a filling device provided for each of the holding parts to fill a container with a liquid content, forwarding turrets that hold and turret-convey a container transported from the filling turret, a sealing device that seals the container transported from the forwarding turrets with a lid, an inspection device provided in the path, in which the container is held and turret-conveyed, to inspect a filling amount in the container, and a controller that identifies a filling device with a filling failure on the basis of an inspection result from the inspection device and controls the filling amount by the filling device.

A variable height fill station for filling containers with ready mixed compositions, includes a hopper, a dispensing nozzle in fluid communication with the hopper, an inner tube having a first inner end, and an opposite second inner end, an outer tube having a first outer end telescopingly receiving the second inner end of the inner tube, and an opposite second outer end, a support frame supporting the second outer end, and providing an actuator mounting point, and a linear actuator connected at a work end to the second inner end, and at an opposite end to the support frame, so that linear reciprocation of the actuator moves the inner tube relative to the outer tube, thus adjusting an operational height of the dispensing nozzle.

Containers of the same or different size are filled with a non-viscous fluid at discrete stations, each container being filled independently of each other container. Multiple containers of the same or different size are positioned at multiple discrete stations, each container being at a different station. A non-viscous fluid is flowed into a container to a desired level. The level is sensed with a level sensor and the fluid flow stopped at the desired level. The fluid flow is reversed to prevent fluid dripping when a filled bottle is removed.

A container handling machine, such as a container filling machine or container closing machine, and a method of operation thereof. The abstract of the disclosure is submitted herewith as required by 37 C.F.R. 1.72(b). As stated in 37 C.F.R. 1.72(b): A brief abstract of the technical disclosure in the specification must commence on a separate sheet, preferably following the claims, under the heading Abstract of the Disclosure. The purpose of the abstract is to enable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and gist of the technical disclosure. The abstract shall not be used for interpreting the scope of the claims. Therefore, any statements made relating to the abstract are not intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.

The present invention relates to a machine 1 for filling containers with liquids, comprising:a support structure;a rotating carousel provided with a tank;a plurality of valve groups mounted on said carousel for filling containers; and a logic control unit suitable to automatically manage the operation of the filling machine. Each valve group comprises an air return tube which is provided with an open lower end, susceptible to be inserted in a container, and an opposite upper end and can be moved axially between at least one lowered position and a raised position. Each valve group comprises: means for guiding the axial movement of the return air tube between a lower end stop and an upper end stop, wherein said at least one lowered position is between said two end stops; elastic mechanical means suitable to exercise constantly an axial thrust action on the return air tube towards the raised position;means for reversibly blocking the return air tube in any axial position between said lower end stop and said upper end stop; anda cam follower rigidly connected to the tube. The filling machine comprises a cam which is placed peripherally to the rotating carousel at a first angular position 1 with respect to an entry station to be cyclically engaged by the cam follower. The cam is profiled so as to impose on each tube a predetermined axial displacement H towards the lower end stop and has a circumferentially limited operating angle of working . The filling machine 1 comprises means for moving the cam in height. The logic control unit is operatively connected to the means for moving the cam in height and to the reversible blocking means of each return air tube and is programmed:to command the blocking of the blocking means when the individual tube is located within the operating angle of working of the cam to keep the return air tube in the lowered position, andto command the unblocking of the reversible blocking means of each individual air return tube at a second angular position chosen as a function of the filling operating cycle to be performed on the containers.

A container-filling method includes executing a learning phase by starting a filling operation with a filling parameter that was used to start filling of a another product. The learning phase includes the filling element and saving relationships between a filling parameter, such as expected filling time or foam formation, and a value indicative of that filling parameter. The method includes comparing a saved target with this value to see a termination criterion has been achieved. If not, the filling parameter is varied in response to instructions provided by a simulator and the process repeated.

The present disclosure provides an improved system and related methods for automatic container filling. Combining the use of proximity sensors for real-time monitoring of container fill level and an electromechanical apparatus for regulating the position of a reversibly-extensible member of a conveying chute enables control over key aspects of article delivery to the container, the container filling process, the odds of article breakage during filling and the non-uniformity of mass distribution. Changing the position of the reversibly-extensible member changes the length of the chute bed, the freefall trajectory of articles diverted in the chute to the container, and impulse of the articles as they strike a surface of a heap of articles in the container.

A method for operating a filling system with first and second filling points is disclosed. The first filling point has a first unit for controlling and monitoring the filling of the first filling point. The second filling point has a second unit for controlling and monitoring the filling of the second filling point. The first and second units are connected via a communication channel. In an operating state, the first filling point switches to diagnostic mode. The first unit reports the diagnostic start to the second unit. The first unit outputs substitute flow rate or level values. The second unit transmits a deviation message to the first unit in the event of a deviation of the current flow or level value from an expected value. After receipt of the deviation message, the first unit interrupts diagnostic mode and switches to normal operation or outputs corrected substitute flow or level values.

An apparatus for filling containers comprises a nozzle for establishing fluid communication with a container, a filling line extending between the nozzle and a source of a product fluid, a filling valve in the filling line, an auxiliary line extending from the nozzle to a drain, and a drain isolation valve in the auxiliary line; further comprising at least one additive line which extends from a junction with the auxiliary line between the nozzle and the drain valve to an additive fluid source; and a dosing valve in the auxiliary line between the nozzle and the at least one additive line, which permits a predetermined volume of additive fluid to flow through the auxiliary line to the nozzle.