A filler cam apparatus having an upward directing portion and an insert member. The upward directing portion having a generally circular configuration, and includes a main body with an upper cam surface extending therealong. The upwardly directing portion includes at least one insert slot. The insert member is releasably attachable to the main body, positionable in the insert slot. The insert member has a body defining a base, an outer surface and an inner surface. The base of the insert member interfaces with the base of the main body. The insert member further includes an upper cam surface including an entry and an exit and a central valley. The entry and exit correspond to opposing portions of the upper cam surface of the main body on either side of the at least one insert slot, with the central valley defining a downward depth.

A container filling machine is provided having one or more filling units. The filling units have a valve actuator assembly having a first end moveably connected to the filling machine to effect both lateral movement and reciprocating longitudinal movement; and a valve connected to a second end of the valve actuator assembly, such that longitudinal movement of the valve actuator assembly actuates the valve to open and fill a container. The filling machine has alternating filling units each comprising a different valve dedicated for a particular variety of container. A method is also taught for filling one or more types of containers with a liquid. The method includes the steps of feeding a stream of alternating types of containers to a filling machine, said filling machine comprising one or more travelling filling units, each filling unit comprising a valve actuator, and a valve; associating each of said alternating types of containers with a filling unit wherein said valve is dedicated for a particular variety of container; actuating said valve actuator as it travels along the filling machine to actuate said valve; actuating said valve to fill said associated container; and disengaging each of said alternating types of containers from said filling unit. A container filling unit adapted for filling one or more types of containers is further taught.

A unit for carrying out an operation on a container fillable with a pourable product is disclosed. The unit comprises: a first area; a second area; at least one operative head, which is adapted to carry out the operation; at least one gripping device for gripping the container and which is movable between a rest position, in which the at least one gripping device receives or discharges the container; and an operative position, in which the at least one gripping device sets the container in a position in which the container undergoes the operation. The unit further comprises: a movable element, which is operatively connected to the at least one gripping device for moving the at least one gripping device between the rest position and the operative position, and which comprises a portion movable between the first area and the second area; and a bellow.

A container filling machine is taught, said machine comprising one or more filling units, said filling units comprising a valve actuator assembly having a first end moveably connected to the filling machine to effect both lateral movement and reciprocating longitudinal movement; from a second end of the valve actuator assembly; and a valve removably connected to a second end of the valve actuator assembly, such that longitudinal movement of the valve actuator assembly actuates the valve to open and filler a container, wherein the valve is adapted to fill a plurality of varieties of containers. A method is also taught for filling one or more types of containers with a liquid. The method comprises feeding a stream of one more types of containers to a filling machine, said filling machine comprising one or more travelling filling units, each filling unit comprising a valve actuator, and a valve; associating each of said one or more types of containers with a filling unit; actuating said valve actuator as it travels along the filling machine to actuate said valve; actuating said valve to fill said associated container; and de-associating each of said one or more types of containers from said filling unit. Said one or more valves are adapted to fill one or more types of containers. A container filling unit adapted for filling one or more types of containers is further taught.

An apparatus for processing containers having a transport device which transports the containers to be processed along a predefined transport path has at least one processing device which is configured to process a container in a predefined manner, wherein the apparatus has a movement device, having at least one first guide cam and at least one guide roller which is configured to roll relative to the guide cam. The apparatus also has a detection device which is configured to detect at least one measurement value which is characteristic of a running property of the guide roller relative to the guide cam, and an evaluation device which is configured to evaluate this detected measurement value taking into account at least one further operating value characteristic of the operation of the apparatus.