EP0515960A1 - Method and apparatus for filling bottles, cans or similar containers - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for filling containers with a liquid material, and to a filling apparatus for carrying out this method, which has a multiplicity of filling elements (8) forming filling points. At least one filling point (8M) is provided with a flowmeter which interacts with a control device. The control device generates a control value based on the measured data supplied by the flowmeter, which control value is used to control the filling points (8S) which do not have flowmeters. <IMAGE>

Description

The invention relates to a method for filling bottles, cans or the like. Container according to the preamble of claim 1 and to a filling machine for performing this method according to the preamble of claim 17.

A method for filling bottles, cans or the like. Container or for controlling a corresponding filling machine (DE-OS 33 35 260) is known, in which (method) the filling of a predetermined quantity of product in bottles is controlled in that each filling point Flow meter is assigned. This flow meter provides a measured value which is proportional to the quantity of filling material which has flowed into the respective bottle during the filling phase. In a control device, this measured value is compared with a target value. The filling phase is ended by closing the existing liquid valve when the measured value supplied by the flow meter is equal to the actual value.

In this known method or in this known filling machine, a flow meter is assigned to each filling element or each filling section. If a central control device is used, this means that, in particular when the filling machine in question is operating at high capacity, a large number of data have to be generated and processed in short time intervals. Such a central control device must therefore be designed to be extremely powerful. In addition to the already high costs that result from the use of a separate flow meter for each filling point, an expensive central control device is therefore also required. Instead of a central control device, a decentralized control of the individual filling elements could also take place in the known case by assigning a separate control device to each filling element for the target / actual value control. This also means high costs due to a high expenditure on control electronics. Furthermore Such a decentralized control makes it difficult to enter and / or take into account common parameters for improving or optimizing the filling process.

The object of the invention is to further develop a method or a filling machine of the type mentioned at the outset such that a substantial reduction in the control effort is possible while maintaining the basic advantages of the prior art.

To achieve this object, a method according to the characterizing part of patent claim 1 and a device according to the characterizing part of patent claim 17 are formed.

In the invention, a filling point with a flow meter in the product path is assigned at least one filling point which does not have such a flow meter, a control value being derived from the filling time determined for the filling point (master filling point) with the flow meter until the predetermined quantity of filling material has been reached , which determines the opening time of the assigned filling point (slave filling point) without a flow meter, so that the number of information generated per unit of time can be halved even with only one slave filling point assigned to a master filling point. This results in a significant simplification not only in terms of circuitry (hardware), but above all also with regard to data processing and / or data management. The invention is based, inter alia, on the knowledge that, with the same design of the filling elements, filling at the slave filling points, despite the flow measurement not carried out there, is just as precise as at the master filling point with the flow measurement, since all filling elements can be designed identically and within the period in which the control value or the opening time are determined and the opening and closing the slave filling point is so short that changes in the filling parameters which impair the filling result cannot occur or become effective.

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

Fig. 1

in vereinfachter, schematischer Darstellung und in Draufsicht eine Füllmaschine gemäß der Erfindung, und zwar in Form einer Dosen-Füllmaschine mit mehreren am Umfang eines umlaufenden Maschinenteils vorgesehenen Füllelementen, von denen ein Teil Leit-oder Master-Füllstellen und ein Teil Folge- bzw. Slave-Füllstellen bildet;

Fig. 2

in vereinfachter Darstellung einen Schnitt durch die Maschine nach Fig. 1;

Fig. 3

in vereinfachter Darstellung und im Längsschnitt eines der Füllelemente, zusammen mit einer unter diesem Füllelement angeordneten Dose.

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

Fig. 1

in a simplified, schematic representation and in plan view a filling machine according to the invention, specifically in the form of a can filling machine with a plurality of filling elements provided on the circumference of a rotating machine part, of which some are master or master filling points and some are followers or slaves -Fills forms;

Fig. 2

in a simplified representation, a section through the machine according to FIG. 1;

Fig. 3

in a simplified representation and in longitudinal section of one of the filling elements, together with a can arranged under this filling element.

The embodiment shown in the figures is a counter-pressure filling machine for filling the cans 1 with a carbonated liquid filling material (e.g. beer). The empty cans 1 are fed to the filling machine or an inlet of this machine formed by a transport star 2 via a conveyor 3. The filled cans leave the filling machine at an outlet or via a transport star 4 provided there and are discharged via a conveyor 5 to a subsequent sealing machine in accordance with the division.

In the usual way, each can 1 arrives at the inlet (via the transport star 2) on one of the standing surfaces 7 provided on a ring 6, in such a way that each is on a Stand area 7 with its base standing up 1 is below a filling element 8. The ring 6 forms a lower part of the rotor of the filling machine rotating around a vertical machine axis MA in the direction of the arrow C. The filling elements 8 are provided at uniform spacing intervals on a machine part 9 which is arranged above the ring 6 and also revolves around the vertical machine axis and which essentially consists of an annular bowl 10 and an annular flange 11 which projects radially outward from this ring bowl 10 with respect to the machine axis MA is formed, on which in addition to the filling elements 8 there is also a clamping gas channel 12 and a relief or venting channel 13 forming ring 14, the latter concentrically enclosing the ring bowl 10 and directly with a control block 15 of the filling elements 8 or provided there Connections for the span gas or for the discharge is connected. Each filling element 8, which is fastened to the control block 15 on the underside of the flange 11, has a housing 16 consisting of several parts with a liquid channel 17, which in the lower part of the housing 16 is essentially concentric with a vertical filling element axis running parallel to the machine axis MA VA is formed and forms part of the product or filling path. In the area of its upper, closed end, the liquid channel 17 has an inlet opening 18 for supplying the liquid filling material. At the lower end of the housing 16, the liquid channel 17 forms an outlet opening 19, through which the liquid filling material flows in when the respective can 1 is filled. Provided in the liquid channel 17 is also a valve body 21 which forms the liquid valve 20 and has an annular sealing surface 22 which, when the liquid valve 20 is closed, bears with this sealing surface 22 in a sealed manner against a valve surface 23 formed by the outer surface of the liquid channel 17. 3 shows the liquid valve 20 in the open position in which the liquid filling material of the can 1 to be filled can flow in via the liquid channel 17 and the annular outlet opening 19 surrounding the lower end of the valve body 21. By Lowering the valve body 21 in the direction of the filling element axis VA, the liquid valve 20 is closed. The valve body 21 is formed at the lower end of a tappet 24 which is arranged coaxially with the filler element axis VA and is guided above the liquid channel 17 and sealed against this liquid channel in the housing 16 in the direction of the filler element axis VA. The upper end of the plunger 24 interacts with an actuator with which, in the embodiment shown, the liquid valve 20 can be moved from the open position shown in FIG. 3 against the action of a spring 25 into a closed position. In the embodiment shown, this actuator is a pneumatic piston-cylinder arrangement with a piston 26 and a control chamber 27 formed in the interior of the housing 16, which is delimited on one side by the piston 26 which can be displaced in the direction of the filling element axis VA. Via the control block 15, the control chamber 27 of each filling element 8 can be acted upon by compressed air or a pneumatic pressure for closing the liquid valve 20, specifically controlled by a pneumatic unit or by an electrically actuated control valve 28. Such a control valve 28 is provided for each filling element 8 , namely above the respective filling element 8 on the upper side of the flange 11. The respective control valve 28 is supplied with compressed air via a control or compressed air line 29.

On a cylindrical, circular-cylindrical section 16 'at the lower end of the housing 16, a ring 30 enclosing this section 16' is sealingly slidably displaceable in the direction of the filling element axis VA. The ring 30, which is connected to prevent rotation against the lower end of a parallel to the filling element axis VA and displaceably guided in the housing 16 guide rod 31, has on its lower end face a sealing ring 32 surrounding the ring opening there, which is used to pretension and fill a can 1 against the edge 1 ' pressed against. The usual roller 33, which interacts with a stationary guide curve, is provided on the guide rod 31 for lifting the ring 30.

In the interior of the tappet 24, a channel 34 is formed, which is open at the lower end of the valve body 21 projecting beyond the outlet opening 19, specifically via the opening of an interchangeable throttle or nozzle 35 provided there. The other end of the channel 34 is connected to the control valve device or slide control formed in the control block 15, which is provided in a manner known per se in the case of filling elements with a control cam 36 which interacts with stationary switching or actuating members when the machine part 9 rotates, in such a way that during the the actual filling phase of the prestressing of the respective can 1, which rests against the sealing ring 32 with its edge 1 ′ and is sealed against the sealing ring 32, the tension gas is supplied, while the canal 34 serves as a return gas passage during filling and at the end of the filling to relieve the respective can 1.

For purging the cans 1 or the interior of these cans with an inert gas, e.g. CO₂ gas, each filling element 8 still has a channel 37, which has an outlet opening for this inert gas at the lower end of the housing 16. This pre-purging by means of inert gas is also controlled by the slide control formed in the control block 15 via the control cams 36 and the associated stationary actuating elements.

Most of the identically designed filling elements 8 are connected with their inlet opening 18 directly to an outlet 38, which is provided in each case in the region of the bottom of the ring bowl 10 filled up to a predetermined level N with the liquid filling material. Some of the filling elements 8 are connected at their inlet 18 via a flow meter 39 to the corresponding outlet 38 of the ring bowl 10. The flow meters 39, which are inductive flow meters in the embodiment shown, deliver via Measuring or data lines 40 are electrical signals S1, the value of which corresponds to the flow rate, ie the volume of liquid medium flowing through the relevant flow meter 39 per unit of time. These electrical signals or measurement data are, for example, counting pulses, each of which corresponds to a specific volume unit, or else digital values supplied by a counter of the respective flow meter 39. With the data lines 40, the flow meters 39 are connected to a central control and regulating device 41 which, for example, has a program-controlled microprocessor device or is part of a computer system and is arranged on the rotating machine part 9.

As shown in FIG. 1, the filling elements 8 provided with the flow meter 39 and forming control or master filling points 8 _{M are} provided distributed at uniform angular intervals a around the machine axis MA, in such a way that between two rotating or direction of rotation C of the machine successive filling elements 8 with flow meter 39 a plurality of filling elements 8 are provided, to which no flow meter 39 is assigned. These filling elements 8 without a flow meter 39 form subsequent or slave filling points 8 _S. In the embodiment shown, eight such slave filling stations 8 _S are each assigned to a master filling station 8 _M , the latter each forming a group of eight filling stations 8 _S. For reasons explained in more detail below, the assignment is made in such a way that each master filling point 8 _{M is assigned} that group of slave filling points 8 _S which, in relation to the direction of rotation C, is at least one angular distance a, preferably several angular distances a Master filling point 8 _M follows or lags. In this sense, the master filling point 8 _{M1 is assigned to} the slave filling point 8 _S1 .

The control device 41 has a large number of control outputs, each of which is connected via a control line 42 to a control valve 28 and controls this control valve.

The figures also show a pipe 43 for supplying the clamping gas into the annular clamping gas channel 12, a pipe 44 connected to the annular relief channel 13 and a pipe 45 which opens into the space of the ring bowl 10 formed above the mirror or level N. and through which the displaced return gas is fed into this space of the ring bowl during filling.

The operation of the filling machine can be described as follows:
After the transfer of a can 1 by means of the transport star 2 to a filling point 8 or 8 _S formed by a filling element 8, when the machine or the rotor rotates, it initially takes place in an angular range of the rotary movement designated I in FIG. 1 after a possible Pre-rinsing and lowering the respective ring 30 onto the can 1 to be filled, pretensioning this can 1 with the tension gas. After this pretensioning has been completed, at the end of the angular range I, after the slide control provided in the control block 15 has been appropriately switched over, the control cam 36, which starts against a stationary control element, releases or prepares the filling phase by means of the control device 41 provided with II designated angular range of the rotary movement of the machine part 9. The liquid valve 20 of the respective filling element 8 is closed until the angular range II is reached, ie the control chamber 27 of this filling element 8 is acted upon by the control pressure. Whenever a filling element 8 filled with a can 1 reaches the beginning of the angular range II, the control device 41, via the associated control line 42, actuates the control valve 28 assigned to this filling element 8 in the sense of opening the liquid valve 20, that is to say actuated in such a way that the connection of the control chamber 27 to the control compressed air is interrupted and this control chamber is vented to the atmosphere. After an opening time T 'specified by the control device 41 has elapsed, the Dedicated line 42 again actuates the control valve 28 in the sense of closing the liquid valve of the filling element 8 under consideration. The opening time T 'is set such that the liquid valve 20 of the filling element 8 under consideration is already closed before this filling element reaches the end of the angular range II. In the subsequent angular range III, after appropriate actuation of the slide control provided in control block 15, the respective filled can 1 is relaxed and the filling element 8 or ring 30 is pulled off the filled can.

In the embodiment shown, the opening time T ', which is necessary for filling the respective can 1 with the desired quantity of filling material, is determined by the control device 41 on the basis of the measurement data S1 supplied by the flow meters 39 via the measurement lines 40, that is to say one considered Filling point around a master filling point 8 _M , after opening the liquid valve or after correspondingly controlling the control valve 28, the amount of liquid filling material flowing through the associated flow meter 39 is monitored by the control device 41 and with a predetermined or preselected setpoint for the quantity of product to be filled into cans 1 is compared. As soon as the quantity of filling material measured by the flow meter 39 corresponds to the desired value, the control device 41 closes the liquid valve 20 of the filling element 8 of the master filling point 8 _M under consideration by corresponding actuation of the control valve 28. The total opening time of the liquid valve 20 of the master filling filling stations 8 _M-8 slave _S stored as a control value or fill time T for the filling elements 8 of the considered master filling 8 _M associated. Whenever such a slave filling point 8 _{S has reached} the beginning of the angular range II, the liquid valve 20 of this slave filling point 8 _{S is opened} over a period of time that is equal to this filling time T. The filling time T stored in the control device 41 applies in each case to that assigned to a master filling point 8 _M with respect to the direction of rotation C Filling machine following slave filling stations 8 _S , so that a filling time T is stored for each master filling station 8 _M and the associated slave filling stations 8 _S.

In principle, however, it is also possible that only a single filling time T is stored in the storage device 41, which applies to all slave filling points 8 _S following a master filling point 8 _M , and each taking into account that of the flow meter 39 of a master -Filling point 8 _M supplied measurement data is updated, namely from the measurement data S1, which are delivered after the closing of the liquid valve 20 from that master filling point 8 _M , which at a certain point in time in the angular range II is the last master in relation to the direction of rotation C. -Filling point 8 _M with the liquid valve 20 closed again.

Regardless of whether several filling times T for the individual master filling stations 8 _M and the associated slave filling stations 8 _{S are} each stored separately or only a single filling time T updated in the manner described above, it is advantageous that before commissioning the Filling machine, the filling times T or control values are preselected or preset in accordance with the desired quantity of product, and these filling times or control values are then only corrected or updated on the basis of the signals S1 supplied by the flow meters 39.

For entering the initial values of the filling time or filling times T or for entering the desired quantity of filling material, from which the control device 41 then automatically determines an initial value for the filling time T, and for entering further parameters or data S3 required for controlling the filling machine Control device 41 is connected to an input device or keyboard 46.

The control device 41 is also connected via a data line 47 to a signal transmitter 48 which, as data S4, the respective rotational position of the machine or of the ring 6 and the machine part 9 formed rotor and the rotational speed as electrical data S4 transmitted to the control device 41.

In particular, also taking into account the data S4 supplied by the signal generator 48, control is also possible such that the control device 41 delivers a signal S5 at an output if, within a predetermined angular range of the rotary movement of the machine, e.g. within the angular range II, or within a predetermined maximum limit for the filling time, an actual value corresponding to the desired quantity of filling material for the signal S1 cannot be achieved. With the signal S5, for example, the speed of rotation of the machine is then reduced and / or the level N of the liquid filling material in the ring bowl 10 is increased and / or the filling pressure is increased and / or other parameters are changed such that the output on the individual filling elements 8 per unit of time changes Amount of liquid filling increased.

In order to be able to carry out the described control of the filling machine with the required accuracy with regard to the quantity of product filled into the cans 1, it is particularly necessary that all the filling elements 8 ensure the same inflow speed for the liquid product into the cans 1 to be filled. Since the respective filling speed is also dependent on the resistance in the return gas path, an adjustable throttle point is provided in the illustrated embodiment in the return gas path of these filling elements 8 in order to compare the filling speeds of the individual filling elements 8, which is formed by the exchangeable nozzle 35.

In addition to an adjustable throttle point in the return gas path or instead of this, in principle an adjustable throttle point can also be provided in the product path.

The invention has been described above using an exemplary embodiment. It is understood that changes and modifications are possible without thereby the invention underlying inventive concept is left. For example, instead of having a large number of master filling points 8 _{M, it is} possible to provide only one such filling point, with which the filling time is then also determined or corrected or updated in each case for all other filling points. Furthermore, it is also possible, on the basis of the signal S1 supplied by a flow meter 39, to determine additional times in addition to the filling time T, for example times at which a change in the inflow rate of the liquid during filling by means of corresponding control signals to the filling elements 8 Filling is done.

In principle, it is possible to use a correction value when opening and closing the liquid valves 20 of the filling elements 8, which takes into account changes in the influencing variables on the flow rate and which, together with the determined control value or the determined filling time T, provides the opening time T '. A signal can also be used as a correction value, for example, which a test device 50 supplies at the outlet of the filling machine. This test device is, for example, a weighing device or a device for measuring the level in the filled cans 1.

In principle, the filling machine can also be controlled in such a way that the control values or filling times T of a previous circulation are used for each revolution of the machine or of the machine part 9. In this case in particular, it is possible for the respective master filling point 8 _{M to be assigned} the slave filling points 8 _S which lag immediately with respect to the direction of rotation C.

List of the reference numerals used

1

Can

1'

edge

2nd

Transport star

3rd

carrier

4th

Transport star

5

carrier

6

ring

7

Footprint

8th

Filling element

8 _sts

Master filling station

8 _p

Slave filling point

9

Machine part

10th

Ring bowl

11

flange

12

Tension gas duct

13

Relief channel

14

ring

15

Control block

16

casing

16 '

Housing section

17th

Liquid channel

18th

Inlet opening

19th

Outlet opening

20th

Liquid valve

21

Valve body

22

poetry

23

Valve surface

24th

Pestle

25th

feather

26

piston

27th

Tax chamber

28

Control valve

29

Compressed air line

30th

ring

31

Guide rod

32

Sealing ring

33

role

34

channel

35

jet

36

Control cam

37

channel

38

Outlet

39

Flow meter

40

Data line

41

Control device

42

Control line

43

Pipeline

44

Pipeline

45

Pipeline

46

Input device

47

Data line

48

Signal generator

49

exit

50

Test facility

I, II, III

Angular range

Claims (38)

Method for filling bottles, cans or the like. Containers with a predetermined amount of a liquid filling material, using a filling machine with several filling points (8 _M , 8 _S ), each with a filling element (8) which is controlled by an actuating device (28) Liquid valve (20) in at least part of a filling or. Product path forming liquid channel (17) with a discharge or outlet opening (19) through which the liquid contents during the filling phase with the liquid valve (20) open to the container (1) positioned under the filling element (8), and with one the actuating device (28) of the filling elements (8) cooperating electrical control device (41), which for completing the filling phase as a function of a measured value (S1) supplied by a flow meter (39) in the product path, which of the container (1) via the relevant one Filling element (8) actually corresponds to the quantity of filling material that has flowed in, and, taking into account the predetermined quantity to be filled into the containers (1), emits a signal to the respective actuating element (28) that causes the liquid valve (20) to close, characterized in that the at least a filling element (8), to which the flow meter (39) is assigned and which a master filling point (8 _M ) is assigned, at least one further filling element (8) without a flow meter (9, 39) forming a slave filling point (8 _S ) is assigned, and that the control device (41) due to the flow meter (8) 39) the measured value (S1) supplied to the master filling point (8 _M ) determines a control value which corresponds to the filling time (T) which is required at this master filling point (8 _M ) until the predetermined filling quantity is reached, and that the control device (41) opening of the liquid valve of the filling element by means of corresponding control signals (S2) (8) of the at least one assigned slave filling point (8 _S ) during a time period or opening time (T ') derived from this control value. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the control value is the filling time (T). Method according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the control value determined by the control device (41) is equal to the opening time (T ') of the liquid valve (20) of the at least one slave filling point (8 _S ). Method according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the opening time (T ') of the liquid valve (20) of the at least one slave filling point (8 _S ) taking into account a correction value, for example changes in influencing variables of the flow rate of the liquid filling material and / or in a test device (50), deviations from the predetermined quantity of the liquid filling material to be filled into the containers (1) are taken into account, from which the control value (41) is formed. Method according to one of claims 1-4, characterized in that the opening of the liquid valve (20) of the slave filling point (8 _S ) only takes place when the liquid valve (20) of the assigned master filling point (8 _M ) is already closed . Method according to claim 5, characterized in that the opening of the liquid valve (20) of the slave filling point (8 _S ) takes place only after a delay after the closing of the liquid valve (20) of the master filling point (8 _M ). A method according to claim 6, characterized by the use of a circumferential type filling machine with a plurality of filling points (8 _M , 8 _S ) on the circumference one around a vertical machine axis (MA) in a direction of rotation (C) rotating machine part (9) are provided, and that at least one filling point forms a master filling point (8 _M ) and the further filling points slave filling points (8 _S ), the lag the at least one master filling station (8 _M ) assigned slave filling stations (8 _S ) with respect to the direction of rotation (C) to this master filling station (8 _M ). Method according to claim 7, characterized in that at least two master filling points (8 _M ) are provided distributed on the circumference of the machine part (9) at predetermined angular intervals (a), preferably at equally large angular intervals (a), and that between the master Filling points (8 _M ) each at least one slave filling point (8 _S ) is used. Method according to Claim 8, characterized in that the at least one assigned slave filling point (8 _S ) immediately follows each master filling point (8 _M ). Method according to Claim 8, characterized in that the at least one slave filling point (8 _S ) assigned to a master filling point (8 _M ) are offset by at least one angular distance (a). Method according to one of claims 1-10, characterized in that the control device (41) determines the control value (T) taking into account further filling parameters, such as, for example, filling pressure, type and temperature of the liquid filling material, size and shape of the containers. Method according to one of claims 1-11, characterized in that the control device (41) in addition to the at least one control value (T) for controlling the filling elements (8) also further control signals for a Setting and / or changing the inflow speed with which the liquid filling material flows to the respective container during the filling phase. Method according to one of claims 1-12, characterized in that the control device (41) emits an additional control or output signal (S5) when within a predetermined maximum time interval or within a predetermined maximum angular range of the rotary movement of the rotor (9) a measured value corresponding to the predetermined filling quantity is not reached by the flow meter (39) of the at least one master filling point (8 _M ). Method according to one of claims 1-13, characterized by a manual setting or by manual adjustment of the inflow speed with which the liquid filling material flows to the respective container during the filling phase, by adjusting a throttle point in the product path or in the return gas path of the filling elements (8) . Method according to one of claims 1-14, characterized in that in the case of a plurality of master filling points (8 _M ), each with at least one assigned slave filling point (8 _S ), the control device has a separate control value for each master filling point with associated slave filling point ( T) determined. Method according to one of claims 1-14, characterized in that in the case of a plurality of master filling points (8 _M ) each having at least one assigned slave filling point (8 _S ), the control device determines a control value common to all slave filling points and in each case by the Measured value (S1) of the flow meter (39) of the master filling points is updated. Method according to one of claims 7-16, characterized in that the filling phase for the respective filling point (8 _M and 8 _S ) in the presence of a container (1) is necessarily initiated when this filling point has reached a certain angular position during the rotary movement of the rotating machine part (9). Filling machine for filling bottles, cans or similar containers with a predetermined amount of a liquid filling material, with several filling points (8 _M , 8 _S ), each with a filling element (8), which has a liquid valve (20) controlled by an actuating device (28) in at least part of a filling or. Product path forming liquid channel (17) with a delivery or. Has outlet opening (19) through which the liquid filling material flows during the filling phase when the liquid valve (20) is open to the container (1) positioned under the filling element (8), and with an electrical one which interacts with the actuating device (28) of the filling elements (8) Control device (41) for completing the filling phase as a function of a measured value (S1) supplied by a flow meter (39) in the product path, which corresponds to the quantity of filling material actually flowing to the container (1) via the filling element (8) in question, and taking into account the predetermined amount to be filled into the container (1), sends a signal to the respective actuating element (28) to close the liquid valve (20), characterized in that the at least one filling element (8) to which the flow meter (39) is assigned and which forms a master filling station (8 _M ), at least one further one Filling element (8) without flow meter (9, 39) forming slave filling point (8 _S ) is assigned, and that the control device (41) on the basis of the measured value (S1) supplied by the flow meter (39) of the master filling point (8 _M ) determines a control value which corresponds to the filling time (T) which is required at this master filling point (8 _M ) until the predetermined filling quantity is reached, and that the control device (41) opens the liquid valve of the filling element by means of corresponding control signals (S2) (8) of the at least one assigned slave filling point (8 _S ) during a time period or opening time (T ') derived from this control value. Filling machine according to claim 18, characterized in that the control value is the filling time (T). Filling machine according to claim 18 or 19, characterized in that the control value determined by the control device (41) is equal to the opening time (T ') of the liquid valve (20) of the at least one slave filling point (8 _S ). Filling machine according to claim 18 or 19, characterized in that the opening time (T ') of the liquid valve (20) of the at least one slave filling point (8 _S ) taking into account a correction value, for example changes in the influencing variables on the flow rate and / or of Test device (50) at an output of the filling machine takes into account deviations from the predetermined quantity of the liquid filling material to be filled into the containers (1), from which the control value (41) is formed. Filling machine according to one of claims 18 - 21, characterized in that the control device (41) only opens the liquid valve (20) of the slave filling point (8 _S ) when the liquid valve (20) of the assigned master filling point (8 _M ) is already closed. Filling machine according to claim 22, characterized in that the opening of the liquid valve (20) of the slave filling point (8 _S ) takes place only after a delay after the closing of the liquid valve (20) of the master filling point (8 _M ). Filling machine according to claim 23, characterized in that the filling machine is of such a rotating construction with a plurality of filling points (8 _M , 8 _S ) which are arranged on the circumference of a machine part (9) rotating around a vertical machine axis (MA) in a direction of rotation (C) ) are provided, and that at least one filling point forms a master filling point (8 _M ) and the further filling points form slave filling points (8 _S ), the slave filling points (8 _S ) assigned to the at least one master filling point (8 _M ) lag with respect to the direction of rotation (C) on this master filling point (8 _M ). Filling machine according to claim 24, characterized in that at least two master filling points (8 _M ) are provided distributed on the circumference of the machine part (9) at predetermined angular intervals (a), preferably at equally large angular intervals (a), and that between the master Filling points (8 _M ) at least one slave filling point (8 _S ) is provided. Filling machine according to Claim 25, characterized in that the at least one assigned slave filling point (8 _S ) immediately follows each master filling point (8 _M ). Filling machine according to Claim 25, characterized in that the at least one slave filling point (8 _S ) assigned to a master filling point (8 _M ) are offset by at least one angular distance (a). Filling machine according to one of claims 18 to 27, characterized in that the control device (41) determines the control value (T) taking into account further filling parameters, such as filling pressure, type and temperature of the liquid filling material, size and shape of the containers. Filling machine according to one of claims 18 - 28, characterized in that the control device (41) generates, in addition to the at least one control value (T) for the control of the filling elements (8), further control signals for setting and / or changing the inflow speed with which the liquid filling material flows to the respective container during the filling phase. Filling machine according to one of claims 18 - 29, characterized in that the control device (41) emits an additional control or output signal (S5) when within a predetermined maximum time interval or within a predetermined maximum angular range of the rotary movement of the rotor (9) a measured value corresponding to the predetermined filling quantity is not reached by the flow meter (39) of the at least one master filling point (8 _M ). Filling machine according to one of claims 18-30, characterized by means (35) for manual adjustment or for manual adjustment of the inflow speed with which the liquid filling material flows to the respective container during the filling phase. Filling machine according to claim 31, characterized in that an adjustable and / or interchangeable throttle element (35) is provided in the product path and / or in a gas path of each filling element (8). Filling machine according to one of claims 18 - 32, characterized in that in the case of a plurality of master filling stations (8 _M ), each with at least one assigned slave filling station (8 _S ), the control device has a separate control value for each master filling station with associated slave filling station ( T) determined. Filling machine according to one of claims 18 - 33, characterized in that in the case of several master filling points (8 _M ), each with at least one assigned one Slave filling point (8 _S ) determined by the control device a common control value for all slave filling points and updated by the measured value (S1) the flow meter (39) of the master filling points. Filling machine according to one of claims 18 - 34, characterized in that the at least one flow meter (39) is an inductive flow meter. Filling machine according to one of claims 18 - 35, characterized by a pneumatic actuator (26, 27) controlled by the actuating device (28) for the liquid valve (20) of the respective filling element. Filling machine according to claim 36, characterized in that the actuating device is formed by at least one electrically controllable pneumatic valve (28). Filling machine according to one of claims 18 - 36, characterized in that for the respective filling point (8 _M and 8 _S ), in the presence of a container, the filling phase is inevitably initiated when this filling point has reached a predetermined angular position during the rotating movement of the rotating machine part.

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