Filling machine and method configured to fill a container with a pourable product
By sending an opening signal in advance before the filling device receives the container, the problem of filling valve delay is solved, an efficient filling process is achieved, product overflow is avoided and the nominal filling angle is maintained, it can adapt to different container sizes, and machine adjustment is simplified.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Patents(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- SIDEL PARTICIPATIONS SAS
- Filing Date
- 2022-03-31
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-05
AI Technical Summary
In existing filling machines, the filling valve has a long opening transient due to the inertia of mechanical components and the delay in control power, which leads to product overflow and a reduction in the nominal filling angle, thus affecting production output.
By sending an opening control signal in advance before the filling device receives the container, the delay of the filling valve is compensated by the advance time, ensuring that the filling valve opens immediately when the container arrives, regaining the transient opening angle, and maintaining the nominal filling angle.
It effectively prevents product spillage, maintains the nominal fill angle, adapts to containers of different sizes, simplifies the structural adjustment of filling machines, and improves the flexibility and efficiency of the filling process.
Smart Images
Figure CN115196569B_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates to a filling machine (particularly a non-contact filling machine) configured to fill containers with pourable products (preferably pourable food).
[0002] The present invention also relates to a method for filling containers with pourable products (preferably pourable food products) (particularly filling containers in a non-contact manner). Background Technology
[0003] Filling machines are known to be configured to fill containers (e.g., bottles, jars, pots, jugs, or the like) with pourable products (preferably pourable foods such as water, wine, juice, yogurt, honey, milk, beer, soft drinks, canned vegetables such as peas or beans; powders such as sugar, ground coffee or salt; or the like).
[0004] Such filling machines typically include a conveyor, which is usually rotary, typically in the form of a turntable that can rotate about a vertical axis; a reservoir that holds the pourable product; and multiple filling devices carried around the periphery of the turntable, which are connected to the reservoir via corresponding loops or pipes (and through manifolds) and conveyed by the turntable itself along an arc-shaped filling path.
[0005] More precisely, during use, the container to be filled is fed to the turntable at its input station, typically through an inlet star wheel; it is then conveyed along an arc-shaped filling path that defines a filling angle relative to the turntable axis so that it can be filled with a pourable product by a corresponding filling device; and then, at its output station, it leaves the turntable, typically through an outlet star wheel.
[0006] Therefore, the input station defines the starting point of the fill corner (and the fill path), and the output station defines the ending point of the fill corner (and thus the fill path).
[0007] Each filling device typically includes:
[0008] - A filling valve configured to feed a predetermined volume of pourable product into a corresponding container, while the filling device moves along the filling path due to the rotation of the turntable; and
[0009] - A support element suitable for receiving and holding a corresponding container in a vertical position below the valve itself.
[0010] In a non-contact filling valve, the axial outlet opening of the tubular body is spaced apart from the end opening of the corresponding container to be filled during filling.
[0011] Despite their functional effectiveness, the aforementioned types of filling machines still require further improvement.
[0012] In particular, it is known that filled valves operate with an inherent delay due to the unavoidable inertia of their mechanical components. Furthermore, part of this delay is also attributed to the power used to control such valves, for example, pneumatic power in the case of pneumatic valves.
[0013] These effects, especially after prolonged use or under certain conditions, can result in a relatively long opening transient for the filling valve. This often leads to product overflow, particularly in the case of non-contact filling valves, and results in a reduction in the nominal filling angle, which can have undesirable effects on expected production volumes. Summary of the Invention
[0014] Therefore, one object of the present invention is to provide a filling machine that is designed to overcome at least one of the above-mentioned drawbacks in a simple and low-cost manner.
[0015] This objective is achieved by a filling machine as described below. A filling machine (1) configured to fill a container (2) with a pourable product, the filling machine (1) comprising:
[0016] - Conveyor (3), the machine (1) is configured such that the conveyor receives containers (2) to be filled in sequence at its input station (I), advances the received containers (2) in sequence along the filling path, and releases the filled containers (2) in sequence at its output station (O).
[0017] - A plurality of filling devices (4) carried by the conveyor (3), each filling device (4) including a corresponding filling valve and configured to convey the product to at least one container (2) to be filled at one time during the advance of at least one container to be filled along the filling path and through the corresponding filling valve in the open position, the filling valve of each filling device being controllable between a corresponding open position and a corresponding closed position;
[0018] - Control unit (8); wherein the machine (1) is configured such that, for each filling device (4):
[0019] - When the filling device (4) is at the input station I, the filling device (4) cyclically receives at least one container (2) to be filled;
[0020] - A time prior to the filling device (4) receiving the at least one container to be filled, the control unit (8) cyclically sends an opening control signal to trigger the opening of the corresponding filling valve.
[0021] Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for filling a container with a pourable product, which is designed to overcome at least one of the above-mentioned disadvantages in a simple and low-cost manner.
[0022] This objective is achieved by a method for filling a container as described below. The filling method for filling a container (2) with a pourable product includes:
[0023] - Receive containers (2) to be filled in sequence at the input station (I), advance the received containers (2) in sequence along the filling path, and release the filled containers (2) in sequence at the output station (O);
[0024] - Multiple filling devices (4) are carried in sequence, each filling device (4) including a corresponding filling valve;
[0025] - The product is conveyed to at least one container (2) to be filled at one time by each filling device (4), the conveying being performed during the advance of the at least one container to be filled along the filling path and by the corresponding filling valve in the open position, the filling valve of each filling device being controllable between a corresponding open position and a corresponding closed position; and wherein, for each filling device (4),
[0026] - The filling device (4) cyclically receives at least one container (2) to be filled at the input station (I);
[0027] - A lead time before the filling device (4) receives the at least one container to be filled, the method includes cyclically sending an opening control signal to trigger the opening of the corresponding filling valve. Attached Figure Description
[0028] Non-limiting embodiments of the invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
[0029] Figure 1 This is a schematic top view of a filling machine according to the present invention, wherein some parts have been omitted for clarity;
[0030] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A schematic top view of the filling machine during the first operating condition, with some parts removed for clarity;
[0031] Figure 3A and 3B yes Figure 1 A magnified schematic top view of the filling machine during two other different operating conditions, with some parts removed for clarity. Detailed Implementation
[0032] The filling machine 1 is configured to fill container 2 with a pourable product.
[0033] Container 2 can be a bottle, jar, pot, jug, or similar item made of plastic or glass. The pourable product can be, for example, pourable foods such as water, wine, juice, yogurt, honey, milk, beer, soft drinks, vegetables to be canned; powders such as sugar, coffee, or salt; or similar items.
[0034] The filling machine 1 includes a conveyor 3. The machine 1 is configured such that the conveyor 3 sequentially receives containers 2 to be filled at its input station I. The machine 1 is configured such that the conveyor 3 sequentially advances the received containers 2 along a filling path. The machine 1 is configured such that the conveyor 3 sequentially releases the filled containers 2 at its output station O.
[0035] Machine 1 includes multiple filling devices 4. The filling devices 4 are carried by conveyor 3. Each filling device 4 includes a corresponding filling valve. Each filling device 4 is configured to convey product to at least one container 2 to be filled in one pass. The conveying is performed by the corresponding filling valve in an open position during the advancement of the at least one container to be filled along the filling path. For each filling device, the filling valve can be controlled between a corresponding open position and a corresponding closed position. Each filling device 4 can be configured for contact filling, meaning that the filling device 4 is configured such that conveying can be performed through contact between the filling valve and the at least one container to be filled. Alternatively or additionally, each filling device 4 can be configured for non-contact filling, meaning that the filling device 4 is configured such that conveying can be performed without contact between the filling valve and the at least one container to be filled.
[0036] The conveyor 3 is configured to undergo a closed movement in a cyclic manner. The machine 1 is configured such that for each filling device 4, each repetition of the closed movement of the conveyor corresponds to a filling cycle. For each filling device 4, each filling cycle corresponds to the filling of at least one corresponding container 2 by the filling device 4.
[0037] From now on, “cyclically” means “each repetition of the closed movement of the conveyor” and / or “each filling cycle”.
[0038] Conveyor 3 includes a turntable that can rotate about longitudinal axis A. Filling devices 4 are carried by the turntable and are distributed at an angle about longitudinal axis A.
[0039] For each filling device 4, each filling cycle corresponds to one revolution or one wheel of the turntable 3.
[0040] like Figure 1 As can be seen, the filling machine 1 also includes an inlet conveyor, preferably a first star wheel 6, adapted to feed a series of empty containers 2 to a turntable 3 at an input station I; and an outlet conveyor, preferably a second star wheel 7, adapted to receive filled containers 2 from the turntable 3 at an output station O.
[0041] Specifically, the first star wheel 6 and the second star wheel 7 can rotate about corresponding rotation axes A' and A” that are substantially parallel to axis A.
[0042] In view of the above, the input station I and the output station O define two angular positions, and each filling device 4 cyclically passes through these angular positions due to the rotation of the turntable 3 around axis A.
[0043] The input station I and the output station O are spaced apart at an angle to each other and define a filling angle relative to the longitudinal axis A, along which the container 2 can be filled by the corresponding filling device 4.
[0044] Machine 1 is configured such that for each filling device 4, when the filling device 4 is at the input station I, the filling device 4 cyclically receives at least one container 2 to be filled.
[0045] Accordingly, turntable 3 and the first inlet star wheel 6 rotate synchronously around their respective axes A and A', so that the above conditions are followed for each filling cycle.
[0046] The filling machine 1 also includes a control unit 8. The machine 1 is configured such that the control unit 8 controls the turntable 3, the first star wheel 6, and the second star wheel 7 to rotate synchronously about axes A, A', and A'', respectively. The filling machine is configured such that the control unit 8 controls the filling valve of each filling device 4 to be between a corresponding open position and a corresponding closed position.
[0047] Machine 1 is configured such that, for each filling device 4, control unit 8 cyclically sends an opening control signal to trigger the opening of the corresponding filling valve a time advance before the filling device 4 receives at least one container. Opening means that the filling valve moves from the closed position to the open position.
[0048] Accordingly, machine 1 is configured such that for each filling device 4, the filling device 4 receives a corresponding opening control signal cyclically with the aforementioned advance time.
[0049] It is known in the industry that filling valves operate with an inherent delay due to the unavoidable inertia of their mechanical components. Furthermore, part of this delay is also attributable to the power used to control such valves, such as pneumatic power in the case of pneumatic valves.
[0050] These effects, especially after prolonged use, can result in a relatively long opening transient for the filling valve. This can lead to product overflow, particularly in the case of non-contact filling valves, and a reduction in the nominal filling angle, which can have an undesirable impact on expected production volumes.
[0051] In filling machine 1, the filling angle can be better utilized because the lead time compensates for the transients of each filling valve. In fact, the lead time can cover at least a portion of the time delay between the moment the opening signal is issued and the moment the product begins to be fed or conveyed by the filling valve.
[0052] The signal travels at the speed of light and is received almost instantly upon transmission.
[0053] In fact, between the moment when the control unit 8 issues the open signal and the effective moment when the pourable product flows out of the filling valve of the corresponding filling device 4 and into the container 2, the filling device 4 has already completed a certain angle caused by the aforementioned inherent delay, namely the transient opening angle.
[0054] Due to the advance time, the transient opening angle of the filling valve can be regained and the nominal filling angle can be maintained.
[0055] By controlling the opening of the filling valve in advance (i.e., with a time advance relative to the moment when the filling device 4 passes through the input station I to receive the container 2), this transient opening angle is regained, i.e., restored.
[0056] Therefore, the nominal fill angle can be preserved and fully utilized without losing any part of this angle due to valve opening delay.
[0057] This is particularly useful for adapting the filling machine 1 to containers 2 of different sizes (i.e., containers 2 that can receive different amounts of pourable products).
[0058] In fact, as specifications increase, lead time can be used to avoid having to increase the nominal fill angle. Increasing the nominal fill angle at a constant production speed would require replacing turntable 3 with a larger one.
[0059] The filling devices 4 are spaced at equal angles around the longitudinal axis A with angular spacing.
[0060] At a constant production speed, increasing the size will require reducing the pitch, as an alternative to increasing the fill angle and therefore replacing turntable 3.
[0061] Therefore, filling machine 1 is configured to perform a filling method that allows users to avoid having to make a lot of structural modifications when a certain specification increase occurs at a constant production rate.
[0062] Therefore, a filling machine is provided that can be configured to perform a more efficient and / or more flexible filling method.
[0063] Machine 1 is configured such that for each filling device 4, when the filling device 4 is at a predetermined angular position P1 upstream of input station I in the direction of rotation of turntable 3 about the longitudinal axis A, the corresponding opening control signal is cyclically sent by control unit 8 and / or cyclically received by filling device 4.
[0064] The predetermined angular position P1 is angularly spaced from the input station I by the advance angular sector S. Relative to the rotation direction, the advance angular sector S is positioned upstream of and adjacent to the fill angle. The predetermined position P1 and the angular sector S are... Figure 2 , 3A As shown in 3B.
[0065] The corner sector S corresponds to the advance time. Machine 1 is configured such that the advance time is the time that elapses cyclically between the moment when each corresponding filling device 4 receives the open control signal from the control unit 8 and the moment when the same filling device 4 receives a corresponding container 2 to be filled at the input station I.
[0066] Machine 1 is configured to allow the user to set the corner extension of the corner sector S.
[0067] Machine 1 is configured to allow the user to set the angular extension by indicating the number of steps of the angular spacing corresponding to the desired angular extension.
[0068] In this way, the angular spacing of the filling device 4 on the turntable 3 can be used to set the sector S. This is particularly advantageous because the angular spacing is a widely used amount in this field for setting other adjustable parameters of the aforementioned type of filling machine. Therefore, the machine 1 is configured to simplify the user's adjustment of the angular extension of the sector S. Consequently, adjusting the container size using the machine 1 is much simpler.
[0069] For example, the angular extension of sector S can be set to an angular spacing equal to n steps, where n is, for example, an integer or a decimal number.
[0070] For example, the corner extension of sector S can be set to equal 4 steps.
[0071] In view of the above, since the input station I is fixed because it is in the angular position defined by the position where the first star wheel 6 feeds the container 2 to the turntable 3, the angular extension of the sector S changes due to the change of the angular position of position P1.
[0072] The corner sector S includes a first corner portion S1 and a second corner portion S2, wherein the second corner portion S2 is located downstream of the first corner portion S1 and upstream of the input station I relative to the rotation direction.
[0073] More specifically, the first portion S1 extends at an angle from the first predetermined position P1 to a second predetermined position P2 disposed between the first predetermined position P1 and the input station I. For example, the second predetermined position P2 is disposed midway between the first predetermined position P1 and the input station I.
[0074] Therefore, the second part S2 extends at an angle from the second predetermined position P2 to the input station I.
[0075] The first corner part S1 and the second corner part S2 are in Figure 3A and 3B As shown in the image.
[0076] Machine 1 is configured such that, if a predetermined condition occurs, control unit 8 sends a braking control signal to turntable 3 to trigger a change in the rotational speed of turntable 3.
[0077] Machine 1 is configured such that for each filling device 4, control unit 8 can send a shut-off control signal to filling device 4 to trigger the shut-off of the filling valve.
[0078] Machine 1 is configured such that when control unit 8 sends a braking control signal to turntable 3, control unit 8 sends a shut-off control signal to each filling device 4 located within the first corner portion S1 and downstream of the first predetermined corner position P1.
[0079] Therefore, the machine 1 is configured such that, for each filling device 4 located in the first part S1 when a braking signal is sent, the control unit 8 sends a corresponding shut-off control signal to the filling device 4.
[0080] For example, if a system failure occurs while a filling device 4 is traveling along the first section S1, requiring the control unit 8 to send a braking control signal to the turntable 3, that is, when the control unit 8 has sent an opening control signal to the aforementioned filling device 4 at P1 and the filling device 4 has received the opening control signal at P1 (or slightly later than P1), the control unit 8 will send a closing control signal (preferably immediately) to the filling device 4 traveling along the first section S1.
[0081] In this way, even if the control filling valve is opened before the relevant filling device 4 has received the corresponding container 2 at the input station I, it is possible to prevent the product from overflowing from the filling valve in the event of a sudden change (decrease) in the rotation speed of the turntable 3.
[0082] Machine 1 is configured such that, for each filling device 4 that has received a shut-off control signal in the first corner portion S1, when the filling device is at input station I, control unit 8 sends an open control signal to the filling device 4.
[0083] Therefore, for the specific filling device 4 within the first corner portion S1, the transient angle is not regained, but the filling process is actually performed and unwanted product overflow is avoided.
[0084] This is particularly advantageous when the filling device 4 is configured for at least non-contact filling and for non-contact transfer of the product to at least one container to be filled.
[0085] Machine 1 is configured such that when control unit 8 sends a braking control signal to turntable 3 during use, control unit 8 does not send a shut-off control signal to each filling device 4 located within the second corner portion S2 and downstream of the predetermined corner position P1.
[0086] Therefore, machine 1 is configured such that, for each filling device 4 located within the second section S2 when a braking signal is sent, control unit 8 does not send a corresponding shut-off control signal to the filling device 4. In this way, the transient angle is regained for filling devices 4 that are closer to input station I and have a lower risk of large-volume product overflow.
[0087] Machine 1 is configured such that, for each filling device 4, control unit 8 performs a corresponding sequence of operations on each at least one container to be filled received by filling device 4.
[0088] The procedure includes measuring the amount of pourable product actually delivered to at least one container 2.
[0089] The procedure involves comparing the measured quantity with the nominal quantity of the pourable product.
[0090] The operational sequence includes calculating the difference between the measured quantity and the nominal quantity.
[0091] The operation sequence includes updating the corresponding lead time based on the calculated difference.
[0092] In other words, the lead time, i.e. the corner extension of sector S, is constantly updated for each filling device 4 based on the actual amount of pourable product delivered by the filling device 4.
[0093] In this way, the filling operation performed by each filling device 4 on the subsequent container 2 in sequence is gradually adapted to the actual operating conditions of the specific filling device 4 in terms of component temperature, wear and other conditions, or other parameters that may cause changes in the performance of the filling device 4.
[0094] The filling method includes the stages and / or steps described above.
[0095] The advantages of the filling machine 1 and filling container 2 according to the present invention will become apparent from the foregoing description.
[0096] In particular, due to the above configuration, the transient opening angle of each filling valve can be regained, and the nominal filling angle can be maintained. Therefore, the nominal filling angle can be preserved and fully utilized.
[0097] Furthermore, it is possible to prevent product overflow from the filling valve in the event of a sudden change in the rotational speed of the turntable 3, even if the filling valve is controlled to open before the relevant filling device 4 has received the corresponding container 2 at the input station I. This is particularly advantageous for non-contact filling valves.
[0098] Furthermore, the actual operating conditions of the filling device 4 are considered in terms of component temperature, wear, production speed, density of pourable products, or other parameters that may cause changes in the performance of the filling device 4 during the filling process.
[0099] Obviously, changes can be made to the filling machine 1 or filling method as described herein without departing from the scope of protection defined by the appended claims.
Claims
1. A filling machine (1) configured to fill a tiltable product container (2), the filling machine (1) comprising: - Conveyor (3), the machine (1) is configured such that the conveyor receives containers (2) to be filled in sequence at its input station (I), advances the received containers (2) in sequence along the filling path, and releases the filled containers (2) in sequence at its output station (O). - A plurality of filling devices (4) carried by the conveyor (3), each filling device (4) including a corresponding filling valve and configured to convey the product to at least one container (2) to be filled at one time during the advance of at least one container to be filled along the filling path and through the corresponding filling valve in the open position, the filling valve of each filling device being controllable between a corresponding open position and a corresponding closed position; - Control unit (8); wherein the machine (1) is configured such that, for each filling device (4): - When the filling device (4) is at the input station (I), the filling device (4) cyclically receives at least one container (2) to be filled; -A time before the filling device (4) receives the at least one container to be filled, the control unit (8) cyclically sends an opening control signal to trigger the opening of the corresponding filling valve; The conveyor includes a turntable that can rotate about a longitudinal axis (A), and the filling device (4) is carried by the turntable and is distributed at an angle about the longitudinal axis (A); The input station (I) and the output station (O) are angularly spaced apart from each other and define a filling angle relative to the longitudinal axis (A), and the container (2) can be filled along the filling angle by a corresponding filling device (4); And wherein the machine is configured such that for each filling device (4), when the filling device (4) is at a predetermined angular position (P1) upstream of the input station (I) in the direction of rotation of the turntable about the longitudinal axis (A), the control unit (8) cyclically sends the corresponding opening control signal to the filling device (4); The predetermined angle position (P1) is angularly spaced from the input station (I) by an advance angle sector (S), which is positioned upstream of and adjacent to the fill angle relative to the rotation direction.
2. The filling machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the machine (1) is configured such that, for each filling device (4), when the filling device (4) itself is at a predetermined position (P1) upstream of the input station (I) relative to the advance direction of the filling device (4), the control unit (8) cyclically sends the corresponding opening control signal to the filling device (4).
3. The filling machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the corner sector (S) corresponds to the advance time, and the machine (1) is configured such that the advance time is the time elapsed cyclically between the moment when each corresponding filling device (4) receives the open control signal from the control unit (8) and the moment when the same filling device (4) receives at least one container (2) to be filled at the input station (I).
4. The filling machine as claimed in claim 1 or 3, wherein the corner sector (S) includes a first corner portion (S1) and a second corner portion (S2), the second corner portion (S2) being downstream of the first corner portion (S1) and upstream of the input station (I) relative to the direction of rotation; The machine is configured to: - If a predetermined condition occurs, the control unit (8) sends a braking control signal to trigger a change in the rotational speed of the turntable; and - For each filling device (4), the control unit (8) can send a shutdown control signal to the filling device (4) to trigger the closing of the corresponding filling valve; And wherein the machine (1) is configured such that when the control unit (8) sends the braking control signal to the turntable, the control unit (8) sends the shut-off control signal to each filling device (4) within the first corner portion (S1) and downstream of the predetermined corner position (P1); When the control unit (8) sends the braking control signal to the turntable, the control unit (8) does not send the shut-off control signal to each filling device (4) in the second corner portion (S2).
5. The filling machine as claimed in claim 4, wherein the machine (1) is configured such that, for each filling device (4) that has received the closing control signal in the first corner portion (S1), when the filling device is at the input station (I), the control unit (8) sends the opening control signal to the filling device (4).
6. The filling machine as claimed in claim 1 or 3, wherein the machine (1) is configured to allow a user to set the corner extension of the corner sector (S).
7. The filling machine of claim 6, wherein the filling devices (4) are spaced apart at equal angular intervals around the longitudinal axis (A); And the machine (1) is configured to allow the user to set the corner extension by indicating the number of steps of the corner spacing corresponding to the desired corner extension.
8. The filling machine as claimed in any one of claims 1-3, wherein the machine (1) is configured such that, for each filling device (4), the control unit (8) performs a corresponding sequence of operations for each of the at least one container to be filled received by the filling device (4), the sequence of operations comprising: Measure the amount of pourable product actually delivered to the at least one container (2); Compare the measured quantity with the nominal quantity of the pourable product; Calculate the difference between the measured quantity and the nominal quantity; The corresponding advance time is updated based on the calculated difference.
9. A filling method for filling a container (2) with a pourable product, the filling method comprising: - Receive containers (2) to be filled in sequence at the input station (I), advance the received containers (2) in sequence along the filling path, and release the filled containers (2) in sequence at the output station (O); - Multiple filling devices (4) are carried in sequence, each filling device (4) including a corresponding filling valve; - The product is conveyed to at least one container (2) to be filled at one time by each filling device (4), the conveying being performed during the advance of the at least one container to be filled along the filling path and by the corresponding filling valve in the open position, the filling valve of each filling device being controllable between a corresponding open position and a corresponding closed position; and wherein, for each filling device (4), - The filling device (4) cyclically receives at least one container (2) to be filled at the input station (I); -A lead time before the filling device (4) receives the at least one container to be filled, the method includes cyclically sending an opening control signal to trigger the opening of the corresponding filling valve; in: The input station (I) and the output station (O) are angularly spaced from each other and define a filling angle around the longitudinal axis (A), and the container (2) can be filled along the filling angle by a corresponding filling device (4); For each filling device (4), when the filling device (4) is at a predetermined angular position (P1) upstream of the input station (I) relative to the rotation direction of the turntable about the longitudinal axis (A), the corresponding opening control signal is sent cyclically; The predetermined angle position (P1) is angularly separated from the input station (I) by an advance angle sector (S), which is positioned upstream of and adjacent to the filling angle relative to the advancing direction of the filling device (4). The corner sector (S) corresponds to the advance time, which is the time elapsed between the moment when each corresponding filling device (4) receives the opening control signal from the control unit (8) and the moment when the same filling device (4) receives at least one container (2) to be filled at the input station (I).
10. The method of claim 9, wherein: The receiving, pushing, releasing, and carrying steps are performed by a turntable rotating around the axis (A); The corner sector (S) includes a first corner portion (S1) and a second corner portion (S2), wherein the second corner portion (S2) is downstream of the first corner portion (S1) and upstream of the input station (I) relative to the rotation direction; in: - If a predetermined condition occurs, a braking control signal is sent to the turntable to trigger a change in the turntable's rotational speed; and - When the braking control signal is sent to the turntable, the shut-off control signal is sent to each filling device (4) within the first corner portion (S1) and downstream of the predetermined corner position (P1) to trigger the shut-off of the corresponding filling valve; When the braking control signal is sent to the turntable, the shut-off control signal is not sent to each filling device (4) in the second corner portion (S2).
11. The method of claim 10, wherein for each filling device (4) that has received the shut-off control signal in the first corner portion (S1), the open control signal is sent to the filling device (4) when the filling device is at the input station (I).
12. The filling method according to any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein, For each filling device (4), and for each of the at least one container to be filled received by said filling device (4), the method includes: - Measure the amount of pourable product actually delivered by the filling device (4) to the container (2); - Compare the measured quantity with the nominal quantity of the pourable product; - Calculate the difference between the measured quantity and the nominal quantity; and - The advance time is updated accordingly based on the calculated difference.