Device and method for manufacturing bales of containers

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to an apparatus and a method for manufacturing a bale of containers. The apparatus includes a container feed port for transporting containers containing products, an inspection device for individually inspecting the containers, where the inspection device is configured to output inspection signals based on the detected containers, a baler feed port having one or more feed port channels, a robot, and a controller. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a container feeder configured to move containers entered via a container feeder to one or more feeder channels of a baler feeder based on a detection signal and a control signal, and a baler configured to manufacture a container bale including a plurality of containers from containers guided over the baler feeder based on a predetermined pattern, the robot is disposed between the container feed port and the baler feed port, and wherein the baler generates a control signal for the robot indicating which containers are needed on which feed port channel of the baler feed port. The invention also relates to a method for producing a bale of containers.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a device for producing bundles of containers and to a related method for producing bundles of containers, in particular using said device. Background Art

[0002] Typical devices for producing bundles of containers, for example in the beverage industry, produce products rigidly so that a bundle consists of a plurality of containers with the same product. In order to be able to fill new products, the device usually has to be stopped, re-equipped and equipped with new variety parameters. Even if some modern filling valves for product filling are capable of filling different products in each filling round, an important limiting factor for multi-product filling within a production line remains the structured distribution of containers filled with different products into bundles. In this way, it is almost impossible to produce bundles with different products in a controlled and efficient manner. WO 2009 / 153080 A1 discloses a device and a method for assembling bundles for a baler. Summary of the invention

[0003] In view of these drawbacks, the object of the present invention is to improve the efficiency of multi-product filling. This leads to a more efficient production of container bundles, in particular, which can contain different kinds of products according to a predetermined pattern. This object is achieved by a device according to the first aspect and a method according to the second aspect. Further embodiments can be found in the other related aspects.

[0004] According to a first aspect of the invention, the apparatus comprises a container feed port for transporting containers containing products, an inspection device for individually detecting containers, wherein the inspection device is configured to output a detection signal based on the detected container, a baler feed port having one or more feed port channels, a robot configured to move containers entering through the container feed port to one or more feed port channels of the baler feed port based on the detection signal and a control signal, and a baler configured to manufacture container bundles comprising a plurality of containers from containers guided on the baler feed port based on a predetermined pattern, wherein the robot is arranged between the container feed port and the baler feed port, and wherein the baler generates a control signal for the robot, the control signal indicating which containers are required on which feed port channel of the baler feed port.

[0005] The robot moves the individual containers that have been processed by the baler into one bale onto the feed port lane of the baler feed port, so that the individual containers only need to be grouped into one bale. For the bale manufacturing, there is no need to re-sort or realign the containers. For this purpose, the baler provides the robot with a control signal that indicates which containers are required on which feed port lane of the baler feed port. Based on the control signal, the robot loads the feed port lane with the containers from the container feed port. Thus, any desired combination of containers can be combined into one bale according to a predetermined pattern, without the need to provide an expensive filling line with a lane conveyor or the like. This increases the efficiency of the bale manufacturing, in particular when different kinds of products are to be combined in one bale in multi-product filling.

[0006] The containers arranged on the container feed opening each contain a product, for example products from different beverages, such as lemonade, water, juice, etc. In this case, the containers can contain different products from each other, that is, containers with lemonade, water and / or juice can be present on the container feed opening.

[0007] The inspection device is configured to detect the containers on the container feed inlet individually. In this case, the inspection device in particular detects which product is filled in the individual containers. To this end, the inspection device can include, for example, a light barrier for the container feed inlet, with which the number of containers and / or the products in the individual containers are detected. The latter can be realized, for example, based on a specific identifier on the container (e.g. a barcode, a QR code, etc.), wherein the identifier can be assigned to a specific type of product. In addition, the inspection device generates a detection signal and transmits it to the robot. The detection signal contains information about the position at which a container with a specific type of product is present in the container feed inlet and / or how many containers with a specific type of product are present.

[0008] In this specification, a robot refers to a device configured to transport one or more containers by mechanical means, for example by moving or lifting. In this case, the robot is controlled by an internal or external control device, such as a computer. The control device provides an algorithm for controlling the robot. In particular, the control device receives a control signal from the baler and calculates on this basis how the incoming container must be moved from the container feed port to one or more channels of the baler feed port. Based on this information, the algorithm controls the functions of the robot, in particular according to which scheme the incoming container must be displaced in order to achieve the desired loading on the baler feed port. In addition, the robot receives information about the position of the desired container in the container feed port from the detection signal. In summary, the robot therefore receives information about receiving a specific container at the position of the container feed port and releasing the container at the position of the baler feed port from the detection signal. In particular, the control of the robot can be performed automatically. Likewise, the operator of the device can manually access the control of the robot.

[0009] The robot can be a tripod robot, in particular a tripod robot with delta kinematics, or an articulated arm robot with up to six degrees of freedom. These types of robots are already used in the beverage industry for handling container bales. It is crucial here that the robot has suitable kinematics in order to be able to transport / move the containers at a sufficient speed. Thus, together with the device described here, these robots allow for a high capacity in an environment for transporting containers.

[0010] The robot can have a gripping tool so that it can grip one or more containers simultaneously. In this case, the gripping tool can in principle be configured to only move one or more containers or to lift one or more containers for transportation.

[0011] The baler feed port has one or more feed port channels leading to the baler. During transport, the containers can be arranged in a plurality of channels side by side and one after another along the transport direction.

[0012] The baler is configured to manufacture bales with a plurality of containers in each case from containers coming from the baler feed opening. To this end, the baler receives information about which bales are to be manufactured, i.e. the number of containers per bale and which types of products and quantities are to be present in the bales (=sample for bale manufacturing). Based on the pattern, the robot is instructed by control signals generated and output by the baler to load the baler feed opening in such a way that containers with the required types of products are already moved accordingly on the baler feed opening so that the containers can be grouped directly to form bales. This increases the efficiency of bale manufacturing, since the required containers are directly available to the baler and there is no need for re-sorting or waiting for the correct containers. Furthermore, the pattern for bale manufacturing can also be changed within a short time without the need to refit the device, since the new pattern can be transmitted to the robot again in the form of new control signals. This also increases the flexibility of the device.

[0013] The inspection device can also be configured to identify damaged, incorrectly printed and / or incorrectly filled containers. The device can also be configured to classify containers identified as damaged, incorrectly printed and / or incorrectly filled.

[0014] Ensuring that only defect-free containers are used to manufacture bales increases the reliability of the device. Furthermore, the device can be designed to be more compact, since the inspection device can perform multiple tasks and no additional inspectors are required to inspect the containers.

[0015] The device may also comprise a buffer zone for receiving the container. In this case, the robot is configured to move containers not required for bale making into the buffer zone.

[0016] If unwanted containers are left on the container feed opening, this could lead to operational failures if the latter cause the feed opening to become blocked, tip over or otherwise impede the container flow. By moving to the buffer surface, the unwanted containers are removed from the container feed opening, thereby reducing the risk of operational failures.

[0017] The container in the buffer zone can be transported into the container feed port. In other words, the device can be configured to transport the container from the buffer zone back to the container feed port.

[0018] For example, containers that are not needed temporarily may be needed again later if further bales are to be manufactured. Therefore, containers from the buffer are returned to the manufacturing process and can be accommodated in bales. As a result, new containers do not need to be filled to manufacture bales, which saves resources.

[0019] The bundle of containers produced by the device may include containers with at least two different types of products.Thus, the device may be configured to produce bundles of containers including containers with at least two different types of products.

[0020] The structural features of such an arrangement have been described above. The possible filling of several product types increases the flexibility of the bale manufacturing compared to the situation where bales can only be manufactured with one product.

[0021] The vessel feed port can be a batch feed port, a single gas feed port, or a multiple gas feed port.

[0022] Basically, the device is compatible with various designs for container infeeds and is therefore very flexible. For each infeed form described, the robot can move the infeed container to one or more infeed lanes of the baler. Mass infeed is an easy conveyor form to implement and therefore represents the most efficient implementation. For example, there is no need to pre-sort the containers according to product type. This saves additional expensive resources.

[0023] The device may include one or more robots, so that the device includes two or more robots in total. The additional robot is arranged between the container feed port and the baler feed port, wherein the robot and the additional robot are configured as a robot unit, and wherein the robot unit is configured to move the container entering through the container feed port to one or more feed port channels of the baler feed port based on the detection signal and the control signal.

[0024] The robot can be arranged side by side or one after another, viewed from the container feed port.

[0025] Two or more robots can be controlled by the same control device. There can also be a joint algorithm for jointly controlling two or more robots. In this case, the work performed by two or more robots can be coordinated with each other in different ways. For example, a robot can operate one or more parts of the container feed port and move the incoming containers in these parts to the feed port channel of the baler feed port. Another one or more robots take over the remaining parts of the container feed port that are not operated by the robot and perform the displacement of the containers entering the remaining parts in turn. Thus, the entire container feed port is operated by the robot unit. Since each of the two or more robots operates only a part of the container feed port, a higher overall throughput can be achieved using this robot unit than using a single robot, because the two or more robots operate in parallel and the capacity of the single robot is actually added.

[0026] Alternatively, two or more robots can also complement each other in another way. A robot can be configured to operate the container feed port and produce an intermediate allocation of the incoming container. This intermediate allocation is taken over by another robot and processed to produce a specific allocation of the outgoing container in the baler feed port. In this case, the other robot can operate all feed port channels. In this case, if producing the intermediate allocation requires less time or work steps than producing the allocation of the outgoing container, a higher throughput can also be achieved compared to a single robot.

[0027] Likewise, two or more robots can operate the same part of the container feed port alternately or one after another in an irregular order. In this case, the robot sometimes does not operate one or more parts, and then these parts are operated by other robots. In this way, two or more robots that process parts in parallel are also complementary and can achieve a higher throughput than a single robot.

[0028] In summary, by using additional robots, the power capacity of the device, ie the throughput of containers, can be increased, since incoming containers are handled simultaneously by several robots.

[0029] The above details about the structural design of the robot can also be applied to other robots. In particular, each other robot can have a gripping tool so as to be able to grip one or more containers at the same time. The other robots can be tripod robots, in particular tripod robots with delta kinematics, or articulated arm robots with up to six degrees of freedom.

[0030] The device may further comprise a filling machine located upstream of the container feed port for filling the product into the container, wherein the filling machine is configured to fill two or more different kinds of products.

[0031] By using a filling machine capable of filling several different types of products without the need to refit the plant, the flexibility of the entire plant is increased, in particular because no downtime for refitting is required when, for example, bale making requires containers with several different types of products.

[0032] The robot and / or the packaging machine may also be configured to output a filling signal to the filling machine, the filling signal defining which product is to be filled by the filling machine, wherein the filling machine fills the product into one of the containers based on the filling signal.

[0033] The filling signal contains information about the product type (mainly) required for bale manufacturing. The filler can therefore fill the container with the product type as required, so that unnecessary containers are not filled. This saves resources and time compared to filling without coordination between baler, robot and filler.

[0034] In addition, a second aspect of the present invention provides a method for manufacturing container bundles. The method includes providing a container containing a product at a container feed port, detecting the container and outputting a detection signal based on the detected container, allocating the container to one or more feed port channels of a baler feed port based on the detection signal and a control signal, and manufacturing a container bundle from a plurality of containers based on a predetermined pattern of containers guided on the baler feed port, wherein the allocation of the containers to the one or more feed port channels of the baler feed port is based on the control signal indicating which containers are required on which feed port channel of the baler feed port.

[0035] For the reasons mentioned above in connection with the described device, the method allows to efficiently produce bundles of containers which may contain in particular different kinds of products according to a predetermined pattern.

[0036] The method may also include identifying damaged, incorrectly printed and / or incorrectly filled containers. In particular, damaged, incorrectly printed and / or incorrectly filled containers may be classified.

[0037] Ensuring that only defect-free containers are used to manufacture the bales increases the reliability of the method. Furthermore, the method can be designed more efficiently by not requiring an additional inspection step to inspect the containers.

[0038] Furthermore, containers which are not required for bale production can be transported to a buffer zone.

[0039] If unwanted containers are left on the container feed opening, this could lead to operational failures if the latter cause the feed opening to become blocked, tip over or otherwise impede the container flow. By moving to the buffer surface, the unwanted containers are removed from the container feed opening, thereby reducing the risk of operational failures.

[0040] The container can be transported from the buffer area to the container feed port.

[0041] For example, containers that are not needed temporarily may be needed again later if further bales are to be manufactured. Therefore, containers from the buffer are returned to the manufacturing process and can be accommodated in bales. As a result, new containers do not need to be filled to manufacture bales, which saves resources.

[0042] The method may further comprise upstream filling the product into the container with a filling machine, wherein the filling machine is configured to fill two or more different types of products, wherein the filling machine receives a filling signal defining which product is to be filled by the filling machine, and wherein the filling machine fills the product into one of the containers, in particular based on the filling signal.

[0043] The filling signal contains information about the product type (mainly) required for bale manufacturing. The filling machine can therefore fill the container with the product type as required, so that no unnecessary containers are filled. This saves resources and time compared to filling without prior coordination of the required product type.

[0044] The described method can be performed using the described apparatus. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0045] Further features and advantages are explained below by means of the exemplary drawings, in which:

[0046] Figure 1 shows a schematic top view of an apparatus for producing bundles of containers according to a first embodiment;

[0047] Figure 2 shows a schematic top view of a device for producing bundles of containers according to a second embodiment, and

[0048] Figure 3 A schematic top view of a device for producing bundles of containers according to a third embodiment is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0049] In the following text and in the drawings, unless otherwise specified, the same reference numerals are used for the same or corresponding elements in different embodiments.

[0050] Figure 1 A schematic top view of a device 10 for producing container bundles according to a first embodiment is shown. The device 10 comprises a container feed port 11, on which a plurality of containers are transported in a predetermined direction toward a robot 13. The container feed port 11 is configured in the form of a batch conveyor, on which the containers are transported in a disorderly manner. For example, a conveyor belt is used as the container feed port 11.

[0051] In principle, different transport forms with one or more channels can also be selected for the container feed opening 11. One advantage of channel transport is that it is easy to operate and implement compared to single-gas or multi-gas feeding. In addition, the containers on the container feed opening are filled with different types of products, which are indicated by different shading. The containers are not classified according to the products contained. The products can include various beverages, such as water, juice, juice soda, lemonade, milk drinks, beer or spirits. Other substances such as cocoa powder, coffee beans or detergent are also conceivable. The example shows three different products (different shading), but this should not be understood as restrictive.

[0052] An inspection device 12 is provided at the container inlet 11, which detects containers passing through the container inlet 11. In this case, the inspection device 12 first identifies the type of product contained in the container. For example, this can be achieved by a code on the container (QR code, barcode, batch number, etc.) or an optical property of the product. The inspection device 12 then generates a detection signal, which defines at which position in the container inlet 11 there are containers with which product types. The detection signal is transmitted to the robot 13. The inspection device 12 can optionally be configured to identify damaged, incorrectly printed and / or incorrectly filled containers. These containers can be sorted by appropriate devices.

[0053] The containers are supplied to a robot 13 from a container feed 11. The robot's task is to move the incoming containers to a baler feed 14 according to a specific pattern. To this end, the robot receives control signals, the function of which will be described in more detail below. The robot 13 itself is only schematically shown in this figure; it can also be a robot unit consisting of the robot 13 and at least one further robot. The robot 13 is, for example, a tripod robot with a gripping tool, which is configured to grip and lift or move one or more containers. The tripod robot offers a high degree of spatial flexibility and is therefore able to handle a variety of entry channels in a compact design. In addition, it allows high-speed manipulation with simultaneous high precision and is therefore very suitable for the described application in a dispensing device, in which a high throughput of containers is to be achieved.

[0054] The baler inlet 14 is a conveying device such as a conveyor belt and includes one or more channels for supplying containers to the baler 15. In the example shown, there are four channels 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d, however, this should not be understood as a limiting example. The robot 13 is configured to move the container entering through the container inlet 11 to the inlet channels 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d of the baler inlet 14.

[0055] The baler 15 receives containers from the baler feed port 14 and manufactures container bundles BG therefrom. In this case, the container bundles BG can be formed from adjacent containers that enter directly from the baler feed port 14. Therefore, the containers no longer need to be moved and reclassified, making the process simple and efficient. This relationship is also shown in the figure of how the containers on the baler feed port 14 are converted into container bundles BG. The container bundles BG can include different numbers and combinations of containers of the three available product types. Thus, bundles of only one product (six bundles) can be manufactured, as can bundles of two or three products, with equal proportions of each product. However, it should be understood that basically any number of containers and combinations of product types in the bundles can be achieved. The manufactured container bundles BG are further transported through the outlet 17, for example to a packaging machine (not shown).

[0056] The baler 15 receives information about which container bundles BG are to be produced. This information defines a predetermined pattern for producing bundles and can be input, for example, by a user via an interface. Based on this information, the baler generates a control signal indicating which containers are required on which feed port channel 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d of the baler feed port 14. Based on this control signal, the robot 13 loads the feed port channel 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d so that the container bundles BG can be produced as described above.

[0057] The device 10 described allows the production of container bundles BG from a large supply of containers with several product types. In this case, there is no need for a pre-separation of different product types in the channel, nor is there a need for pre-sorting the containers before the bundle production. The interaction of the components shown results in an efficient bundle production and a compact design of the device 10, in particular also for the production of bundles with a plurality of product types.

[0058] Figure 2 A schematic top view of an apparatus 10 for producing bundles of containers according to a second embodiment is shown.Some elements correspond to each of the first embodiment, so these elements will not be discussed in more detail below.

[0059] The second embodiment differs in the presence of a buffer 16 for temporarily storing containers that are not needed for bale production. The buffer 16 is located near or adjacent to the robot 13 so that the robot 13 can transport the containers from the container feed opening 11 to the buffer 16. The buffer 16 can be a surface on which the containers are placed. However, as shown in the example shown, the buffer can also be a conveying device by which the containers can be returned to the container feed opening (as shown by the arrow).

[0060] The containers shown on the container feed 11 include the containers required for bale making, i.e. those moved by the robot 13 to the baler feed 14, and four additional containers. The robot 13 identifies these additional containers as redundant using detection signals and control signals and moves them to the buffer 16. Otherwise, these containers might remain in the container feed 11 and cause a blockage or other operational faults. The containers in the buffer 16 are transported back to the container feed 11 and can be used for bale making later. Therefore, there is no need to fill new containers, which saves resources.

[0061] Figure 3 A schematic top view of a device 10 for producing bundles of containers according to a third embodiment is shown.Some elements correspond to each of the first or second embodiments, so these elements will not be discussed in more detail below.

[0062] The difference between the device 10 of the third embodiment and the device 10 of the first embodiment mainly lies in a filler 18 connected upstream of the container feed port for filling the product into the container. In addition, the device 10 comprises a feed port 19 for transporting the empty container to the filler 18.

[0063] The filling machine 18 is configured to fill empty containers with different types of products (one product per container, but the number of filled containers includes containers with different fillings). To this end, the filling machine can have, for example, a valve with multiple product delivery lines. Thus, in each filling round, a different product can be filled. Of course, the filling machine 18 can have several such valves in order to fill several containers simultaneously.

[0064] The filler 18 receives a filling signal defining which product is to be filled. This filling signal is mainly generated by the robot 13 and transmitted to the filler 18. As previously mentioned, the baler 15 has information about which bales are to be made and which containers are required for this. This information is transmitted in the form of control signals to the robot 13, which uses the detection signal to load the inlet channels 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d of the baler inlet 14 accordingly with containers containing the appropriate product type. By means of the detection signal, the robot recognizes the demand for the product type and, in case of an oversupply or shortage of a particular product, can instruct the filler 18 accordingly by means of the filling signal to fill less or more of the corresponding product.

[0065] Optionally, the packaging machine 15 can also be configured to generate such a filling signal and transmit it to the filling machine 18 (dashed line). Based on the information about the required container, the filling machine 18 is instructed to fill the required type of product through the filling signal.

[0066] The described specific embodiments of the device 10 can be used accordingly to carry out the above-described method.

[0067] In both cases, the control of the filling machine takes place upstream of the production line. Starting from the baler 15, which receives information about which bales are to be manufactured, the robot 13 is controlled to correctly load the feed inlet channels 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d of the baler feed inlet 14 so that bales can be formed directly therefrom. By means of an upstream inspection using the inspection device 12, the robot identifies which containers and product types are in the container feed inlet 11. The robot then generates a filling signal to instruct the filler 18 to fill the corresponding quantity of a specific type to meet the demand for the corresponding product type. Similarly, the filling signal can be transmitted directly from the baler 15 to the filler 18, bypassing the robot 13. The device and the method that can be implemented allow efficient bale manufacturing, even in the case of several products in one bale or the production of different bale combinations in a short time. In addition, resources are saved, because the filler 18 is specifically instructed by the filling signal to fill the required type of product, so that a small number of excess containers are produced.

[0068] It should be understood that the various embodiments shown can also be combined with each other in a suitable manner. For example, a device having a buffer and a filling machine (a combination of the second and third embodiments) can be included.

Claims

1. A device (10) for producing a bundle of containers (BG), comprising: a container feed opening (11) for transporting containers containing the product, An inspection device (12) for individually inspecting the container, wherein the inspection device (12) is configured to output a detection signal based on the detected container, A baler feed port (14) having one or more feed port channels (14a, 14b, 14c, 14d), a robot (13) configured to move the container entering through the container feed port (11) to one or more feed port channels (14a, 14b, 14c, 14d) of the baler feed port (14) based on the detection signal and the control signal, and a baler (15) configured to manufacture a container bundle (BG) including a plurality of containers from the container guided on the baler feed port (14) based on a predetermined pattern, The robot (13) is arranged between the container feed port (11) and the baler feed port (14), and The baler (15) generates a control signal for the robot (13), wherein the control signal indicates which containers are required on which feed channel (14a, 14b, 14c, 14d) of the baler feed port (14).

2. The device (10) according to claim 1, wherein: The inspection device (12) is also configured to detect damaged, incorrectly printed and / or incorrectly filled containers.

3. The device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a buffer (16) for receiving the container, in, The robot (13) is configured to move containers not required for bale production into the buffer area (16).

4. The device (10) according to claim 3, wherein: Containers can be transported from the buffer zone (16) to the container feed port (11).

5. The device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The container bundle (BG) comprises containers with at least two different types of products.

6. The device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The container feed port (11) is a batch feed port, a single gas feed port or a multi-gas feed port.

7. The device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising one or more further robots, in, The additional robot is arranged between the container feed port (11) and the baler feed port (14), wherein the robot (13) and the further robot are configured as a robot unit, and The robot unit is configured to move the container entering through the container feed port (11) to one or more feed port channels (14a, 14b, 14c, 14d) of the baler feed port (14) based on the detection signal and the control signal.

8. The device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a filler (18) located upstream of the container feed opening (11) for filling the product into the container, in, The filling machine (18) is configured to fill two or more different types of products.

9. The device (10) according to claim 8, wherein: The robot (13) and / or the packaging machine (15) are also configured to output a filling signal to the filling machine (18), the filling signal defining which product is to be filled by the filling machine (18), and, The filling machine (18) fills the product into one of the containers based on the filling signal.

10. A method for manufacturing a bundle of containers (BG), comprising: providing a container containing a product on a container feed opening (11), detecting the container and outputting a detection signal based on the detected container, distributing the container to one or more feed port channels (14a, 14b, 14c, 14d) of a baler feed port (14) based on the detection signal and the control signal, and manufacturing a container bundle (BG) from a plurality of containers based on a predetermined pattern from containers guided on a baler feed opening (14), The distribution of the containers on the one or more feed inlet channels (14a, 14b, 14c, 14d) of the baler feed inlet (14) is achieved based on a control signal indicating which feed inlet channel (14a, 14b, 14c, 14d) of the baler feed inlet (14) on which containers are required.

11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising: Damaged, incorrectly printed and / or incorrectly filled containers are detected and, in particular, sorted.

12. The method according to any one of claims 10 or 11, further comprising: Containers not required for bale production are transported to the buffer zone (16).

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein: The container is transported from the buffer zone (16) to the container feed port (11).

14. The method according to any one of claims 10 to 13, further comprising: filling the product upstream into the container using a filling machine (18), wherein the filling machine (18) is configured to fill two or more different types of products, wherein the filling machine (18) receives a filling signal defining which product is to be filled by the filling machine (18), and Therein, the filling machine (18) fills the product into one of the containers, in particular based on a filling signal.

15. The method according to any one of claims 10 to 14, wherein: The method is performed by a device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

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