Filling containers with free injection method

Abstract

The invention relates to a device and a method for filling containers with a filling product, preferably a beverage, using a free-spraying method, said method comprising: transporting the containers along a reference circle by means of a filler carousel rotating about an axis of rotation; a filling product is introduced into the container through a product channel of the filling member during transport of the container, the filling product exiting the product channel at a mouth section of the filling member at an outflow velocity, spanning the free injection region and in this case experiencing an injection deflection in the free injection region by rotation of the filler carousel; during the introduction of the filling product into the container, the volume flow rate of the filling product in the product channel is varied by means of a regulating valve of the filling member, and at the same time, a filling valve arranged downstream of the regulating valve is controlled such that the filling valve counteracts a change in the outflow rate of the filling product caused by a change in the volume flow rate.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a device and a method for filling containers with a filling product, preferably a beverage, using the free jet method. Background Art

[0002] Devices and methods for free-jet filling of beverages are known, in which the volume flow of filling product is achieved and interrupted by opening and closing a filling valve. Here, the container to be filled is spaced apart from the filling product outlet below the filling valve, so that the filling product enters the container through the container opening in the form of a free jet when the filling valve is open. If the container is filled with filling product, the filling valve is closed, thereby interrupting the filling product flow accordingly.

[0003] Furthermore, it is known to regulate the volume flow of the filling product to the filling valve by means of a regulating valve upstream of the filling valve. In this way, different filling profiles or filling curves can be followed, for example, depending on the filling product and the container to be filled.

[0004] Devices and methods for free jet filling using a control valve for regulating the volume flow are described in DE 10 2017 130 034 A1 and DE 10 20 20129 217 A1.

[0005] Filling devices of this type are usually designed in the form of a gyrator structure, in which a filler turntable is provided which is rotatable about an axis of rotation. A plurality of filling valves and correspondingly assigned holding devices for the containers are mounted on the outer circumference of the filler turntable. The containers to be filled are held by the holding devices and transported along a circular path during filling by the rotation of the filler turntable.

[0006] At high rotational speeds of the filler carousel, the entire processing angle of the machine can be used essentially for the filling process. However, at high rotational speeds, the outflow velocity of the filled product from the filling valve is greatly reduced, which in turn has an effect on the outward jet deflection caused by centrifugation. At too low an outflow velocity, a free jet of filled product can pass by the mouth of the container. Summary of the invention

[0007] The object of the present invention is to provide an improved device and an improved method for filling containers with a filling product, preferably a beverage, using the free jet method, in particular to increase the productivity of the filling.

[0008] This object is achieved by a device having the features of claim 1 and a method having the features of the parallel independent method claim. Advantageous developments emerge from the dependent claims, the following description of the invention and the description of preferred exemplary embodiments.

[0009] The invention is designed to fill containers with filling products using a free jet method. The device is particularly preferably used in beverage filling equipment, such as for filling water (stilled water or carbonated water), soft drinks, smoothies, juices, beer, wine, dairy products, mixed drinks, etc.

[0010] The device has a filler carousel rotatable about a rotation axis, and the filler carousel is arranged to transport containers to be filled along a pitch circle. Therefore, the device is implemented in the form of a rotator structure.

[0011] The device has at least one filling member, which is installed on the filler turntable, especially on the outer circumference of the filler turntable. It should be noted that a plurality of or even a large number of filling members are usually provided on the outer circumference of the filler turntable so that a continuous flow can be filled to the container. Therefore, the use of the singular "container", "filling member" etc. is mainly for language clarity. Here, multiple containers are included to be filled by multiple filling members, and this is usually preferred.

[0012] The filling member has a product channel for transporting and introducing the filling product into the container, wherein the filling product leaves the product channel at the mouth section of the filling member at an outflow speed, crosses the free jet region and in this case experiences a jet deflection in the free jet region due to the rotation of the filler carousel. The jet deflection is dependent in particular on the rotation speed of the filler carousel and the outflow speed of the filling product from the mouth section of the filling member.

[0013] The filling member has a regulating valve. The purpose of the regulating valve is to adjust the desired volume flow of the filling product, that is, the volume amount of the filling product introduced into the container per unit time. The switching position of the regulating valve is preferably known and can be adjusted reproducibly, for example by using a stepper motor to drive the regulating valve.

[0014] The filling member also has a filling valve, which is arranged downstream of the regulating valve and is arranged to open and close the product channel, wherein a plurality of open positions can be realized by the filling valve. In other words, the filling member is not a stop valve that can only be switched to an open position and a closed position, but the filling valve allows a plurality of open positions. Preferably, a progressive, non-discrete open position can be realized by the filling valve. Therefore, the filling valve can realize a plurality of opening cross sections of the product channel discretely or preferably continuously or continuously. Preferably, the filling valve is arranged in the region of the mouth section of the filling member.

[0015] The device has a control device which communicates with the regulating valve and the filling valve and is arranged to change the volume flow of the filling product in the product channel by means of the regulating valve during the filling process and simultaneously control the filling valve in such a way that the filling valve offsets the change in the outflow speed of the filling product caused by the change in the volume flow.

[0016] The compensation of changes in the outflow rate of the filling product caused by changes in the volume flow rate by the filling valve can take place completely or partially.

[0017] The term "simultaneously" in the present context means that the control of the regulating valve and the filling valve is performed relative to each other by the control device. Strict simultaneity or synchronization is possible, but not necessarily necessary, as long as sufficient compensation of the outflow speed is guaranteed. By regulating the outflow speed of the filling product from the mouth section of the filling member in dependence on the volume flow specified by the regulating valve as described herein, it is possible to move at a high rotation speed of the filler turntable without causing unfavorable jet deflection. In this way, the entire processing angle of the filler turntable can be used, because the jet deflection no longer needs to be taken into account in a special way. Therefore, the productivity of filling using the free jet method can be increased.

[0018] Preferably, the control device is configured to control the filling valve during changes in the volume flow in the product channel due to the regulating valve in such a way that the outflow speed of the filling product remains essentially constant. In this way, changes in the volume flow along the filling curve do not or only negligibly cause changes in the spray deflection, so that the filling product can be safely introduced into the container even at high angular velocities of the filler carousel during the entire filling process.

[0019] Preferably, the control device is arranged to close, especially gradually close the regulating valve and simultaneously, preferably synchronously close the filling valve at the end of the filling process. In this way, the filling process is safely and reliably ended.

[0020] Preferably, the control device is arranged so that the volume flow in the product channel is determined only by the regulating valve and not by the filling valve. Therefore, the filling valve does not assume a throttling function for the volume flow, but is only used to adjust the outflow speed, which in turn has an impact on the injection deflection.

[0021] Preferably, the control device is configured to adjust the outflow rate by controlling the filling valve in such a way that a desired collision point of the filled product in the container is achieved. By adjusting the filling valve, the outflow rate of the filled product is adjusted and thus the jet deflection is controlled, which allows the collision point of the filled product in the container to be optimized. This can be used, for example, to minimize possible foam formation when the filled product is introduced into the container. The optimal collision point, i.e. the optimal jet deflection, can be predetermined, for example, by experiment or can be obtained by observing the foam, for example with the aid of a camera.

[0022] Preferably, the filling valve and / or the regulating valve is a proportional valve, so that the desired opening can be reliably adjusted in a permanent or continuous manner and thus a coordinated adjustment of the filling valve and the regulating valve can be carried out particularly precisely.

[0023] Preferably, the filling valve has: a displaceable valve cone arranged in the product channel, which forms an annular gap with an associated valve seat; and a linear actuator connected to the valve cone for displacing the valve cone; wherein the displacement of the valve cone by the linear actuator causes a change in the cross section of the annular gap and thus a change in the (partial) cross section of the product channel. This valve cone / valve seat arrangement in combination with a linear actuator, by means of which a plurality of opening positions of the valve cone can be controlled, represents a simple and reliable embodiment of the filling valve in terms of mechanical engineering. If necessary, a filling valve that was originally designed, for example, as a pneumatically actuable stop valve can be retrofitted by replacing the actuator in a simple and cost-effective manner.

[0024] When applying the aforementioned embodiment of the filling valve, the control device is preferably configured to change the volume flow rate of the filling product in the product channel by means of the regulating valve during the filling process and simultaneously control the linear actuator in such a way that the cross-sectional change of the annular gap produced offsets the change in the outflow velocity of the filling product caused by the change in the volume flow rate.

[0025] Preferably, the linear actuator is arranged to gradually move the valve cone between the fully open position and the fully closed position, so that a particularly fine adjustment of the outflow speed of the filling product can be achieved. The linear actuator is preferably a linear electric motor. However, other drives are also conceivable, such as a stepper motor or a servomotor connected to a corresponding transmission for converting a rotary motion into a linear motion.

[0026] The above-mentioned object is also achieved by a method for filling a container with a filling product, preferably a beverage, using a free jet method. The method comprises: transporting the container along a pitch circle by means of a filler carousel rotating about a rotation axis; during the transport of the container, introducing the filling product into the container through a product channel of a filling member, wherein the filling product leaves the product channel at an outlet speed at a mouth section of the filling member, crosses a free jet region and in this case undergoes a jet deflection in the free jet region due to the rotation of the filler carousel; during the introduction of the filling product into the container, the volume flow of the filling product in the product channel is changed by means of a regulating valve of the filling member, and at the same time a filling valve arranged downstream of the regulating valve is controlled so that the filling valve counteracts the change in the outflow speed of the filling product caused by the change in the volume flow.

[0027] The features, technical effects, advantages and embodiments described for the device are analogously applicable to the method.

[0028] For the reasons stated above, the filling valve is therefore preferably controlled during a change in the volume flow in the product channel in such a way that the outflow rate of the filling product remains essentially constant.

[0029] Preferably, for the reasons stated above, at the end of the filling process the regulating valve is closed, in particular gradually closed, wherein the filling valve is closed simultaneously, preferably synchronously.

[0030] Preferably, for the reasons stated above, the volume flow in the product channel is determined exclusively by the regulating valve and not by the filling valve.

[0031] Preferably, for the reasons stated above, the outflow rate is adjusted by controlling the filling valve in such a way that a desired collision point of the filling product in the container is achieved.

[0032] Preferably, for the reasons stated above, the filling valve comprises: a displaceable valve cone arranged in the product channel, the valve cone forming an annular gap with an associated valve seat; and a linear actuator connected to the valve cone for displacing the valve cone; wherein the displacement of the valve cone by the linear actuator causes a change in the cross-section of the annular gap.

[0033] When applying the above-mentioned embodiment of the filling valve, the linear actuator is controlled during the change of the volume flow of the filling product in the product channel by means of the regulating valve so that the cross-sectional change of the annular gap generated offsets the change in the outflow speed of the filling product caused by the change in volume flow.

[0034] Other advantages and features of the present invention can be seen from the following description of the preferred embodiment. The features described therein can be implemented alone or in combination with one or more of the above features, as long as these features do not contradict each other. Here, the preferred embodiment is described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0035] Other preferred embodiments of the present invention are described in more detail by the following description of the accompanying drawings. In the accompanying drawings:

[0036] Figure 1 A schematic top view showing a device for filling containers with a filling product in the form of a gyrator structure; and

[0037] Figure 2 A filling member for free jet filling of a filling product according to an embodiment is schematically shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0038] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments are described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Here, the same reference numerals are attached to the same, similar or functionally identical elements in the accompanying drawings, and the repeated description of these elements is partially omitted to avoid redundancy.

[0039] Figure 1A schematic top view of a device 1 for filling containers (not shown in the figure) with filling products is shown. Particularly preferably, the device 1 is used in beverage filling, for example for filling water (still or carbonated water), beer, juice, soft drinks, smoothies, dairy products, mixed drinks, etc. The containers to be filled can be glass bottles, PET bottles, cans, cartons or other suitable containers of other characteristics, which can be filled with liquid filling products, especially beverages.

[0040] The device 1 is implemented in the form of a rotor structure, comprises a filler carousel 10 and exemplarily comprises an inlet star 100 and an outlet star 200 .

[0041] First, the containers to be filled are transferred to the filler carousel 10 via an inlet star 100 , which is a transport device for the containers, also in the form of a revolver. The filler carousel 10 can rotate about an axis of rotation 11 .

[0042] The filler turntable 10 has a plurality of filling members 20 on its circumference (see Figure 2 ), the plurality of filling members 20 are provided for filling the containers with filling products. The filling of the containers can occupy substantially the entire circumference of the filler carousel 10 except for a small angular section between the two transport stars 100, 200, also known as the "filler dead corner", before the containers are transferred to the outlet star 200 after filling to transport the filled containers away.

[0043] Instead of the transport stars 100 , 200 , other suitable conveying devices, for example linear transport devices, can be used to supply containers to be filled to the filler carousel 10 and to carry away filled containers.

[0044] The transport path of the container through the device 1 is Figure 1 1 and 2. It is shown by the thick lines along the circumference of the rotor, ie the inlet star 100, the filler carousel 10 and the outlet star 200.

[0045] Figure 2 A filling member 20 is shown for introducing a filling product into a container to be filled. The filling member 20 is designed for free jet filling, i.e. filling without pressure and without contact between the filling member 20 and the container. In particular, the container for filling is not pressed to the mouth section 21 of the filling member 20 and is not biased by a biasing gas.

[0046] The filling member 20 has a product channel 22 which extends at least sectionally in the valve housing 23 to the mouth section 21 and is arranged to transport a filling product to the mouth section 21 from which it can flow into the container after crossing the free spray region Fb.

[0047] The filling member 20 has a filling valve 30, which is arranged to open and close the product channel 22 on the mouth side, wherein a plurality of opening positions, i.e. a plurality of opening cross sections, of the product channel 22 can be achieved by the filling valve 30. Preferably, the filling valve 30 is a regulating valve and / or a proportional valve which allows a continuous or gradual shifting of the valve opening position.

[0048] Figure 2 A preferred embodiment of a filling valve 30 is shown, in which a valve cone 24 is arranged on the mouth side in the product channel 22, which has a cylindrical shape that tapers toward the mouth section 21. The valve cone 24 and the associated valve seat 25 form an annular gap 26, which is formed on the inside at least in sections by the outer circumferential surface of the valve cone 24. On the outside, the annular gap 26 is delimited by the valve seat 25, which can be formed by a corresponding shape of the valve housing 23.

[0049] The valve cone 24 can be displaced in the axial direction, i.e. upward and downward. In this way, the annular gap 26 can be enlarged and reduced. The height adjustment of the valve cone 24 is preferably carried out steplessly in the working area, preferably between the completely open position and the closed position, by means of a suitable linear actuator 27.

[0050] The linear actuator 27 is characterized in that the linear actuator 27 can move the valve cone 24 in a targeted manner into a plurality of open positions. In other words, the linear actuator 27 and the valve cone 24 do not realize a shut-off valve that can only be switched to an open position and a closed position, as is usually the case with pneumatically actuated valve cones 24, but the linear actuator 27 realizes a plurality of open positions, preferably a gradual switching of the valve or a gradual opening position of the annular gap 26. Particularly preferably, the linear actuator 27 is a linear motor. Preferably, the linear actuator 27 and the valve cone 24 interact with the valve seat 25 to form a proportional valve.

[0051] The filling member 20 also has a regulating valve 28, which is preferably implemented as a proportional valve. The purpose of the regulating valve 28 is to adjust the desired volume flow of the filling product, i.e. the volume amount of the filling product introduced into the container per unit time. The regulating valve 28 is arranged upstream of the filling valve 30, in particular upstream of the valve cone 24, i.e. arranged upstream relative to the valve cone 24. The switching position of the regulating valve 28 is known and can be adjusted reproducibly, for example by using a stepper motor to drive the regulating valve 28.

[0052] One or more characteristics of the filling curve, for example the end of filling when a desired filling level is reached, or the entire filling curve can be determined using the regulating valve 28 .

[0053] The filling member 20 receives the filling product to be filled from a suitable filling product supply, which comprises a filling product reservoir (not shown in the figures), for example in the form of a central or annular tank, for temporarily storing and providing the filling product.

[0054] A flow meter (not shown in the figure) can be installed upstream of the regulating valve 28 to control or regulate the filling product flow, and the flow meter is configured to detect the fluid amount or volume flow of the filling product flowing through the product channel 22. With the help of the flow meter, it is also possible to determine the amount of filling product introduced into the container, for example by integrating or summing the determined volume flow, if necessary. In this way, the filling process can be assisted by closing the regulating valve 28 and the annular gap 26 after the desired filling product level is reached in the container to be filled. As an alternative to the flow meter, other sensors, such as weighing cells and short-circuit probes, can also be used. Alternatively, when a time filling process based on, for example, a calculation model is used to determine the volume flow, the sensor can be omitted.

[0055] The filling valve 30, in particular the linear actuator 27 and the regulating valve 28, is controlled and / or regulated by a control device 40. The control device 40 is connected in a signaling manner to the components of the filling member 20 to be controlled or regulated and / or read out, thus in particular to the linear actuator 27, the regulating valve 28 and a possible flow meter.

[0056] The communication between the control device 40 and the components to be controlled or regulated and / or read out can be carried out by wire or wireless, digitally or analogously. The control device 40 can accordingly receive and / or send signals (control signals, data, etc.), wherein both signal transmission in one direction and in both directions belong to the term "communication" in this context. In this context, the control device 40 does not necessarily have to be implemented by a central computing device or an electronic regulator, but it includes decentralized and / or multi-level systems, regulation networks, cloud systems, etc. The control device 40 can also be an integral component of a superordinate device controller or communicate with such a superordinate device controller.

[0057] The rotation of the filler carousel 10 causes a spray deflection θ of the filling product in the free spray area Fb. The spray deflection θ depends on the rotation speed ω of the filler carousel 10 and the outflow speed V0 of the filling product from the mouth section 21 of the filling member 20.

[0058] The control device 40 is configured to change the volume flow of the filling product during the filling process by means of (i.e., by controlling) the regulating valve 28 and simultaneously control the filling valve 30 in such a way, in particular by means of (i.e., by controlling) the linear drive 27 so as to adjust the annular gap 26 so that the filling valve 30 counteracts the change in the outflow velocity V0 of the filling product caused by the change in the volume flow. In other words, the outflow velocity V0 of the filling product should remain preferably constant or substantially constant within a predetermined interval during the change in the volume flow. In this way, the filling product can be safely introduced into the container even at a high rotation speed ω of the filler turntable 10 during the entire filling process.

[0059] Therefore, the regulating valve 28 and the linear actuator 27 are actuated relative to each other, in particular synchronously, by the control device 40. Here, the volume flow of the filling product is adjusted via the regulating valve 28, while the outflow speed V0 is adjusted via the annular gap 26. Therefore, the annular gap 26 does not assume a throttling function with respect to the volume flow, but serves to adjust the outflow speed V0, which in turn has an influence on the spray deflection θ.

[0060] Typically, the filling process follows a filling curve which represents the variation of the volume flow rate over time. Thus, the filling curve may comprise, for example, three segments, wherein, in this case, the controller is arranged to introduce the filling product into the container at an increasing volume flow rate during a first filling curve segment, then to keep the volume flow rate constant during a second filling curve segment and to gradually reduce the volume flow rate to zero at the end of the filling process.

[0061] If, for example, the regulating valve 28 is closed at the end of the filling process, the annular gap 26 is gradually reduced by the linear actuator 27 at the same time or with a slight offset so that the outflow velocity V0 does not change or changes only slightly when the volume flow is reduced. The opening process of the regulating valve 28 at the beginning of the filling process can be similarly accompanied by a gradual opening of the annular gap 26, so that the outflow velocity V0 and therefore the injection deflection θ remain constant or change only slightly.

[0062] By regulating the outflow velocity V0 of the filling product from the mouth section 21 of the filling member 20 as described herein in dependence on the volume flow specified by the regulating valve 28, it is possible to move at a high rotational speed ω of the filler carousel 10 without causing an unfavorable spray deflection θ. In this way, the entire processing angle of the filler carousel 10 can be used, since the spray deflection θ no longer needs to be taken into account in a special way.

[0063] By adjusting the annular gap 26, the outflow velocity V0 is adjusted and thus the jet deflection θ is controlled, which also allows the collision point of the filled product in the container to be optimized. This can be used, for example, to minimize possible foam formation when the filled product is introduced into the container. The optimal collision point, i.e. the optimal jet deflection θ, can be determined in advance, for example, by experiments or by observing the foam, for example with the aid of a camera. Here, the optimal jet deflection θ can be a function of time, filling level, filled product, position in the filling curve, etc.

[0064] It should be noted that the names of spatial relationships, such as "between", "vertical", "horizontal", "above", "below", "upstream", "downstream", "in front of", "behind", etc., are clearly determined by the design and intended use of the device 1.

[0065] Where applicable, all individual features shown in the exemplary embodiments may be combined with one another and / or exchanged without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0066] Description of reference numerals:

[0067] 1 Device for filling containers with filling products

[0068] 10 Filler turntable

[0069] 11 Axis of rotation

[0070] 20 Filling components

[0071] 21 Mouth segment

[0072] 22 Product Channels

[0073] 23 Shell

[0074] 24 Valve cone

[0075] 25 Valve seat

[0076] 26 Annular gap

[0077] 27 Linear Actuator

[0078] 28 Control valve

[0079] 30 Filling valve

[0080] 40 Control device

[0081] 100 Inlet star

[0082] 200 Export star

[0083] Fb Free jet area

[0084] Θ Jet deflection

[0085] V0 outflow velocity

[0086] ω Filler turntable speed

Claims

1. A device (1) for filling containers with a filling product, preferably a beverage, using a free jet method, wherein: The device (1) comprises: a filler carousel (10) rotatable about an axis of rotation (11), the filler carousel (10) being arranged to transport containers to be filled along a sub-circuit; At least one filling member (20) disposed on a filler carousel (10) comprises: a product channel (22) for transporting and introducing a filling product into the container, wherein the filling product leaves the product channel (22) at an outflow velocity (V0) at a mouth section (21) of the filling member (20), crosses a free ejection region (Fb) and in this case undergoes an ejection deflection (θ) in the free ejection region (Fb) by the rotation of the filler carousel (10); a regulating valve (28) configured to regulate the volume flow of the filling product in the product channel (22); and a filling valve (30) arranged downstream of the regulating valve (28) and configured to open and close the product passage (22), wherein a plurality of opening positions can be achieved by the filling valve (20); and A control device (40) is in communication with the regulating valve (28) and the filling valve (30) and is arranged to change the volume flow rate of the filling product in the product channel (22) by means of the regulating valve (28) during the filling process and simultaneously control the filling valve (30) in such a way that the filling valve (30) counteracts the change in the outflow speed (V0) of the filling product caused by the change in the volume flow rate.

2. The device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that The control device (40) is configured to control the filling valve (30) during a change in the volume flow of the filling product in the product channel (22) caused by the regulating valve (28) in such a way that the outflow speed (V0) of the filling product remains substantially constant.

3. The device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The control device (30) is configured to close the regulating valve (28) at the end of the filling process and to close the filling valve (30) simultaneously, preferably synchronously.

4. Device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The control device (40) is arranged in such a way that the volume flow in the product channel (22) is determined only by the regulating valve (28) and not by the filling valve (30).

5. Device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The control device (40) is configured to adjust the outflow speed (V0) of the filling product by controlling the filling valve (30) in such a way that a desired collision point of the filling product in the container is achieved.

6. Device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The filling valve (30) and / or the regulating valve (28) are proportional valves.

7. Device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The filling valve (30) comprises: a displaceable valve cone (24) arranged in the product channel (22), the valve cone (24) and an associated valve seat (25) forming an annular gap (26); and a linear actuator (27) connected to the valve cone (24) for displacing the valve cone (24); wherein the displacement of the valve cone (24) by the linear actuator (27) causes a change in the cross-section of the annular gap (26), wherein the linear actuator (27) is preferably arranged to gradually move the valve cone (24) between a fully open position and a fully closed position, wherein the linear actuator (27) is preferably a linear motor.

8. The device (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that The control device (40) is configured to change the volume flow of the filling product in the product channel (22) by means of the regulating valve (28) during the filling process and simultaneously control the filling valve (30) in such a way that the resulting change in the cross-sectional area of ​​the annular gap (26) offsets the change in the outflow velocity (V0) of the filling product caused by the change in the volume flow.

9. A method for filling a container with a filling product, preferably a beverage, using a free jet method, wherein: The method has: The containers are transported along a pitch circle by means of a filler carousel (10) rotating about an axis of rotation (11); During transport of the container, the filling product is introduced into the container through a product channel (22) of a filling member (20), wherein the filling product leaves the product channel (22) at a mouth section (21) of the filling member (20) with an outflow velocity (V0), crosses a free ejection region (Fb) and in this case undergoes an ejection deflection (θ) in the free ejection region (Fb) by the rotation of the filler carousel (10); During the introduction of the filling product into the container, the volume flow rate of the filling product in the product channel (22) is changed by means of the regulating valve (28) of the filling member (20), and at the same time, the filling valve (30) arranged downstream of the regulating valve (28) is controlled so that the filling valve (30) offsets the change in the outflow speed (V0) of the filling product caused by the change in the volume flow rate.

10. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that During a change in the volume flow in the product channel (22), the filling valve (30) is controlled in such a way that the outflow rate (V0) of the filling product remains essentially constant.

11. The method according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that: At the end of the filling process, the regulating valve (28) is closed and the filling valve (30) is closed simultaneously, preferably synchronously.

12. The method according to any one of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that The volume flow in the product channel (22) is determined only by the regulating valve (28) and not by the filling valve (30).

13. The method according to any one of claims 9 to 12, characterized in that By controlling the filling valve (30), the outflow rate (V0) is adjusted in such a way that a desired collision point of the filling product in the container is achieved.

14. The method according to any one of claims 9 to 13, characterized in that The filling valve (30) comprises: a displaceable valve cone (24) arranged in the product channel (22), the valve cone (24) and an associated valve seat (25) forming an annular gap (26); and a linear actuator (27) connected to the valve cone (24) for displacing the valve cone (24); wherein the displacement of the valve cone (24) by the linear actuator (27) causes a change in the cross-section of the annular gap (26), wherein the linear actuator (27) causes the valve cone (24) to move gradually, preferably between a fully open position and a fully closed position.

15. The method according to claim 14, characterized in that The linear actuator (27) is controlled during a change in the volume flow of the filling product in the product channel (22) by means of the regulating valve (28) so that the resulting change in the cross section of the annular gap (26) offsets the change in the outflow velocity (V0) of the filling product caused by the change in the volume flow.

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