DE102020132069A1 - Method and device for filling containers with a filling product - Google Patents

Abstract

Method and device for filling containers (100) with a filling product, preferably in a beverage bottling plant, the method having: transporting a first container (100) to be filled along a circular path (1c); during the transport of the first container (100), performing a first filling process in which the filling product is introduced into the first container (100), the first filling process at an initial starting angle (φ _Ini ) of the first container (100) on the circular path (1c) is started; determining an end angle (φ _stop ) of the first filling process, at which the first filling process of the first container (100) on the circular path (1c) is ended; transporting a second container (100) to be filled along the circular path (1c); and during the transport of the second container (100), performing a second filling process in which the filling product is introduced into the second container (100); characterized in that a variable start angle (φ _Var ) is determined as a function of the end angle (φ _Stop ) of the first filling process and the second filling process is started at the variable start angle (φ _Var ) of the container (100) on the circular path (1c).

Description

technical field

The present invention relates to a method and a device for filling containers with a filling product, preferably in a beverage bottling plant.

State of the art

Among the various methods and devices for filling containers with a filling product, technologies that are based on a rotary design are often used. In this case, a large number of filling elements are usually mounted on a carousel, which receives containers via an infeed star wheel, which are then filled via the filling elements during continuous circulation. The filling elements are usually supplied with the filling product from a common product tank or a ring line, which is also a rotating part of the carousel. After filling, the containers are transported away via an outfeed starwheel.

Filling via the filling elements follows a specific program sequence, which can differ depending on the filling product and other process parameters. For example, the program sequence can include one or more of the following steps: pressure-tight pressing of the container against the filling element; Gas exchange, especially in the case of oxygen-sensitive filling products; pressure increase and/or pressure reduction in the container; introducing the filling product; unloading of the container. The filling of the filling product on a rotary device is usually designed in such a way that the program sequence always starts at the same angular position of the carousel.

If filling products are filled that are not degassed up to a certain point, for example filling products mixed with additional oxygen, some of this gas can be released over time due to deflections, narrowing, widening and the like in the filling element. The resulting gas bubble can impair the accuracy of a flow meter, particularly in the case of an inductive design, to such an extent that the quantity of filling product actually filled does not match the measured quantity. With many rotary fillers, there is just not enough time to allow the gas to rise completely. This sets a technical limit to the maximum gas content, such as oxygen content, for the fill product.

The problem can be reduced either by stopping the device to allow the gas bubbles to rise into the product tank at the rotating part, or by reducing the production speed sufficiently to allow time for the gas bubbles to rise into the product tank. However, the solutions mentioned have the disadvantage that they are at the expense of the filler performance.

Presentation of the invention

An object of the invention is to provide an improved method and an improved device for filling containers with a filling product, preferably in a beverage bottling plant, in particular to improve the quality and/or reliability of the filling process while maintaining the filling performance.

The object is achieved by a method having the features of claim 1 and a device having the features of the independent device claim. Advantageous developments follow from the dependent claims, the following description of the invention and the description of preferred exemplary embodiments.

The device and the method serve to fill containers, usually a large number of containers, with a filling product. When terms such as "container", "filling device", "filling valve", "product line" etc. are used in the singular, this is usually done for the sake of linguistic simplicity. The plural is included unless expressly or technically excluded.

The device and the method are preferably used in a beverage bottling plant for bottling liquid foods such as water (still or carbonated), soft drinks, beer, wine, juices or mixed drinks. The technical effects of the invention are used particularly clearly when filling products containing a gas, the gas component(s) of which can be released or prone to childbirth.

The proposed method comprises the following steps: transporting a first container to be filled along a circular path; during the transport of the first container, performing a first filling process in which the filling product is introduced into the first container, the first filling process being started at an initial starting angle φ _Ini of the first container on the circular path; Determination of an end angle φ _stop of the first filling process at which the first filling pro process of the first container on the circular path has ended; thereafter, transporting a second container to be filled along the circular path; and during the transport of the second container, performing a second filling process in which the filling product is introduced into the second container.

The transport of the containers along a circular path can be realized by means of a device in a rotary design, as is described in more detail below.

The method according to the invention is characterized in that a variable starting angle φ _Var is determined as a function of the end angle φ _Stop of the first filling process and the second filling process is started at the variable starting angle φ _Var of the container on the circular path. The initial start angle φ _Ini and the variable start angle φ _Var usually differ from each other.

The designations “first” and “second” are used herein to differentiate between the correspondingly named filling processes, containers and the like. A sequence, order or prioritization is not implied. In the above definition of a regular bottling operation, two filling processes—a first and a subsequent second filling process—are compared with one another in order to precisely describe a displacement of the filling process start of a filling process depending on the filling process end of a preceding filling process.

The filling process does not necessarily only include the introduction of the filling product into a corresponding container, but the filling process can also include other processes associated with the actual filling, such as one or more of the following steps: pressure-tight pressing of the container against the corresponding filling valve; gas exchange in the container; pressure increase and/or pressure reduction in the container; relieving the container; Quiet the container. The filling process for a container thus follows a specific program sequence, which is defined by the filling product and other process parameters and is usually essentially retained during regular production for filling a large number of containers.

By varying the filler angle at which the filling process starts during regular operation depending on the end angle of a previous filling process, not only can the quality and reliability of the filling process be improved (e.g. by giving any gas bubbles sufficient time to escape from the corresponding filling element to rise), but an optimal compromise can also be found between the filler performance and the desired quality. In other words, if the end angle φ _Stop of a filling process is in front of a maximum process angle φ _Max by which the filling process in the rotary machine must be completed at the latest, there is a degree of freedom to vary the process start of one or more subsequent filling processes. This degree of freedom can be used to optimize production.

The variable start angle φ _Var is preferably behind the initial start angle φ _Ini in the transport direction of the container, ie the varied filling process is preferably shifted relative to the preceding or regular filling process along the circular path of the rotary machine and thus backwards in time. In this way, more time is available between the two filling processes considered, in which any gas bubbles can rise without the filler performance having to be reduced.

Normally, the circular path has a maximum process angle φ _Max , at which the filling process must be completed at the latest, with the variable start angle φ _Var preferably being determined as a function of the difference between the maximum process angle φ _Max and the end angle φ _Stop of the first filling process . The maximum process angle φ _Max can theoretically coincide with the angle at which the containers are discharged from the carousel, but is usually slightly earlier in order not to affect the discharge of the containers to the following station.

The difference between the variable start angle φ _Var and the initial start angle φ _Ini is preferably equal to the difference between the maximum process angle φ _Max and the end angle φ _Stop of the first filling process, minus a safety margin ψ _Sich . In this way, the displacement of the filling start between two filling processes can be maximized without jeopardizing the reliability of the filling processes.

The first filling process and the second filling process are preferably carried out in a periodic sequence in order to carry out the production optimization in a reproducible manner.

In this way, the start of the filling process can be shifted from the initial starting angle φ _Ini for every second round of the filler carousel. However, the principle can be generalized by shifting the start of the filling process for every Xth round. In other words, the first filling process is preferably carried out n times in succession, where n is a natural number. The second filling process is then preferably carried out exactly once. The following is particularly preferred: n=1 or n=2. This sequence of n first filling processes, followed by a second filling process, for example, can now be repeated periodically.

However, such a periodic operation is not strictly necessary since the magnitude and/or application of the variable starting angle φ _Var can be further generalized. Thus, a regular application of the variable start angle φ _Var is not required every X laps, nor does the variable start angle φ _Var have to correspond to the difference between φ _Max and φ _Stop or a function of this difference. Rather, the variable start angle φ _Var can be varied as a function of the end angle φ _Stop of a previous filling process in such a way that the overall process is optimized. The variation of the process parameter φ _Var can be carried out using a suitable algorithm, for example a self-learning algorithm.

Preferably, the first filling process and the second filling process include the same steps. In other words, the same filling product is preferably filled in the same way and only the starting angle of the filling processes is varied. The filling processes can, for example, each include one or more of the following steps: positioning the container; pressure-tightly pressing the container against a mouth portion of the corresponding filling valve; introducing a gas into the container; withdrawing a gas from the container; creating an overpressure in the container; creating a negative pressure in the container; introducing the fill product into the container; relieving the container; Removing the canister from the fill valve.

The object mentioned above is also achieved by a device for filling containers with a filling product, preferably in a beverage bottling plant.

The device comprises a rotatable filler carousel with a plurality of filling elements arranged on an outer circumference of the filler carousel, which are set up to introduce the filling product into the containers, and container holders assigned according to the filling elements, the filler carousel being set up to hold the filling elements and the correspondingly assigned container holders to be transported along a circular path. The container holders are designed to hold one container each, so that the containers move along the said circular path during regular operation of the device due to the rotation of the filler carousel.

The device also has a controller that is set up to control the filler carousel in such a way that a first container to be filled is transported along the circular path; during the transport of the first container, a first filling process is carried out, in which the filling product is introduced into the first container (via the filling element), the first filling process being started at an initial starting angle φ _Ini of the first container on the circular path; an end angle φ _stop of the first filling process, at which the first filling process of the first container on the circular path ends, is determined; a second container to be filled is transported along the circular path; and during the transportation of the second container, a second filling process in which the filling product is introduced into the second container is performed.

According to the invention, the controller is also set up to control the filler carousel in such a way that a variable start angle φ _Var is determined as a function of the end angle φ _Stop of the first filling process and the second filling process is started at the variable start angle φ _Var of the container on the circular path.

The features, technical effects, advantages and exemplary embodiments that have been described in relation to the method apply analogously to the device.

For the reasons mentioned above, the controller is preferably set up to control the filler carousel in such a way that the variable starting angle φ _Var lies behind the initial starting angle φ _Ini in the transport direction of the containers.

For the reasons mentioned above, the controller is preferably set up to control the filler carousel in such a way that the variable start angle φ _Var is determined as a function of the difference between the maximum process angle φ _Max and the end angle φ _Stop of the first filling process.

For the reasons mentioned above, the controller is preferably set up to control the filler carousel in such a way that the difference between the variable start angle φ _Var and the initial start angle φ _Ini is equal to the difference between the maximum process angle φ _Max and the end angle φ _Stop of the first filling process minus a safety margin ψ _Sich .

For the reasons mentioned above, the controller is preferably set up to control the filler carousel in such a way that the first filling process and the second filling process are carried out in a periodic sequence.

For the reasons mentioned above, the controller is preferably set up to control the filler carousel in such a way that the first filling process is carried out n times in succession, where n is a natural number, and the second filling process is then carried out once, with n=1 preferably applying or n=2.

The control can be centralized or decentralized, software-supported, part of Internet-based and/or cloud-based applications or implemented in some other way, and access databases if necessary. The controller can communicate with the corresponding components of the device (actuators, sensors, etc.) digitally or analogously, wirelessly or wired.

The filling elements preferably each comprise a filling valve which is set up to introduce the filling product into the corresponding container at a variable flow rate. The filling valve is a proportional valve, for example. Furthermore, the filling elements preferably each have a flow meter which is set up to detect the volume flow of the filling product introduced into a corresponding container. The measuring principle of the flow meter is preferably based on induction. The variable start of the filling process is particularly useful for filling elements of this type in order to optimize the accuracy of the volumetric flow introduced by the filling valve and detected by the flow meter.

Further advantages and features of the present invention can be seen from the following description of preferred exemplary embodiments. The features described therein can be implemented on their own or in combination with one or more of the features set out above, insofar as the features do not contradict one another. The following description of preferred exemplary embodiments is made with reference to the accompanying drawings.

character list

• 1 eine schematische Darstellung einer Vorrichtung zum Befüllen von Behältern mit einem Füllprodukt;
• 2a eine schematische Darstellung eines Füllprozesses ausgehend von einem initialen Startwinkel auf einer Kreisbahn;
• 2b eine schematische Darstellung eines Füllprozesses ausgehend von einem variablen Startwinkel auf der Kreisbahn.

Preferred further embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail by the following description of the figures. show:

• 1 a schematic representation of a device for filling containers with a filling product;
• 2a a schematic representation of a filling process starting from an initial starting angle on a circular path;
• 2 B a schematic representation of a filling process starting from a variable starting angle on the circular path.

Detailed description of preferred embodiments

Preferred exemplary embodiments are described below with reference to the figures. Elements that are the same, similar or have the same effect are provided with identical reference symbols in the different figures, and a repeated description of these elements is sometimes dispensed with in order to avoid redundancy.

the 1 shows schematically a device 1 for filling a container 100 with a filling product.

In the in the 1 shown embodiment, the device 1 comprises a filling valve 2, which introduces the filling product into the container 100 via a valve opening 2a. During the filling process, a mouth 110 of the container 100 is preferably in pressure-tight contact with the filling valve 2, as a result of which the filling process can be carried out as a counter-pressure method or a vacuum method. However, the filling valve 2 can also be designed as a free jet valve, so that the filling product is filled into the mouth 110 of the container 100 after bridging a free jet area.

The container 100 to be filled is held by a container holder 200, which has, for example, a retaining clip 210 for holding the container 100 to be filled in the neck area, approximately below a neck ring of the container 100 (not shown here), during filling on or below the filling valve 2 . This is also referred to as so-called “neck handling” of the container 100 to be filled. "Neck handling" is used in particular when filling plastic containers in the form of PET bottles.

In an alternative not shown in the figures, the container 100 to be filled can also be held or supported in its bottom area, for example by a guide plate on which the container 100 to be filled stands. This is also referred to as “base handling” of the container 100 to be filled. The "base handling" is used in particular in the case of filling glass bottles.

In an alternative, also not shown in the figures, the container 100 to be filled can also be held and/or supported and transported in the area of the container or bottle belly or in another suitable way.

The filling valve 2 is particularly preferably designed as a proportional valve 3 or comprises a sol Ches, which is upstream of the valve orifice 2a, ie is arranged upstream of the valve orifice 2a. Optionally, a check valve, which opens/closes the valve mouth 2a as required, can be provided in the area of the valve mouth 2a. The proportional valve 3 is in the embodiment 1 installed, for example, in a filling product line 5, but it can also be implemented in the region of the valve opening 2a by a correspondingly shaped valve cone with actuator and valve seat, not shown in the figures.

The proportional valve 3 is set up in order to be able to vary the volume flow of the filling product continuously or gradually, thus regulating the amount of filling product introduced into the container 100 per unit of time. The aim is to ensure efficient, precise and product-friendly filling.

The proportional valve 3 can, for example, be constructed in such a way that the dimensions of an annular gap through which the filling product flows can be varied. The switching position of the proportional valve 3, for example the currently switched dimension/dimension of the annular gap, is known and can be set in a reproducible manner, for example by using a stepping motor to drive the proportional valve 3.

With the proportional valve 3, one or more properties of the filling curve, i.e. the volume flow per unit of time, the filling curve in its entirety and/or the end of filling when a desired filling level is reached, can be defined.

Before it is actually filled into the containers 100 to be filled, the filling product is temporarily stored in a filling product reservoir 4, the filling product reservoir 4 being shown here in the form of a central tank of a rotary filler. In an alternative embodiment, the filling product reservoir 4 can also be designed, for example, in the form of a ring tank, a ring line or a distribution feed.

The filling product is filled into the filling product reservoir 4 up to a specific filling level and can be transported from there via the filling product line 5, which here has a first line section 50, a second line section 52, a third line section 54 and a fourth line section 56, to the filling valve 2 flow and are introduced from there into the container 100 to be filled.

In addition to the proportional valve 3 for controlling or regulating the flow of the filling product, a flow meter 6 is also provided, which is set up to detect the amount of fluid or the volumetric flow of the filling product flowing through the filling product line 5 . The quantity of filling product introduced into the container 100 can optionally also be determined by means of the flow meter 6, for example by integrating or adding up the determined volume flow. In this way, after a desired filling product level has been reached in the container 100 to be filled, the filling process can be terminated by closing the proportional valve 3 and/or by closing a non-return valve (not shown here). As an alternative to the flow meter 6, other sensors can also be used, such as load cells and short-circuit probes. Alternatively, a sensor can be dispensed with if a time-filling process is used, which is based, for example, on calculation models for determining the volume flow.

The filling valve 2 including the proportional valve 3, the flow meter 6 and sections of the filling product line 5, such as the line sections 52, 54 and 56, can form a conceptual and/or structural unit or component, which is referred to herein as the “filling element” 1b.

the 1 FIG. 1 shows only one filling element 1b which is in fluid connection with the filling product reservoir 4. However, the device 1 preferably has a large number of filling elements 1b which are located on the outer circumference of a filling carousel 1a (cf. 2a and 2 B) , which includes the common filling product reservoir 4, are arranged, as a result of which a filler is formed in a rotary design. The rotary filler rotates around a rotational axis R shown schematically in order to fill the containers 100 to be filled during the rotation and at the same time along a circular path 1b (cf. 2a and 2 B) to transport. For example, more than 20 or 50 filling elements 1b can be arranged on the circumference of the rotary filler, so that an efficient filling of a flow of containers 100 to be filled that is fed to the rotary filler can be carried out.

The device 1 can--as part of or outside of the filling element 1b--have one or more filters 7, which are arranged accordingly between the first section 50 of the filling product line 5 and the second section 52 of the filling product line 5. The filters 7 are each set up to clean the filling product before it is filled, for example to filter out particles, viruses, bacteria, germs, fungi, etc. from the filling product.

The current filling level of the filling product in the filling product reservoir 4 can be measured using a filling level probe 152, for example.

The device 1 also has a controller 150 which is set up for communication with the filling element 1b. In particular, the controller 150 is in communication with the proportional valve 3 and the flow meter 6 in order to determine the current switching position of the proportional valve 3 using the volume flow values determined by the flow meter 6 . Furthermore, the filling level in the filling product reservoir 4 can be evaluated by means of the controller 150 .

The controller 150 can be implemented centrally or decentrally, with software support, as part of internet-based and/or cloud-based applications, or in some other way, and also access databases if necessary. The controller 150 can communicate with the corresponding components digitally or analogously, wirelessly or by wire.

the 2a and 2 B show schematically a filling process of the device 1. The device 1 includes the above filler carousel 1a, on the outer circumference of which a plurality of filling elements 1b, in the 2a and 2 B not shown is installed. The filler carousel 1a is rotatable about the axis of rotation R, whereby the filling elements 1b and the containers to be transported 100 in the 2a and 2 B not shown, are transported along a circular path 1c.

The containers 100 to be filled are transferred to the filler carousel 1a at a defined transfer point, for example via an infeed starwheel (not shown). The angle of the filler carousel 1a at which the empty containers 100 are introduced and transferred to the device 1 is denoted as φ _Ein . The angle at which the filled containers 100 are discharged from the device 1, for example by being transferred to a discharge starwheel (not shown), is referred to as φ _Aus .

Theoretically, the filling process can essentially take up the entire circumference of the rotary machine, with the exception of a small angular segment Ψ _Tot , which is also referred to as the "filler dead angle". The filler dead angle Ψ _Tοt is structurally determined, for example by the installation space required for an infeed and outfeed star wheel.

The filling of the container 100 via the filling elements 1b follows a specific program sequence, which can differ depending on the design of the filling element 1b, the product to be filled and other process parameters. For example, the program sequence can include one or more of the following steps: pressure-tight pressing of the container 100 against the valve opening 2a of the corresponding filling valve 2; gas exchange in container 100; Pressure increase and / or pressure reduction in the container 100; introducing the filling product; unloading the container 100; Quiet the container 100.

For conceptual clarity, a distinction is made here between the "filling process", which refers to the introduction of the filling product into the container 100, and the "filling process", which in addition to the introduction of the filling product into the container 100 can include other processes associated with the filling, as exemplified above.

The filling of the filling product on a device 1 in a rotary design is usually designed in such a way that the program sequence always starts at the same angular position of the filler carousel 1a. The controller 150 therefore contains a process parameter that defines an initial start angle of the filling process. This initial starting angle is denoted as φ _Ini .

The filling process, including the introduction of the filling product into a corresponding container 100, now takes place starting from the initial start angle φ _Imi along a process segment until the filling process is completed after a process time has elapsed at an end angle φ _stop .

The filling angle at which the filling process must be completed at the latest is referred to as the maximum process angle φ _Max . Theoretically, φ _Max can coincide with φ _Aus , but is normally slightly earlier in order not to affect the rejection of the containers 100 to the subsequent station.

If the end angle φ _stop is before the maximum process angle φ _max , there is a degree of freedom to vary the start of the filling process. In other words, the controller 150 includes another process parameter φ _Var that defines the variable start angle of the filling process.

• Stellt die Steuerung 150 während eines regulären Füllbetriebs fest, dass der Füllprozess vor dem maximalen Prozesswinkel φ_Max, d.h. vor dem vollständig zur Verfügung stehenden Füllerwinkel abgeschlossen ist, so veranlasst die Steuerung 150, dass der nachfolgende Füllprozess, d.h. der Füllprozess der nächsten Runde, um den entsprechenden Winkel - gegebenenfalls abzüglich einer Sicherheitsmarge ψ_Sich - später beginnt.

In this way, the filling process can be varied in such a way that the removal of any gas bubbles from the filling valve 2 into the filling product reservoir 4 is optimized. According to a preferred embodiment, the start of the filling process is postponed as follows:

• If the controller 150 determines during a regular filling operation that the filling process is completed before the maximum process angle φ _Max , ie before the fully available filler angle, the controller 150 causes the subsequent filling process, ie the filling process of the next round, to the corresponding angle - possibly minus a safety margin ψ _Sich - starts later.

That regular filling process that begins at the initial start angle φ _Ini is also referred to herein as the “first filling process”. A filling process that is shifted compared to the first filling process and begins at the variable starting angle φ _Var is referred to as the “second filling process”.

If the transport and the filling process are clocked, the filling process is started later in the next round by the number of these additionally available clocks—possibly minus the specified safety margin ψ _safe .

In this way, additional time is generated in which any gas bubbles can rise into the filling product reservoir 4 .

For the subsequent lap, the controller 150 causes the filling process to start again at the initial starting angle φ _Ini, ie at the originally specified point.

The operating sequence presented above thus shifts the start of the filling process for every second round of the filler carousel 1a. However, the principle can be generalized by shifting the start of the filling process for every Xth round.

Furthermore, the magnitude and application of the variable starting angle φ _Var can be further generalized. Thus, a regular application of the variable start angle φ _Var is not required every X laps, nor does the variable start angle φ _Var have to correspond to the difference between φ _Max and φ _Stop or a function of this difference. Rather, the variable start angle φ _Var can be varied by the controller as a function of the end angle φ _Stop in such a way that the filling process, in particular the quality of the filling, is optimized. The variation of the process parameter φ _Var can be carried out using a suitable algorithm, for example a self-learning algorithm.

By varying the filler angle at which the filling process starts during regular operation, not only can the quality and reliability of the filling process be improved by giving any gas bubbles sufficient time to rise into the filling product reservoir 4, but it can also optimal compromise can be found between the filler performance and the desired quality.

As far as applicable, all individual features that are presented in the exemplary embodiments can be combined with one another and/or exchanged without departing from the scope of the invention.

Reference List

1

Device for filling containers with a filling product

1a

filler carousel

1b

filling element

1c

circular path

2

filling valve

2a

valve mouth

3

proportional valve

4

fill product reservoir

5

fill product line

50

First section of the fill product line

52

Second section of the fill product line

54

Third section of the fill product line

56

Fourth section of the fill product line

6

flow meter

7

filter

100

container

110

mouth

150

steering

152

level probe

200

container holder

210

retaining clip

R

axis of rotation

φA

entrance angle

φOff

exit angle

φIni

Initial starting angle of the filling process

φvar

Variable starting angle of the filling process

φstop

End angle of the filling process

φMax

Maximum process angle

ψ dead

filler blind spot

ψsafety

margin of safety

Claims (15)

Method for filling containers (100) with a filling product, preferably in a beverage bottling plant, the method having: Transporting a first container (100) to be filled along a circular path (1c); during the transport of the first container (100), performing a first filling process in which the filling product is introduced into the first container (100), the first filling process at an initial starting angle (φ _Ini ) of the first container (100) on the circular path (1c) is started; determining an end angle (φ _stop ) of the first filling process, at which the first filling process of the first container (100) on the circular path (1c) is ended; transporting a second container (100) to be filled along the circular path (1c); and during the transport of the second container (100), performing a second filling process in which the filling product is introduced into the second container (100); characterized in that a variable start angle (φ _Var ) is determined as a function of the end angle (φ _Stop ) of the first filling process and the second filling process is started at the variable start angle (φ _Var ) of the container (100) on the circular path (1c). procedure after claim 1 , characterized in that the variable start angle (φ _Var ) in the transport direction of the container (100) behind the initial start angle (φ _Ini ). procedure after claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the circular path (1c) includes a maximum process angle (φ _Max ) at which the filling process must be completed at the latest, and the variable start angle (φ _Var ) depending on the difference between the maximum process angle (φ _Max ) and the End angle (φ _stop ) of the first filling process is determined. procedure after claim 3 , characterized in that the difference between the variable start angle (φ _Var ) and the initial start angle (φ _Ini ) is equal to the difference between the maximum process angle (φ _Max ) and the end angle (φ _Stop ) of the first filling process minus a safety margin (ψ _Sich ) is. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first filling process and the second filling process are carried out in a periodic sequence. procedure after claim 5 , characterized in that the first filling process is carried out n times in succession, where n is a natural number, and the second filling process is then carried out once, with preferably n=1 or n=2. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first filling process and the second filling process comprise the same steps, preferably one or more of the following steps: positioning the corresponding container (100); pressure-tight pressing of the corresponding container (100) against a filling valve (2); introducing a gas into the corresponding container (100); withdrawing a gas from the corresponding container (100); creating an overpressure in the corresponding container (100); creating a negative pressure in the corresponding container (100); introducing the filling product into the corresponding container (100); unloading the corresponding container (100); Remove the corresponding container (100) from the filling valve (2). Device (1) for filling containers (100) with a filling product, preferably in a beverage bottling plant, the device (1) having: a rotatable filler carousel (1a) with a plurality of filling elements (1b) arranged on an outer circumference of the filler carousel (1a) which are set up to introduce the filling product into the containers (100) and corresponding to the filling elements (1b) associated container holders (200), wherein the filler carousel (1a) is set up to the filling elements (1b) and the correspondingly associated container holders ( 200) along a circular path (1c); and a controller (150) which is set up to control the filler carousel (1a) in such a way that a first container (100) to be filled is transported along the circular path (1c); During the transport of the first container (100), a first filling process is carried out, in which the filling product is introduced into the first container (100), the first filling process at an initial starting angle (φ _Ini ) of the first container (100) on the circular path (1c) is started; an end angle (φ _stop ) of the first filling process, at which the first filling process of the first container (100) on the circular path (1c) ends, is determined; a second container (100) to be filled is transported along the circular path (1c); and during the transport of the second container (100), a second filling process, in which the filling product is introduced into the second container (100), is carried out; characterized in that the controller (150) is also set up to control the filler carousel (1a) in such a way that a variable start angle (φ _Var ) is determined as a function of the end angle (φ _Stop ) of the first filling process and the second filling process at the variable Start angle (φ _Var ) of the container (100) on the circular path (1c) is started. Device (1) after claim 8 , characterized in that the controller (150) is set up to control the filler carousel (1a) so that the variable starting angle (φ _Var ) in the transport direction of the container (100) is behind the initial starting angle (φ _Ini ). Device (1) after claim 8 or 9 , characterized in that the controller (150) is set up to control the filler carousel (1a) in such a way that the circular path (1c) includes a maximum process angle (φ _Max ) at which the filling process must be completed at the latest, and the variable starting angle (φ _Var ) is determined as a function of the difference between the maximum process angle (φ _Max ) and the end angle (φ _Stop ) of the first filling process. Device (1) after claim 10 , characterized in that the controller (150) is set up to control the filler carousel (1a) in such a way that the difference between the variable starting angle (φ _Var ) and the initial starting angle (φ _Ini ) is equal to the difference between the maximum process angle (φ _Max ) and the end angle (φ _Stop ) of the first filling process minus a safety margin (ψ _Sec ). Device (1) according to one of Claims 8 until 11 , characterized in that the controller (150) is set up to control the filler carousel (1a) so that the first filling process and the second filling process are carried out in a periodic sequence. Device (1) after Claims 12 , characterized in that the controller (150) is set up to control the filler carousel (1a) so that the first filling process is carried out n times in a row, where n is a natural number, and the second filling process is then carried out once, wherein preferably n=1 or n=2. Device (1) according to one of Claims 8 until 13 , characterized in that the filling elements (1b) each have a filling valve (2) which is set up to introduce the filling product into the corresponding container (100) at a variable flow rate, the filling valve (2) preferably being a proportional valve. Device (1) according to one of Claims 8 until 14 , characterized in that the filling elements (1b) each have a flow meter (6) which is set up to detect the volume flow of the filling product introduced into a corresponding container (100), the measuring principle of the flow meter (6) preferably being based on induction .

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