METHOD FOR FILLING A PLURALITY OF CONTAINERS WITH A BULK MATERIAL AND FILLING MACHINE

Description

The present invention relates to a method for filling a plurality of containers with a bulk material, and in particular to such a method applicable by an automatic filling machine.

In the field of filling machines for bulk materials, and in particular for fats and viscous liquids, automatic linear (or “in-line”) filling machines have been known for some time.

Generally, a linear filling machine comprises an inlet area in which empty containers to be filled are arranged, a filling station in which one container at a time can be filled with the material fed by a pump along a dedicated supply conduit and delivered by a dedicated nozzle, and an outlet area in which the filled containers are arranged; the inlet area, the filling station, and the outlet area are usually aligned with each other along an advancement direction, SO as to reduce the overall transverse dimensions of the machine. A linear filling machine further comprises advancement means configured to advance the containers one after the other along the advancement direction from the inlet area towards the filling station, and subsequently towards the outlet area.

According to the known automatic operation of linear filling machines, each empty container is initially advanced from the inlet area towards the filling station.

Once the empty container reaches a defined filling position in the filling station, the activation of the supply pump and the opening of the nozzle are commanded, and the delivering of the material from the nozzle is thus activated so that the material fills the container up to a predefined level (determined, for example, in terms of volume or weight of the material). At this point, the shutdown of the pump and the closure of the nozzle are commanded in order to interrupt the delivering of the material, and the container thus filled is then advanced towards the outlet area, while a further empty container is advanced towards the filling station to be filled.

The known machines described above have relatively small transverse dimensions, since the containers can be advanced through the entire machine in a single row (which is particularly advantageous in the case of large containers, such as containers with a capacity of 60 liters, 100 liters, or 200 liters), but they necessarily require that the supply pump is continuously turned on and off (so called “on-off”operation), so that the delivering of the material from the nozzle is activated when a container must be filled in the filling station and then interrupted when the container is full and advanced towards the outlet area, until a further container is arranged in the filling position.

The on-off operation of the filling machine has numerous drawbacks. First of all, the continuous activation and interruption of the delivering of the material can cause fluid hammer effects that may seriously damage the material supply conduits. Furthermore, the material being fed is subjected to continuous mechanical stress, which can damage the material itself, particularly in the case of fats. In addition, particularly in the case of highly viscous materials and if the supply conduits are very long, the material inside the supply conduits has high inertia, and therefore the actual activation and actual interruption of delivering from the nozzle do not occur at the exact moment of starting and stopping the supply pump, respectively. This can lead, on the one hand, to limitations in the productivity of the machine, and on the other hand, to the risk of overfilling the containers or even causing them to overflow. Finally, again in the case of highly viscous materials and long supply conduits, the temporary stagnation of the material inside the conduits can result in clogs and obstructions that can cause the conduits themselves to break, and whose removal can be complex and costly.

As an alternative to the on-off operation, machines have been proposed provided with recirculation lines designed so that, by closing the delivery nozzle while keeping the supply pump operating, the material downstream of the pump is continuously returned upstream of the pump until the nozzle is opened again. Although this solution avoids fluid hammer effects and material stagnation along the supply conduits, this solution still makes the material to undergo continuous mechanical stress, and is characterized by limited productivity and high energy consumption.

An object of the present invention is to overcome the above-mentioned drawbacks, and in particular to allow the filling of a plurality of containers with a bulk material (such as a fat or a highly viscous liquid), avoiding damage to the supply conduits and preventing the material from being subjected to excessive mechanical stress.

A further object of the present invention is to allow an accurate filling of the containers up to a predefined level, with high productivity and limited required footprint, even in the case of containers with a capacity of up to 200 liters.

These and other results are achieved according to the present invention by applying a method according to claim 1 and by making a filling machine according to claim 6.

Further features of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

The present invention will now be described, by way of illustration but not limitation, according to its preferred embodiments, with reference to the figures of the attached drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a simplified schematic representation of a filling machine according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of a first embodiment of the method according to the invention;

FIG. 2A is a schematic representation of the configurations in which the steps of the method according to the invention end, in the first embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of a second embodiment of the method according to the invention;

FIG. 3A: a schematic representation of the configurations in which the steps of the inlet sequence of the method according to the invention end, in the second embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a three-dimensional perspective view of a filling machine according to the invention, with containers positioned in the first filling position, in the first resting position, and in the second filling position;

FIG. 5 is a three-dimensional perspective view of the filling machine of FIG. 4, with containers positioned in the first filling position and in the second filling position;

FIG. 6 is a three-dimensional perspective view of FIG. 4 from an opposite viewing point;

FIG. 7 is a side view of FIG. 4, with a container resting on the loop elements;

FIG. 8 is a side view of FIG. 4, with a container lifted above the loop elements;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of a detail of FIG. 8.

With reference to FIG. 1, reference number 1 indicates as a whole a filling machine. In its essential elements, the machine 1 comprises an inlet area 2 in which a plurality of containers C can be arranged, a second filling station 3 in which a single container C can be positioned in a second filling position 3, a second resting station 4 in which a single container C can be positioned in a second resting position 4, a first resting station 5 in which a single container C can be positioned in a first resting position 5, a first filling station 6 in which a single container C can be positioned in a first filling position 6, and an outlet area 7 in which a plurality of containers C can be arranged.

In the order in which they are listed, the inlet area 2, the second filling station 3, the second resting station 4, the first resting station 5, the first filling station 6, and the outlet area 7 identify an advancement path, which preferably extends linearly along an advancement direction A.

The machine 1 further comprises advancement means 8 automatically controllable to advance the containers C along the advancement path: in this way, the containers C are movable along the advancement path through the aforementioned areas and stations.

The machine 1 further comprises filling means 9, 19, 29 automatically controllable to deliver a bulk material into the containers C positioned in the first filling position 6 and in the second filling position 3, i.e., to fill such containers C.

The expression “bulk material” here and hereinafter means any material that can be conveyed along supply conduits, i.e., for example, lubricating fats, quasi-solid materials (such as lard, honey, butter, or jam), liquids (more or less viscous, such as aqueous solutions or oils), or granular materials (such as sand, powders, or grains).

The filling means 9, 19, 29 comprise, in particular, supply conduits which terminate with delivery nozzles.

The machine 1 further comprises a control unit (not represented in the figures) configured to control the advancement means 8 and the filling means 9 according to the method described below.

With reference to FIGS. 2 and 2A, number 100 indicates as a whole a method for filling a plurality of containers C, in a first embodiment, implementing a filling cycle repeatable indefinitely as long as there are containers C to be filled in the inlet area 2.

The method 100 comprises the following steps from a to g (numbered in the figures respectively as 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, and 107), and defines a filling cycle:

• • a. initially, having a plurality of containers C (“empty,” indicated in FIG. 2A by white circles) in the inlet area 2, a container C in the second filling position 3 and a container C in the first filling position 6 (step a indicated by 101 in the figures);
  • b. filling or continuing to fill (depending on whether the container C in question is “empty” or already “being filled”) the container C positioned in the second filling position 3 with the material up to a predefined level, and simultaneously starting to fill with the material the container C positioned in the first filling position 6 (step b indicated by 102 in the figures); in this way, step b ends with a “full” container C (indicated in FIG. 2A by a black circle) positioned in the second filling position 3 and a container C “being filled” (indicated in

FIG. 2A by a partially black circle) positioned in the first filling position 6;

• • c. continuing to fill (i.e., without interruption with respect to the previous step) with the material the container C positioned in the first filling position 6, and simultaneously advancing the “full” container C positioned in the second filling position 3 towards the first resting position 5, advancing an “empty” container C from the inlet area 2 towards the second resting position 4, and advancing another “empty” container C from the inlet area 2 towards the second filling position 3 (step c indicated by 103 in the figures); in this way, step c ends with an “empty” container C in the second filling position 3, an “empty” container C in the second resting position 4, a “full” container C in the first resting position 5, a container “being filled” in the first filling position 6;
  • d. continuing to fill (i.e., without interruption from the previous step) the container C positioned in the first filling position 6 with the material up to a predefined level, and simultaneously starting to fill with the material the container C positioned in the second filling position 3 (step d indicated by 104 in the figures); in this way, step d ends with a container C “being filled” in the second filling position 3, an “empty” container C in the second resting position 4, a “full” container C in the first resting position 5, and a “full” container in the first filling position 6;
  • e. continuing to fill (i.e., without interruption from the previous step) with the material the container C positioned in the second filling position 3, and simultaneously advancing the “full” container C positioned in the first filling position 6 and the “full” container C positioned in the first resting position 5 towards the outlet area 7, and advancing the “empty” container C positioned in the second resting position 4 towards the first filling position 6 (step e indicated by 105 in the figures); in this way, step e ends with a container “being filled” positioned in the second filling position 3 and an “empty” container positioned in the first filling position 6;
  • f. continuing to fill (i.e., without interruption from the previous step) the container C positioned in the second filling position 3 with the material up to a predefined level, and simultaneously starting to fill with the material the container C positioned in the first filling position 6 (step f indicated by 106 in the figures) ; in this way, step f ends with a “full” container positioned in the second filling position 3 and a container “being filled” positioned in the first filling position 6, i.e., exactly as step b (102) ends;
  • g. repeating steps c to f (103, 104, 105, 106) (step g indicated by 107 in the figures).

In this way, a filling cycle is carried out that can be repeated an indefinite number of times, filling the containers C one after the other in a continuous cycle. Indeed, as noted above, step f (106) ends exactly the same as step b (102), and therefore steps c to f (103, 104, 105, 106) can be repeated consecutively as long as there are at least two containers C to be filled in the inlet area 2.

It should be noted that the terms “empty,” “being filled,” and “full” are to be understood with reference to the material delivered during method 100. It is clear that the containers C may have been previously partially filled with a different material (for example, if a mixture is to be created in the containers C), or that the containers C may subsequently need to be filled with a further different material.

It should also be noted that the expression “predefined level” refers to a determined quantity of the material, for example in terms of volume or weight of the material. It should be observed that, when applying method 100 as just described, the delivering of the material is never interrupted, since in at least one of the first filling station 6 and the second filling station 3, the material is always being delivered to fill the container C positioned there. Consequently, any potential damage to the filling means 9, 19, 29 caused by fluid hammer effects due to interruption of the material being delivered is avoided. Furthermore, the material flows continuously along the supply conduits, and is thus subjected to limited mechanical stress (thereby limiting the risk of damage), reducing the likelihood of clogs and obstructions, and increasing the productivity of the machine 1. Furthermore, the overall footprint of the machine 1 remains limited, as the containers C can be advanced through the entire machine 1 in a single row, which preferably extends linearly along the advancement direction A.

With reference to FIG. 3, number 1000 indicates as a whole a method for filling a plurality of containers C, in a second embodiment.

In particular, method 1000 in the second embodiment comprises all the steps of method 100 in the first embodiment, with the possible addition of certain steps occurring before step a (101) and/or certain steps occurring after step f (106) and alternative to step g (107).

In detail, method 1000 can comprise a first concluding sequence 200 comprising the following steps i1 and i2 (numbered in the figures respectively by 207 and 208), to be performed after step f (106) as an alternative to step g (107), in order to “exit” the filling cycle: i1. if there are no more containers C to be filled in the inlet area 2, applying step i2 (step i1 indicated by 207 in the figures);

• • i2. continuing to fill the container C positioned in the first filling position 6 with the material up to a predefined level (step i2indicated by 208 in the figures); in this way, step i2ends having a “full” container C positioned in the second filling position 3 and a “full” container C positioned in the first filling position 6. Steps i1(207) and i2(208) enable an automatic “exit” from the filling cycle defined by method 100 in the first embodiment, for example when there are no more containers C to be filled in the inlet area 2.

In addition, preferably, the first concluding sequence 200 can also comprise the following step i3 (numbered in the figures by 209) after step i2 (208):

• • i3. advancing the “full” container C positioned in the first filling position 6 and the “full” container C positioned in the second filling position 3 towards the outlet area 7 (step i3 indicated by 209 in the figures); in this way, step i3 ends with all “full” containers C in the outlet area 7.

Steps i1 (207) and i2 (208) (and possibly i3 (209)) are performed as an alternative to step g (107), since they require the absence of containers C to be filled in the inlet area 2, whereas step g (107) requires the presence of at least two containers C to be filled in the inlet area 2.

Method 1000 can comprise a second concluding sequence 300 comprising the following steps h1 to h4 (numbered in the figures respectively by 307, 308, 309, and 310), to be performed after step f (106), as an alternative to step g (107) and to the first concluding sequence 200, in order to “exit” the filling cycle when a single container C remains to be filled in the inlet area 2: h1. if there is a single further container C to be filled in the inlet area 2, applying steps h2 to h4 (step h1 indicated by 307 in the figures);

• • h2. continuing to fill the container C positioned in the first filling position 6 with the material, and simultaneously advancing the “full” container C positioned in the second filling position 3 towards the first resting position 5 or the second resting position 4, and advancing an “empty” container C from the inlet area 2 towards the second filling position 3 (step h2 indicated by 308 in the figures); in this way, step h2 (308) ends with an “empty” container C positioned in the second filling position 3, a “full” container C positioned in the first resting position 5 or in the second resting position 4, and a container C “being filled” positioned in the first filling position 6; h3. continuing to fill the container C positioned in the first filling position 6 with the material up to a predefined level, and simultaneously starting to fill with the material the container C positioned in the second filling position 3 (step h3 indicated by 309 in the figures); in this way, step h3 (309) ends with a container C “being filled” positioned in the second filling position 3, a “full” container C positioned in the first resting position 5 or in the second resting position 4, and a “full” container C positioned in the first filling position 6;
  • h4. continuing to fill the container C positioned in the second filling position 3 with the material up to a predefined level (step h4 indicated by 310 in the figures); in this way, step h4 (310) ends with a “full” container C positioned in the second filling position 3, a “full” container C positioned in the first resting position 5 or in the second resting position 4, and a “full” container C positioned in the first filling position 6.

In addition, preferably, the second concluding sequence 300 can also comprise the following step h5 (numbered in the figures by 311) after step h4 (310): h5. advancing the “full” container C positioned in the first filling position 6, the “full” container C positioned in the first resting position 5 or in the second resting position 4, and the “full” container C positioned in the second filling position 3 towards the outlet area 7 (step h5 indicated by 311 in the figures); in this way, step h5 ends with all “full” containers C in the outlet area 7.

Furthermore, with reference also to FIG. 3A, method 1000 can comprise an inlet sequence 90 comprising the following steps p1 to p5 (numbered in the figures respectively by 91, 92, 93, 94, and 95), to be performed before step a (101) in order to “enter” the filling cycle: p1. initially, having a plurality of “empty” containers C in the inlet area 2 (step pl indicated by 91 in the figures) ; p2. advancing an “empty” container C from the inlet area 2 to the first filling position 6, advancing an “empty” container C from the inlet area 2 to the first resting position 5 or to the second resting position 4, and advancing an “empty” container C from the inlet area 2 to the second filling position 3 (step p 2 indicated by 92 in the figures); p3. starting to fill the container C positioned in the first filling position 6 with the material (step p3 indicated by 93 in the figures); in this way, step p3 (93) ends with an “empty” container C positioned in the second filling position 3, an “empty” container C positioned in the first resting position 5 or in the second resting position 4, and a container C “being filled” positioned in the first filling position 6; p4. continuing to fill the container C positioned in the first filling position 6 with the material up to a predefined level, and simultaneously starting to fill with the material the container C positioned in the second filling position 3 (step p4 indicated by 94 in the figures); in this way, step p4 (94) ends with a container C “being filled” positioned in the second filling position 3, an “empty” container C positioned in the first resting position 5 or in the second resting position 4, and a “full” container C positioned in the first filling position 6; p5. continuing to fill the container C positioned in the second filling position 3 with the material and simultaneously advancing the “full” container C positioned in the first filling position 6 towards the outlet area 7, and advancing the “empty” container C positioned in the first resting position 5 or in the second resting position 4 towards the first filling position 6 (step p5 indicated by 95 in the figures); in this way, step p5 (95) ends with a container C “being filled” positioned in the second filling position 3 and an “empty” container C positioned in the first filling position 6, i.e., in the same configuration as step a (101).

Steps p1 to p5 (91 , 92, 93, 94, 95) of the inlet sequence 90 allow to automatically “enter” the filling cycle defined by method 100 in the first embodiment, for example when all the containers C to be filled are in the inlet area 2. If method 1000 comprises the inlet sequence 90 with steps p1 to p5 (91 , 92, 93, 94, 95), then the subsequent step a (101) consists of having a container C already “being filled” in the second filling position 3, and an “empty” container C in the first filling position 6; accordingly, the next step b (102) involves continuing to fill the container C positioned in the second filling position 3 with the material, since that container C is already “being filled” at the end of step p5 (95) and of step a (101). Conversely, if method 1000 does not comprise the inlet sequence 90, then step a (101) involves having a container C still “empty” in the second filling position 3, and an “empty” container C in the first filling position 6; accordingly, the next step b (102) involves starting to fill the container C positioned in the second filling position 3 with the material, since this container C is still “empty”.

With reference to both FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, preferably:

• • in step c (103), the container C positioned in the first filling position 6 is filled at a maximum flow rate, measurable for example as mass delivered per unit of time (kg/s);
  • in step d (104), the container C positioned in the first filling position 6 is filled at a first flow rate, and the container C positioned in the second filling position 3 is filled at a second flow rate greater than the first flow rate, wherein the sum of the first flow rate and the second flow rate is substantially equal to the maximum flow rate;
  • in step e (105), the container C positioned in the second filling position 3 is filled at the maximum flow rate;
  • in step f (106), the container C positioned in the second filling position 3 is filled at the first flow rate, and the container positioned in the first filling position 6 is filled at the second flow rate.

In this way, the filling means 9, 19, 29 deliver a substantially constant quantity of material per unit of time, equal to the maximum flow rate. This allows the machine 1 to operate at maximum productivity while further reducing the mechanical stress to which the material is subjected within the supply conduits.

Furthermore, if method 1000 comprises the inlet sequence 90:

• • in step p3 (93), the container C positioned in the first filling position 6 is filled at the maximum flow rate;
  • in step p4 (94), the container C in the first filling position 6 is filled at the first flow rate, and the container C in the second filling position 3 is filled at the second flow rate;
  • in step p5 (95), the container C in the second filling position 3 is filled at the maximum flow rate;
  • in step b (102), the container C in the second filling position 3 is filled at the first flow rate, and the container C in the first filling position 6 is filled at the second flow rate.

In this way, the filling means 9, 19, 29 deliver as a whole a substantially constant amount of material per unit of time also during the inlet sequence 90.

Additionally, if method 1000 comprises the first concluding sequence 200, then in step i2 (208 ), the container C positioned in the first filling position 6 is initially filled at the maximum flow rate, and finally at the first flow rate. In this way, the last container C positioned in the first filling position 6 is also filled precisely up to the predefined level.

Furthermore, if method 1000 comprises the second concluding sequence 300 with steps h1 to h5 (307 , 308, 309, 310, 311):

• • in step h2 (308), the container C in the first filling position 6 is filled at the maximum flow rate;
  • in step h3 (309), the container C in the first filling position 6 is filled at the first flow rate, and the container C in the second filling position 3 is filled at the second flow rate;
  • in step h4 (310), the container C in the second filling position 3 is filled initially at the maximum flow rate, and finally at the first flow rate.

In this way, even the last container C in the first filling position 6 is filled precisely up to the predefined level. In any case, preferably, the first flow rate is between 5% and 30% of the maximum flow rate, and consequently the second flow rate is between 70% and 95% of the maximum flow rate. In this way, each container C is initially filled in a “coarse” manner at the second flow rate, and then filled up to the predefined level in a “fine” manner at the first flow rate. This allows for particularly accurate filling of the containers C up to the predefined level.

Preferably, the filling of a container C in one filling position begins (in “coarse” manner, at the second flow rate) when the container C positioned in the other filling position is filled to a level between 75% and 90% of the predefined level (which at that point continues to be filled, but in “fine” manner at the first flow rate).

With reference to FIGS. 4 to 6, the machine 1 comprises a support structure 10 which defines the inlet area 2, the second filling station 3, the second resting station 4, the first resting station 5, the first filling station 6, and the outlet area 7, aligned in that order along the advancement direction A. In particular, in FIG. 4, a container C is positioned in the second filling station 3, a container C is positioned in the first resting station 5, and a container C is positioned in the first filling station 6; in FIG. 5, instead, a container C is positioned in the second filling station 3 and a container C is positioned in the first filling station 6.

The machine 1 further comprises the advancement means 8, which are automatically controllable to advance the containers along the advancement direction A. Preferably, the advancement means 8 comprise two loop elements 80, 81 closed on respective substantially identical and adjacent paths, extending partly along the advancement direction A, and actuator means (not visible in the figures) automatically controllable to circulate the loop elements 80, 81 along the respective paths according to substantially identical motion laws: each container C can rest over the loop elements 80, 81 so that the circulation of the loop elements 80, 81 along the respective paths causes an advancement of the container C along the advancement direction A.

Preferably, the loop elements 80, 81 consist of belts or chains.

Alternatively, the advancement means 8 can comprise a plurality of motorized rollers.

With reference to FIGS. 7 to 9, the machine 1 further comprises first lifting means 11 and second lifting means (not visible in the figures), which are automatically controllable to lift, with respect to the loop elements 80, 81, a container C positioned respectively in the first filling station 6 or in the second filling station 3. In this way, it is possible to fill the containers C while keeping them in the first filling station 6 and/or in the second filling station 3, while the loop elements 80, 81 are circulated to advance the other containers C along the advancement direction A. Indeed, for example, in step c (103) of method 100, it is necessary to continue filling the container C positioned in the first filling position 6, which must therefore remain in the first filling station 6, while other containers C are advanced along the advancement direction A.

The lifting means 11 preferably comprise at least one support element 110 positioned in the respective filling station 3, 6 and capable of holding a container C, and an actuator (not visible in the figures) controllable to move the support element 110 vertically.

With particular reference to FIG. 9, the lifting means 11 preferably comprise two support elements 110, 111 arranged externally alongside the loop elements 80, 81: the support elements 110, 111 are vertically movable under the action of the actuator between a first position in which they are arranged below the plane defined by the loop elements 80, 81 (FIG. 7), and a second position in which they are arranged above such plane (FIGS. 8 and 9). In this way, when the actuator moves the support elements 110, 111 to the second position, the support elements 110, 111 come into contact with the lower base of the container C arranged in the filling station 3, 6 thereof, lifting it with respect to the loop elements 80, 81.

Preferably, the support elements 110, 111 consist of circular-section metal bars elongated parallel to the advancement direction A.

With further reference to FIGS. 4 to 6, the machine 1 comprises first filling means 9 which in turn comprise a first pump (not visible in the figures) and a first common conduit 12 along which a first bulk material can be fed by the first pump, and which branches into a first delivery conduit 13 and a second delivery conduit 14. The first delivery conduit 13 and the second delivery conduit 14 terminate, respectively, at the first filling station 6 and the second filling station 3 with a first nozzle 15 and a second nozzle 16: the first pump is thus configured to feed the first material along the first common conduit 12 and the delivery conduits 13, 14, so that the first material is delivered into the filling stations 3, 6 through the nozzles 15, 16 and fills the containers C positioned in the filling stations 3, 6. Preferably, the nozzles 15, 16 are automatically controllable to adjust the flow rate (maximum flow rate, first flow rate, or second flow rate) at which the first material is delivered: in particular, nozzles 15, 16 can have an automatically adjustable outlet diameter.

The first filling means 9 can further comprise a first modulating valve 17 and a second modulating valve 18 positioned respectively along the first delivery conduit 13 and the second delivery conduit 14 and automatically controllable to adjust the flow of the first material flowing respectively along the first delivery conduit 13 and the second delivery conduit 14. The modulating valves 17, 18 allow even more precise control of the flow rate at which the first material is delivered by nozzles 15, 16.

The machine 1 can further comprise second filling means 19 and third filling means 29, controllable to deliver (alternatively to each other and to the first filling means 9) a second bulk material and a third bulk material, respectively, into the containers C positioned in the filling stations 3, 6. The second filling means 19 and the third filling means 29 are substantially identical to the first filling means 9, and therefore comprise respective pumps, respective common conduits (arranged in parallel with each other and with the first common conduit 12), respective delivery conduits, respective nozzles arranged in the filling stations 3, 6, and respective modulating valves. In this way, the machine 1 can be used at different times to fill the containers C continuously with three different bulk materials.

It should be noted that the machine 1 can comprise further filling means, in an indefinite number, automatically controllable to deliver (alternatively to the other filling means) further bulk materials into the containers C positioned in the filling stations 3, 6.

As previously stated, the machine 1 finally comprises a control unit (not visible in the figures) configured to control the advancement means 8 (therefore, in particular, the actuator means), the filling means 9, 19, 29 (in particular, the nozzles and the modulating valves, and optionally also the pumps), and the lifting means 11 (therefore, in particular, the actuators), such as to apply method 100, 1000 in its embodiments.

The present invention has been described, by way of illustration but not limitation, according to its preferred embodiments, but it is understood that variations and/or modifications can be made by a person skilled in the art without departing from the related scope of protection as defined in the attached claims.