Carrier plate for conveyor-based filling system

A carrier plate configured for use with a filling system including a conveyor and at least one filling nozzle, the carrier plate comprising:

• a plurality of spaced-apart plate segments, each pair of adjacent plate segments defining a gap therebetween;
• and
• a receiving member disposed within each gap and coupled between the pair of adjacent plate segments on either side of the gap, each receiving member configured to retain a container to be filled with product, wherein each receiving member and corresponding gap is disposed on a travel axis extending transverse relative to the plurality of spaced-apart plate segments,
• wherein, the carrier plate is movable along the conveyor and relative to the at least one nozzle, each nozzle configured to dispense product into one of the cups and align on the corresponding travel axis such that, upon movement of the carrier plate along the conveyor and relative to the at least one nozzle, each nozzle passes through the gap defined between the corresponding pair of adjacent plate segments.