Filling apparatus

An apparatus comprising a filling machine for pressure-filling containers, said filling machine comprising a rotating transport element that comprises receiving stations, each of which includes a filling element, a first lift, a shield, an adjuster, and a container receptacle for a container, said container receptacle being arranged beneath said filling element, wherein said first lift vertically adjusts said filling element in a vertical direction to accommodate different container sizes, wherein said shield, which is formed at said receiving station, is adjustable relative to said filling element and comprises a single-piece partition that defines at least a portion of a cylinder, wherein, during filling of said containers, said shield is in a protection position in which it at least partially surrounds said container, wherein said adjuster adjusts said shield and said container receptacle relative to one another between said protection position and a release position, wherein said adjuster adjusts said shield and said container receptacle relative to each other by changing a position of said container receptacle relative to said shield in a region of a feeding-and-discharge device, wherein said feeding-and-discharge device is arranged in a conveying region of said transport element for feeding said container to said transport element and for receiving a container that has been discharged from said rotating transport element, wherein said adjuster comprises at least one of a second lift and a rotation mechanism, and wherein said rotation mechanism rotates said container about a container axis thereof.

A method of using a filling machine for pressure-filling containers, said filling machine comprising a rotating transport element that comprises receiving stations, each of which includes a filling element, a first lift, a shield, an adjuster, and container receptacle for a container, said container receptacle being arranged beneath said filling element, wherein said first lift vertically adjusts said filling element in a vertical direction to accommodate different container sizes, wherein said shield, which is formed at said receiving station, is adjustable relative to said filling element and comprises a single-piece partition that defines at least a portion of a cylinder, and that is in a protection position in which it at least partially surrounds said container during filling thereof, wherein said adjuster adjusts said shield and said container receptacle relative to one another between a protection position into a release position by changing a position of said container receptacle relative to said shield in a region of a feeding-and-discharge device that is arranged in a conveying region of said transport element for feeding said container to said transport element and for receiving a container that has been discharged from said rotating transport element, and wherein said adjuster comprises at least one of a second lift and a rotation mechanism that rotates a container about a container axis thereof, wherein said method comprises using said filling machine to fill a container having a first size, adjusting said filling machine to accommodate a container having a second size that differs from said first size, and using said filling machine to fill said container having said second size, wherein adjusting said filling machine comprises adjusting a relative position of said shield relative to said filling element.