Filling machine

An apparatus comprising a filling machine for filling containers with a filling material, wherein said filling machine comprises a rotor, filling elements, a closure-element supporting-ring, closure elements, a stationary machine frame, a filling-material discharge opening, and a locking device, wherein said locking device is attached to said machine frame, wherein said stationary machine frame does not rotate with said rotor, wherein said rotor defines a vertical machine axis, wherein said rotor defines a pitch circle, wherein said pitch circle surrounds said machine axis, wherein said pitch circle is concentric with said machine axis, wherein said rotor is drivable to rotate about said vertical machine axis by a rotor drive, wherein said filling elements are provided on said rotor at even pitch intervals on said pitch circle, wherein said closure-element supporting-ring is concentric with said machine axis, wherein each closure element closes a corresponding filling element on an underside thereof during at least one of cleaning and disinfection of said filling machine, wherein each filling element comprises a filling material discharge opening, wherein relative movement between said closure-element supporting-ring and said rotor moves said closure elements between a non-engaged state and an engaged state, wherein, in said non-engaged state, said closure elements are arranged on said pitch circle between said filling elements, wherein in said engaged state, each closure element is situated on an underside of a corresponding filling element, wherein relative movement between said closure-element supporting-ring and said rotor is generated by said rotor drive, and wherein said locking device is configured to block co-rotation of said closure-element supporting-ring and said rotor in order cause said closure elements to transition between said non-engaged state and said engaged state.