IT202200023733A1 - MACHINE AND METHOD OF FILLING CONTAINERS - Google Patents

Description

DESCRIPTION

Title: MACHINE AND METHOD OF FILLING CONTAINERS

Technical field of the invention

The present invention relates to a machine and a method for filling containers, preferably with a fluid product, for example a food product.

State of the art

There are known batch-motion container filling machines, in which the containers of the same batch (which may also consist of a single container) pass in succession through a sequence of stations in each of which the containers are stopped to undergo the relevant treatment (e.g. filling, closing/sealing, etc.), to then be set in motion again towards the next station.

Summary of the invention

The term ?fluid? (eng: ?flowable?) referring to the dispensed product means a substance in liquid form (more or less viscous), gel or granular. In the food sector, examples of fluid products are: yogurt, spreadable creams, sauces, water, soft drinks, vinegar, milk, soluble powders, cereals.

The term ?batch of containers? refers to a finite set of containers in any number, including a single container, where typically the entire batch is subjected to the same treatment phase from time to time.

The expression "substantially vertical trajectory" means a trajectory that at every point forms an (acute) angle with the geodesic vertical having an amplitude (in absolute value) less than or equal to 45°. In the case of a trajectory that is at least partly curvilinear, for the purposes of the above definition, the angle formed, at every point of the trajectory, by a tangent to the trajectory with the geodesic vertical is considered.

The Applicant noted that known discontinuous motion filling machines have some advantages (in terms of reduced size, simplicity, and/or low purchase, operation and/or maintenance costs) compared to filling machines in which the full and not yet sealed containers do not undergo stops and/or restarts (e.g. rotary filling machines, in which the treatment station moves together with the container during the treatment itself).

The Applicant has however realised that the known discontinuous motion container filling machines have some drawbacks and/or can be improved in some respects.

In particular, the Applicant has observed that in such machines the container, once filled with fluid product in the filling station, but not yet sealed, undergoes at least one restart (from a standstill) from the filling station and/or at least one stop at the sealing station (and/or at a point between the two stations). The accelerations connected to such movement of the container generate inertial forces on the fluid product that can cause a temporary lifting of the product along the internal walls of the container (typically in correspondence with the region of the internal wall opposite to the direction of the acceleration).

This phenomenon of lifting of the fluid product can cause the internal walls of the container to be soiled by the product (especially if in viscous liquid form) above the resting level of the product, with consequent deterioration of the aesthetic appearance of the final product in the eyes of the consumer. Furthermore, this phenomenon of temporary lifting could in some cases (depending on the accelerations imparted and the degree of fluidity of the product, which may depend on the temperature of the product) cause the fluid product to leak out of the container. Furthermore, in the case of a fluid product comprising two or more layers of distinct materials, the aforementioned inertial forces can induce at least partial mixing between the layers.

On the other hand, in order to try to reduce or eliminate this lifting phenomenon, it is possible to limit the accelerations (positive and negative) to which the container is subjected, thus reducing the production capacity of the filling machine.

The Applicant therefore addressed the problem of filling (and subsequently sealing) a container with a fluid product in a rapid, efficient and/or economical manner, while also giving the final product a high quality, e.g. desired aesthetic presentation properties.

According to the Applicant, the above problem is solved by a machine and a method for filling containers in accordance with the attached claims and/or having one or more of the following characteristics.

According to one aspect, the invention relates to a container filling machine. Preferably said machine comprises a filling station. Preferably said filling station is structured to fill (at least partially) a batch of containers, preferably with a fluid product.

Preferably said machine comprises a sealing station. Preferably said sealing station is structured to seal said batch of containers.

Preferably said machine comprises a transport system. Preferably said transport system is structured to move said batch of containers, for example from said filling station to said sealing station, preferably along a trajectory forming part of a treatment path.

Preferably this trajectory is substantially vertical.

According to another aspect, the invention relates to a method of filling containers. Preferably said method comprises, in a filling station, filling a batch of containers with a fluid product.

Preferably said method comprises subsequently moving said batch of containers from said filling station to a sealing station along a trajectory.

Preferably said method comprises subsequently sealing said batch of containers at said sealing station.

Preferably this trajectory is substantially vertical.

According to the Applicant, the transport system structured to move the batches of containers (at least partly full) from the filling station (e.g. from a filling position, fixed in space, belonging to the filling station) to the sealing station (e.g. to a sealing position, fixed in space, belonging to the sealing station) with a substantially vertical trajectory (e.g. corresponding to a portion of the treatment path), allows the containers to be moved in such a way that, regardless of their direction of movement, the inertial forces acting on the fluid product inside the containers are directed substantially parallel to the gravitational acceleration (i.e. with a horizontal component of the inertial forces equal to or less than the vertical component). This allows the aforementioned phenomenon of temporary lifting of the fluid product to be reduced, up to completely eliminated, without at the same time having to limit the acceleration to which the containers are subjected. For example, by moving the container substantially vertically downwards from the filling station to the sealing station, the level of the fluid product inside the container remains substantially unchanged (as long as the acceleration of the container remains less than or equal to the acceleration of gravity, a value which is however high compared to the accelerations typical of the filling machine sector, and therefore generally acceptable).

In contrast to the present invention in which the entire trajectory is substantially vertical, the known discontinuous motion filling machines provide for a movement of the full containers from the filling station to the sealing station with a trajectory having at least one (purely) horizontal section, in which the aforementioned problem of the lifting of the fluid product due to inertial forces limits the acceptable values of acceleration of the container movement, with consequent limitation of productivity.

The present invention in one or more of the above aspects may exhibit one or more of the following preferred features.

Preferably, said trajectory (or its tangent) forms at each point with the geodesic vertical an (acute) angle having an amplitude (in absolute value) less than or equal to 30?, more preferably less than or equal to 20?, even more preferably less than or equal to 10?. In a particularly preferred embodiment, said trajectory is purely vertical, in other words, said trajectory (or its tangent) forms at each point with the geodesic vertical an (acute) angle having an amplitude (in absolute value) equal to 0?. As the amplitude of said angle decreases, the horizontal component of the inertial stresses undergone by the fluid product due to the movement of the full container until it is sealed is progressively reduced, until it is completely eliminated in the case of a purely vertical trajectory.

Preferably this trajectory is rectilinear. In this way the inertial forces generated by changes in direction are avoided.

In an alternative embodiment, the trajectory is an arc of a circle. In this way the machine is structurally simple, e.g. the transport system may comprise a wheel with a horizontal axis.

Preferably, said filling station is arranged at a different height, more preferably higher, than said sealing station. In this way, by moving the containers downwards, the filling devices (e.g. the dispensing nozzles), typically arranged above the containers, do not hinder the movement of the containers towards the sealing station (and do not have to be moved to allow such movement, to the advantage of the simplicity of the machine).

Preferably, said filling station comprises one or more filling devices (advantageously one for each container of the batch), preferably arranged horizontally aligned with each other, more preferably each filling device comprising a respective nozzle for dispensing said fluid product. Preferably, each of said one or more filling devices of said filling station is structured to dispense said fluid product into a respective container. In one embodiment, each of said one or more filling devices is in a spatially fixed position (e.g. integral with a frame of the machine). In this way, the machine is structurally simple.

In one embodiment, each of said one or more filling devices is vertically movable (and possibly horizontally fixed), for example in order to bring the respective dispensing nozzle closer to the bottom of the container (and progressively raise this nozzle as the filling progresses), to avoid the generation of splashes of the fluid product.

Preferably, said sealing station comprises one or more sealing devices (preferably arranged horizontally aligned with each other, preferably arranged parallel to said one or more filling devices). Preferably, each of said one or more sealing devices of said sealing station is structured to position a lid on a respective container and to fix (preferably by sealing) said lid to said respective container (e.g. by heat sealing, etc.). Preferably, said one or more filling devices are equal in number to said one or more sealing devices. In this way, the machine is suitable for working in batches. Preferably, said transport system comprises (at least) a housing body shaped to house said batch of containers. Preferably, said transport system comprises a movement member structured to move said housing body from said filling station to said sealing station. In this way, the movement of the containers of each batch is rational and structurally simple.

Preferably said housing body comprises a plate having, for each container of said batch, a hole (e.g. through) shaped to be engaged by said each container. In this way the housing body is simple and light. Preferably, with said housing body arranged in said filling station, each hole of said plate is vertically aligned with a respective filling device. In this way the machine is rational.

Preferably, said machine comprises a loading station. Preferably, said loading station is structured to load said batch of containers into the machine. Preferably, said machine comprises an unloading station. Preferably, said unloading station is configured to unload said batch of containers from the machine. Preferably, with reference to a direction of travel of said treatment path, said loading station is arranged upstream of said filling station. Preferably, with reference to said direction of travel of said treatment path, said unloading station is arranged downstream of said sealing station. In this way, the machine is rational.

Preferably, said loading station is positioned at the same height as said filling station. Preferably, said loading station is vertically aligned with said unloading station. In this way, the machine is compact and rational.

In one embodiment, the said unloading station is arranged at the same height as the said sealing station. In other words, the four stations, in lateral view, are arranged at the vertices of a rectangle with two vertical sides. In this way, the machine footprint is reduced and a closed path is created for the transport system.

In an alternative embodiment, the filling station and the sealing station are arranged, in lateral view, at two consecutive vertices of a rhombus (or a square) having a vertical diagonal, the remaining two vertices being each occupied by a respective further station of said machine (for example the loading station and the unloading station). In this way the trajectory, being substantially vertical but inclined with respect to the geodesic vertical, avoids the need to provide complex horizontal movement mechanisms of the filling devices (in particular those of the further filling station referred to below). Preferably said movement member is structured to position said housing body sequentially at (in order): said loading station, said filling station, said sealing station and said unloading station, and subsequently to return said housing body to said loading station. In this way the housing body transports a batch along an entire treatment path and is then brought back into position to accommodate a new batch, thus travelling along a closed loop.

Preferably, said transport system comprises a plurality of housing bodies (more preferably one housing body for each station of said machine). Preferably, said housing bodies can each be positioned in correspondence with one (and only one) respective station at a time. Preferably, said movement member is structured to simultaneously (and cyclically) move said housing bodies along a closed loop. In other words, for example, the housing body arranged in correspondence with the filling station (once the filling phase is finished) is moved towards the sealing station, where it stops to allow the containers to be sealed. Simultaneously, the housing body arranged in correspondence with the sealing station is moved towards the unloading station, leaving free space in correspondence with the sealing station to accommodate the housing body coming from the filling station (similarly for the remaining treatment stations). In this way, it is possible to simultaneously treat a plurality of containers. of batches of containers moving along the treatment path, each batch being housed on a respective housing body that travels in a closed loop.

In one embodiment, said machine comprises a further filling station. Preferably, said further filling station is interposed between said filling station and said sealing station, along said trajectory. Preferably, said further filling station comprises one or more further filling devices, more preferably arranged horizontally aligned with each other, even more preferably each further filling device comprising a respective further nozzle for dispensing the fluid product. Preferably, each of said one or more further filling devices of said further filling station is structured to dispense said fluid product into a respective container. In this way, it is possible to divide the filling phase into two (or more) successive filling stations, for example to fill the containers with different fluid products in multiple overlapping layers, or with the same product to improve the productivity of the process. In one embodiment (e.g. with a purely vertical trajectory), each of said one or more further filling devices is structured to dispense said fluid product into a respective container. movable (e.g. horizontally) with reciprocating motion (to allow the passage of the housing body).

Preferably said one or more additional filling devices are equal in number to said one or more filling devices.

Preferably, said unloading station is arranged at the same height as said additional filling station. Preferably, said machine comprises a parking station. In one embodiment, said parking station is arranged at the same height as said sealing station and vertically aligned with said unloading station. In this way, the machine is symmetrical (comprising a total of six stations). The parking station allows for the creation of a sequence of stations that is symmetrical with respect to a vertical plane, to the advantage of the synchronism of movement of the housing bodies, as explained above.

Preferably said method comprises, prior to said filling said batch of containers in said filling station, loading said batch of containers into a loading station. Preferably said method comprises, subsequent to said sealing said batch of containers in said sealing station, unloading said batch of containers into an unloading station. In this way the process of processing the batch of containers is completed.

Preferably said method comprises loading a further batch of containers into said loading station when said batch of containers is in one of said filling station and said sealing station, more preferably when it is in said filling station, even more preferably simultaneously with said filling of said batch of containers. In this way the next batch of containers is prepared to be filled. Preferably said method comprises, subsequent to said loading of said further batch of containers, moving said further batch of containers from said loading station to said filling station, preferably simultaneously with said moving of said batch of containers from said filling station to said sealing station. In this way, as soon as a filled batch of containers is removed, the further batch of containers is already positioned in the filling station. Preferably said method comprises, in said filling station, filling said further batch of containers with said fluid product when said batch of containers is in said sealing station, even more preferably simultaneously with said sealing of said batch of containers in said sealing station. In this way the process is efficient. Preferably said method comprises, subsequent to said filling of said further batch of containers, moving said further batch of containers from said filling station to said sealing station. Preferably said method comprises, subsequent to said moving of said further batch of containers, sealing said further batch of containers at said sealing station, more preferably simultaneously with said unloading of said batch of containers. Preferably said method comprises, subsequent to said sealing of said further batch of containers, unloading said further batch of containers at said unloading station.

Preferably said method comprises cyclically repeating said loading of a further batch of containers (and more preferably also the subsequent phases relating to the further batch of containers) for each batch of containers filled in said filling station. In this way the process is repeated for a desired number of batches of containers.

Brief description of the figures

Figure 1 schematically shows a partial perspective view of a first embodiment of a filling machine according to the present invention;

Figure 2 shows the machine of Figure 1 from a different point of view;

Figure 3 schematically shows a partial perspective view of a second embodiment of a filling machine according to the present invention;

Figure 4 shows the machine of Figure 3 from a different point of view;

Figure 5 shows a side view of the machine in Figure 3;

Figure 6 shows a diagram of a third embodiment of a filling machine according to the present invention in side view;

Figure 7 shows a diagram of a fourth embodiment of a filling machine according to the present invention in side view.

Detailed description of some embodiments of the invention

The features and advantages of the present invention will be further clarified by the following detailed description of some embodiments, presented by way of example and not of limitation of the present invention, with reference to the attached figures.

In the figures, the number 1 indicates a container filling machine 90. The machine 1 comprises, for example, a filling station 2, structured for example to fill, at least partially (depending on the embodiment, as better described below), a batch of containers 90 with a fluid product (not shown).

The batch of containers 90 comprises, for example, five containers 90, and the filling station 2 comprises, for example, five filling devices 3 (one filling device 3 for each container 90 of the batch), the filling devices 3 being arranged horizontally aligned with each other. Each filling device 3 is structured, for example, to dispense the fluid product into a respective container 90 and, for this purpose, comprises a respective dispensing nozzle 4 for the fluid product.

For example, each filling device 3 can be vertically movable, and preferably horizontally fixed, in order to bring the respective dispensing nozzle 4 closer to the bottom of the respective container 90 and progressively raise this nozzle 4 as the filling progresses.

The machine 1 comprises, for example, a sealing station 5, which is structured, for example, to seal the batch of containers 90. For example, the filling station 2 is arranged at a higher height than the sealing station 5.

As an example, the sealing station 5 comprises five sealing devices 6 (shown only schematically by means of a cylindrical-shaped element), one sealing device 6 for each container 90 of the batch, arranged horizontally aligned with each other and parallel to the filling devices 3, each sealing device 6 being structured to position a lid 91 on the respective container 90 and to fix, e.g. in a tight manner, the lid 91 to the respective container 90. As an example, for purely illustrative purposes, the lids 91 not yet fixed to the containers 90 are schematically shown stacked, each sealing device 6 being structured to take a lid 91 from the respective stack, position it on the respective container 90 and fix it to the container 90.

The machine 1 comprises, as an example, a transport system 7 (shown only schematically) structured to move the batch of containers 90 from the filling station 2 to the sealing station 5 along a trajectory 100 forming part of a treatment path.

For example, the treatment path is the path taken by a given batch of 90 containers from loading into the machine to unloading.

In the two embodiments of figures 1 to 5, the trajectory 100 is exemplarily rectilinear and purely vertical. In other words, in these two embodiments, the filling station 2 is vertically aligned with the sealing station 5.

In the embodiment of figure 6, the trajectory 100 is exemplarily rectilinear and substantially vertical, and forms an acute angle with the geodesic vertical 300 having an amplitude, in absolute value, equal to approximately 25°. In this embodiment, the filling station 2 and the sealing station 5 are arranged, in lateral view, in correspondence with two consecutive vertices of a rhombus having a (major) diagonal arranged vertically.

In the embodiment of figure 7, the trajectory 100 is exemplarily an arc of a circle, with a tangent to the trajectory at each substantially vertical point. For example, in the embodiment of figure 7, the transport system comprises a wheel (not shown) with a horizontal axis, the filling 2 and sealing 5 stations being arranged, on the circumference 500 described by the wheel, in correspondence with two distinct angular positions each having a respective acute angle ? and ?, with a horizontal diameter 200 of the wheel equal to a maximum of 45? (in absolute value).

In an alternative embodiment, not shown, the filling station can be positioned at a lower level than the sealing station (in this case the motion of the containers along the trajectory is directed upwards).

For example, machine 1 comprises a loading station 8 structured to load the batch of containers 90 into the machine, and an unloading station 9 configured to unload the batch of containers from the machine.

For example, the transport system 7 comprises at least one housing body 10 shaped to house the batch of containers 90, and a movement member 11 structured to move the housing body 10 from the filling station 2 to the sealing station 5.

For example, in figures 1-4 the movement organ 11 is depicted, in a purely schematic way for both embodiments, by means of eight transport belts 12, four of which are arranged vertically and four horizontally, to represent respective movement directions of the housing body 10 (with the direction established by the sequence of the stations, as described below).

As an example (shown only schematically), the movement organ is structured to make the housing body 10 follow a closed loop, passing sequentially through each station of the machine and cyclically repeating the path.

For example, the housing body 10 comprises a plate 13 having, for each container 90 of the batch, a through hole 14 shaped to be engaged by the respective container (the upper edge of which rests on the upper face of the plate). For example, with the housing body 10 arranged in the filling station 2, each hole 14 of the plate 13 is vertically aligned with a respective filling device 3.

In the embodiment of figures 1 and 2, the machine comprises, as an example, only the aforementioned four stations (i.e., with reference to said treatment path, in order, loading station 8, filling station 2, sealing station 5, unloading station 9). In this embodiment, the loading station 8 is arranged at the same height as the filling station 2, the unloading station 9 at the same height as the sealing station 5, the loading station 8 being vertically aligned with the unloading station 9. In this embodiment, the aforementioned four stations are therefore arranged, as an example, in lateral view, at the vertices of a rectangle (or square) with two vertical sides.

In the embodiment shown in figures 3-5, the machine 1 comprises, as an example, a further filling station 15 positioned between the filling station 2 and the sealing station 5, along the trajectory 100.

For example, the further filling station 15 comprises five further filling devices 16 (one for each container 90 of the batch), for example arranged horizontally aligned with each other, each further filling device 16 comprising a respective further dispensing nozzle 17 of the fluid product. For example, each further filling device 16 is movable horizontally with an alternating motion (represented by the double arrow in fig. 5), to allow the passage of the housing body 10 (since the trajectory 100 is for example purely vertical).

For example, the unloading station 9 is arranged at the same height as the additional filling station 15, the loading station 8 is arranged at the same height as the filling station 2, and the machine 1 also comprises a parking station 18 arranged at the same height as the sealing station 5 and vertically aligned with the loading stations 8 and unloading stations 9. In this embodiment, the loading station 8, the filling station 2, the sealing station 5 and the parking station 18 are therefore arranged, in lateral view, at the vertices of a rectangle with the two longer sides arranged vertically (fig. 5).

In the embodiment of figure 6, the loading station 8 and the unloading station 9 are arranged, in lateral view, in correspondence with the remaining two vertices of the rhombus. For example, the machine 1 also comprises a further filling station 15 (for example similar to that of figures 3 and 4) interposed between the filling station 2 and the sealing station 5 (for example as of the type shown for the embodiments of figures 1-4), along the trajectory 100, and a parking station 18, exemplarily interposed between the unloading stations 9 and the loading stations 8 and arranged at a respective height. Alternatively, in each of the embodiments of figures 3-5 and 6, the arrangements of the parking station 18, the loading station 8 and the unloading station 9 can be exchanged with each other, provided that, in each possible configuration, the unloading station 9 is maintained downstream of the loading station 8 with respect to the direction of travel of the treatment path.

With reference to the embodiment of figure 7, the machine, not shown, may further comprise a further filling station (e.g. as described above) and a corresponding parking station, e.g. as described above.

By way of example, in each of the aforementioned embodiments, the transport system 7 comprises a plurality of housing bodies 10, one for each station with which the machine is equipped (therefore four housing bodies for the embodiment of figures 1 and 2 and for the embodiment of figure 7, six housing bodies for the embodiments of figures 3-5 and 6 respectively), each of which can be positioned in correspondence with one and only one respective station at a time. By way of example, the movement member 11 is structured to simultaneously and cyclically move the housing bodies 10 from one station to another directly subsequent station by following a closed loop. By way of example, each housing body 10 transports a respective batch of containers 90 sequentially through all the stations with which the machine is equipped.

In use, the machine 1 allows to perform a method of filling containers 90 according to the present invention. This method exemplarily provides for the following steps. It is exemplarily envisaged initially to load a batch of containers 90 into the loading station 8, housing each container in a respective hole 14 of the housing body 10 arranged in correspondence with the loading station 8.

For example, fig. 1-4, the containers 90 are schematically taken from respective stacks of empty containers arranged in proximity to the loading station 8.

Subsequently, the method exemplarily comprises moving the batch of containers 90 from the loading station 8 to the filling station 2, where the containers are filled with a fluid product dispensed from the filling devices 3.

Subsequently, the method comprises moving the batch of containers 90 from the filling station to the sealing station 5 along the trajectory 100.

Depending on the embodiment of the filling machine used, the method may comprise, during the movement along the trajectory 100 and after the filling of the containers at the filling station 2, moving the containers to a further filling station 15, where the containers 90 are filled with further fluid product (which may be the same as that used in the filling station 2, or different).

Subsequently, the method comprises exemplarily sealing (e.g. by heat sealing lids 91) the batch of containers 90 in the sealing station 5. Subsequently, the method comprises exemplarily moving the batch of containers 90 from the sealing station 5 to the unloading station 9, where the batch of containers is unloaded from the machine, freeing the respective housing body 10.

For example, the free housing body 10 is returned to the loading station 8 to accommodate a new batch of containers, and the filling method can then be repeated for the new batch.

For example, since the transport system 7 of the filling machine 1 comprises a housing body for each station of the machine, and since the transport system is structured to move all the housing bodies simultaneously with one another from one station to the directly subsequent station, it follows that, when the batch of containers 90 is filled at the filling station 2, at the loading station 8 there is a free housing body to accommodate a further batch of containers.

Exemplarily, the further batch of containers follows the same phases described above with reference to the batch of containers 90, until their respective unloading from the machine. In particular, in the filling station 2 the further batch of containers is exemplarily filled with the fluid product simultaneously with the sealing of the batch of containers 90 in the sealing station. In the sealing station 5 the further batch of containers is exemplarily sealed simultaneously with the unloading of the batch of containers 90 in the unloading station 9.

In particular, the loading of a new batch of containers can be exemplarily foreseen whenever a batch of containers is being filled in the filling station. Therefore, the filling machine allows exemplarily to simultaneously process a number of batches of containers equal to the number of housing bodies present in the machine.

In filling machines comprising the additional filling station 15, the parking station 18 (in which a batch of containers is parked without necessarily undergoing treatment) allows for symmetry in the mutual arrangement of the stations. In fact, in order to be able to obtain with construction simplicity the synchronous movement of all the machine's housing bodies from each station to the next station, for each batch of containers stopped for filling at the additional filling station, it is advantageous to stop another batch of containers, or possibly just the empty housing body (if the parking station is after the unloading station and before the loading station), at the parking station for the time necessary to complete the further filling phase.

Claims (15)

1. Machine (1) for filling containers (90), the machine (1) comprising: - a filling station (2) structured to fill a batch of containers (90) with a fluid product; - a sealing station (5) structured to seal said batch of containers (90); - a transport system (7) structured to move said batch of containers (90) from said filling station (2) to said sealing station (5) along a trajectory (100) forming part of a treatment path, - where said trajectory (100) is substantially vertical. 2. Machine (1) according to claim 1, where said trajectory (100), at each point, forms with a geodesic vertical (300) an angle (?) having an amplitude, in absolute value, less than or equal to 30?. 3. Machine (1) according to any of the preceding claims, where said trajectory (100) is purely vertical. 4. Machine (1) according to any of the preceding claims, where said trajectory (100) is rectilinear. 5. Machine (1) according to any of the preceding claims, where said filling station (2) is arranged at a higher altitude than said sealing station (5). 6. Machine (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said filling station (2) comprises one or more filling devices (3), and said sealing station (5) comprises one or more sealing devices (6), each of said one or more filling devices (3) of said filling station (2) being structured to dispense said fluid product into a respective container (90), each of said one or more sealing devices (6) of said sealing station (5) being structured to place a lid (91) on a respective container (90) and to secure said lid (91) to said respective container (90). 7. Machine (1) according to claim 6, wherein said one or more filling devices (3) are arranged horizontally aligned with each other, wherein each of said one or more filling devices (3) comprises a respective dispensing nozzle (4) of said fluid product, wherein said one or more sealing devices (6) are arranged horizontally aligned with each other and parallel to said one or more filling devices (3). 8. Machine (1) according to any of the preceding claims, where said transport system (7) comprises at least one housing body (10) shaped to house said batch of containers (90), where said transport system (7) comprises a movement member (11) structured to move said housing body (10) from said filling station (2) to said sealing station (5). 9. Machine (1) according to claim 8, where said transport system (7) comprises a plurality of housing bodies (10) each positionable in correspondence with one and only one respective station at a time, and where said movement member (11) is structured to simultaneously move said housing bodies (10) along a closed ring. 10. Machine (1) according to any of the preceding claims, comprising a loading station (8) structured to load said batch of containers (90) into the machine (1), and an unloading station (9) configured to unload said batch of containers (90) from the machine (1). 11. Machine (1) according to any of the preceding claims, comprising a further filling station (15) interposed between said filling station (2) and said sealing station (5), along said trajectory (100). 12. Method of filling containers (90), the method comprising: - in a filling station (2), fill a batch of containers (90) with a fluid product; - subsequently, moving said batch of containers (90) from said filling station (2) to a sealing station (5) along a trajectory (100); - subsequently, seal said batch of containers (90) in said sealing station (5); where the said trajectory (100) is substantially vertical. 13. The method of claim 12, comprising loading a further batch of containers into a loading station (8) when said batch of containers (90) is at said filling station (2), and wherein said method comprises, subsequent to said loading said further batch of containers, moving said further batch of containers from said loading station (8) to said filling station (2) simultaneously with said moving said batch of containers (90) from said filling station (2) to said sealing station (5). 14. The method of claim 13, comprising, at said filling station (2), filling said further batch of containers with said fluid product when said batch of containers (90) is at said sealing station (5), wherein said method comprises, subsequent to said filling of said further batch of containers, moving said further batch of containers from said filling station (2) to said sealing station (5), and wherein said method comprises, subsequent to said moving of said further batch of containers, sealing said further batch of containers at said sealing station (5). 15. A method according to any of claims 12 to 14, comprising cyclically repeating loading a further batch of containers for each batch of containers (90) filled at said filling station (2).