A method and apparatus for operating a filling machine having a stationary part, and movable part provided with filling elements, whereby each filling element has associated therewith at least one electrically actuatable valve and a signal emitter which is actuated by the filling material rising in a filling vessel or container briefly pressed into engagement on the filling element for filling thereof. For the filling elements the operating data are stored in a common electronic control unit connected with the terminals of the signal emitter as well as with the actuating device of the valves of the filling element; during a cycle phase of a timing cycle encompassing all filling elements and running for a predetermined period of time, by means of this electronic control unit, with the filling elements switched ready for operation, the operating conditions of the signal emitter or emitters and of the valve or valves of each filling element are scanned, whereby the predetermined time period amounts to a fraction of the time necessary for the completion of a filling process; and that each time a timing cycle is finished, there begins a new timing cycle, and the data of the operating conditions obtained by the cyclic scanning are stored in the electronic control unit and are compared with the preset operating data, and a possibly necessary signal is emitted to the valve or valves.
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