Abstract: A filling system for filling a container with a pourable product, in particular a pourable product having an electrical conductivity below 15 ?S, comprising: a tank filled, in use, with a pourable product; at least one filling valve selectively available in a configuration in which it allows the filling of the container with the pourable product; and at least one duct interposed between the tank and the filling valve; the system comprises a vortex flowmeter interposed along the duct.

Abstract: A machine for processing containers is disclosed. The machine has a conveying device and at least one processing unit coupled to the conveying device to be carried along a processing path. The processing unit is provided with: a winding element, having an outer lateral surface designed to receive, and cause winding of, a portion of labelling material in a tubular configuration with opposite ends overlapped, and a top surface designed to support a bottom portion of a container to be processed; a sealing device including a sealing element having a functional surface adapted to cooperate with said portion wound about said winding body for performing a welding process of the overlapped ends, as the processing unit is carried along the path, to form a sleeve label; and a displacement device, operable to cause a relative displacement between the sleeve label and the container.

Abstract: A fluid-agitating tank assembly is disclosed. The tank assembly includes a tank filled with a fluid, and an agitator disposed in the tank so as to be at least partially immersed in the fluid and supported by the tank in a rotatable manner about an axis. The agitator includes a double helix disposed in an upper volume of the tank and adapted to act on the fluid to transform unidirectional rotation of the agitator about the axis into a bidirectional movement of the fluid in the tank towards bottom and top portions of the tank, and at least one rotary blade projecting transversally from the axis, disposed in a lower volume of the tank, and rotating about the axis to move the fluid towards at least one lateral outlet of the tank.

Abstract: A plant for filling and capping a container is disclosed. The plant comprises a transfer unit configured to feed the container along a feeding path. The transfer unit is connected to a filling drum via an outlet station, and connected to a capping drum via an inlet station. The transfer unit also has an outlet segment at the outlet station, which is straight and tangent to the filling drum, and an inlet segment at the inlet station, which is straight and tangent to the capping drum.

Abstract: A filling machine for filling containers with a pourable product, comprising: a product tank containing the pourable product and a first gas maintained at a first pressure value; at least one dosing tank containing a second gas; a first pressurizing device configured to selectively pressurize the second gas in the at least one dosing tank to a second pressure value, that is lower than the first pressure value; a controller configured to: set the second valve in an open configuration after the at least one dosing tank has been pressurized to the second pressure value; and set the second valve in the closed configuration as the pressure detected by the sensor in the at least one dosing tank reaches a third pressure value corresponding to a predetermined volume of the pourable product in the dosing tank.

Abstract: A machine for carrying out at least one operation onto a first article and a second article is disclosed. The machine comprises feeding means for advancing a succession of the first article and the second article along a path and with a first speed; a first operative group, which comprises a first tool configured for carrying out operation onto the first article and which can be operated with a second speed associated to the first speed; gap creating means selectively controllable to create a first gap, which is arranged inside succession and is bounded between the first article and the second article; and a second operative group, which comprises a second tool configured for carrying out operation onto the second article and which can be operated at the second speed.

Abstract: A diagnostic method for a container processing machine including a rotating conveyor, and processing units carried by the rotating conveyor and designed to engage at least one container to carry out processing operations is disclosed. The method includes operatively coupling a first set of monitoring sensors to the processing units on-board the processing machine to monitor relevant operating parameters. The method also includes controlling the processing units to execute test operations in lieu of processing operations. The method further includes acquiring measurement data from the first set of monitoring sensors during the test operations. The method further includes processing the acquired measurement data to provide maintenance information on the reliability of at least one of the processing units or the processing machine.

Abstract: The invention relates to a container handling machine (1) having at least one operative unit (18) comprising first support means (21) to support a base (12) of a filled and closed container (3), second support means (24) cooperating with an end (17) of the container (3) opposite the base (12), a plunger (31) selectively moved along its axis (E) to perform a deformation operation on the base (12) of the container (3) from a first swollen configuration to a second inwardly-retracted configuration, and actuator means (35) selectively activated to move the plunger (31) along its axis (E) between a first position, detached from the base (12) of the container (3), and a second position, in which the plunger (31) defines the second configuration of the base (12); the machine (1) further comprises a control unit (41) configured to selectively activate the actuator means (35) for moving the plunger (31) along its axis (E); the second support means (24) are maintained at a constant distance from the first support means

Abstract: A labelling group for applying at least one label onto a respective article at an application station is disclosed. The labelling group comprises a transfer element, which is adapted to transfer the label along a trajectory which comprises a transfer station, and can be arranged in an operative position, in which the transfer station coincides, in use, with the application station; and a diverting device, which can be selectively arranged in: a first configuration, which allows the transfer element to convey the label along at least part of the trajectory and to release the label at the transfer station; or in a second configuration, which prevents the transfer element either from receiving the label or from releasing the label to the transfer station. The transfer element is movable in at least one rest position, in which the trajectory is spaced from the application station.

Abstract: A labelling machine for applying a first label and a second label onto a first article and a second article is disclosed. The labelling machine comprises a first conveyor for conveying a succession of the first article and the second article along a path; a first labelling group, which can be selectively arranged in a first operative configuration; and gap creating means adapted to create a first gap, which is arranged inside the succession and is bounded between the first article and the second article. The first labelling group is selectively arrangeable in a first rest configuration. The labelling machine further comprises a second labelling group, which can be selectively moved between a second rest configuration and a second operative configuration, in which the second labelling group transfers, in use, the second label to the second article.

Abstract: A capping machine for applying a cap on an open end of a container that is made of a deformable material and filled with a pourable product is disclosed. The machine comprises a conveying device and at least one operative unit moved by the conveying device along a processing path. The at least one operative unit comprises a support portion configured to receive and retain a container, and at least one capping head movable to and away from the open end of the container to apply the cap onto the open end of the container. The at least one operative unit further comprises a plunger movable to and away from an opposite closed end of the container to deform the closed end of the container so as to reduce an interior volume of the container and to increase an interior pressure of the container.

Abstract: A unit for carrying out an operation on a container fillable with a pourable product is disclosed. The unit comprises: a first area; a second area; at least one operative head, which is adapted to carry out the operation; at least one gripping device for gripping the container and which is movable between a rest position, in which the at least one gripping device receives or discharges the container; and an operative position, in which the at least one gripping device sets the container in a position in which the container undergoes the operation. The unit further comprises: a movable element, which is operatively connected to the at least one gripping device for moving the at least one gripping device between the rest position and the operative position, and which comprises a portion movable between the first area and the second area; and a bellow.

Abstract: A container handling machine having at least one operative unit is disclosed. The container handling machine includes a plunger configured to selectively move along a longitudinal axis and to deform a base of a container from a first swollen configuration to a second inwardly-retracted configuration, and an actuator configured to selectively move the plunger along the longitudinal axis between a first position, in which the plunger is detached from the base of the container, and a second position, in which the plunger deforms the base to the second configuration. The container handling machine further includes a control unit configured to selectively activate the actuator for producing a first stroke of the plunger along the longitudinal axis between the first position and the second position, in order to deform the base of the container.

Abstract: A container handling machine including at least one operative unit comprising support means to support a shaped container, and a plunger selectively moved along a given axis to deform a base of the container from a first swollen configuration to a second configuration, in which the base is in part retracted inwardly of the container with respect to the first configuration so as to form a recess delimited by a boundary surface defining an internal volume of the container smaller than that in the first configuration. The plunger is provided with a shaped head interacting with the container base and comprising: first engaging means and an interacting surface.

Abstract: A labelling unit comprises: support means, a receiving member, adapted to carry an article on a top end and to receive a label on a lateral surface, and supported by the support means in a translating and rotating manner with respect to a given axis, driving means including a driving shaft carried by the support means in a rotating manner about the axis and engaging an axial hole of the receiving member, and releasable fastening means to connect the driving shaft to the receiving member in a predetermined axial position. The releasable fastening means comprise a spline element movable transversely to the axis between a retaining position, in which the spline element locks axially the receiving member onto the driving shaft, and a release position, in which the spline element allows extraction of the receiving member from the driving shaft and the support means along the axis.

Abstract: A machine for filling a container having a longitudinal axis is disclosed. The machine comprises a conveying device, and at least one handling unit moved by the conveying device along a path. The at least one handling unit comprises a support device configured to receive and retain the container, and at least one filling device configured to feed a pourable product into the container as the at least one handling unit travels along the path. The machine further comprises an actuator configured to rotate the container about the longitudinal axis while the container is filled with the pourable product by the at least one filling device.

Abstract: A filling unit for contact or contactless filling an article is disclosed. The filling unit includes a tank comprising: a first valve, which may allow or prevent the fluidic connection between a first region of the tank and the article; a first fluidic line which extends from the tank to the article in case of contact filling; a second valve, which may allow or prevent the flow along the first fluidic line; and a control unit configured to set the first valve in a first closed configuration and the second valve in a second open configuration in case of contact filling. The filling unit further includes a second fluidic line distinct from the first fluidic line and extends from the inner volume of the article to a discharge area distinct from the tank; and a third valve, which may allow or prevent the flow along the second fluidic line.

Abstract: There is disclosed a container processing machine comprising a material handling surface for handling a sheet-like material through suction and a vacuum source in fluid connection with said material handling surface, the machine including means for detecting and transmitting a value of pressure of the gas being suctioned; a controllably operable flow valve; a control unit operatively connected with said detection and transmission means and with said flow valve; said detection and transmission means and said flow valve being arranged between said vacuum source and said material handling surface; said control unit being programmed to adjust the degree of opening of said flow valve in response to a signal which is a function of at least said value of pressure.

Abstract: An example includes a method for forming tubular lengths of linear web material. The example can include winding a portion of linear web material in a tubular configuration such that opposite vertical ends of said linear portion overlap. The example can include welding said overlapping ends to fix said linear portion of linear web material in sleeve configuration. This welding can include heating up at a first temperature a first region of said portion over the whole of which said ends overlap and heating up at a second temperature lower than said first temperature a second region of said portion adjacent to said first region, said ends of said portion of linear web material overlapping over only a part of said second region.

Abstract: There is described a unit for applying glue on a plurality of labels to be cold-glued on respective containers and for conveying labels applied with glue, comprising: a roll covered of glue and operable to rotate about a first axis; a first carousel operable to rotate about a second axis and which comprises, in turn, a plurality of paddles adapted to cooperate with roll to be covered with glue and to take a relative label from a storage; a second carousel operable to rotate about a third axis and which comprises, in turn, a plurality of hooks adapted to receive respective labels covered with glue from respective paddles and to move respective labels with glue applied thereon along a first path; at least a first belt operatively connected to first carousel and to one between roll and second carousel.