A plastic container comprises an upper portion including a finish adapted to receive a closure, a lower portion including a base, and a sidewall extending between the upper portion and the lower portion. The upper portion, the lower portion, and the sidewall define an interior volume for storing liquid contents. The plastic container further comprises a pressure panel located on the container and moveable between an initial position and an activated position. The pressure panel is located in the initial position prior to filling the container, and is moved to the activated position after filling and sealing the container. Moving the pressure panel from the initial position to the activated position reduces the internal volume of the container and creates a positive pressure inside the container. The positive pressure reinforces the sidewall. A method of processing a container is also disclosed.

A multi-purpose container-handler includes a carrier for receiving and carrying the container, a handling station extending along a vertical axis, and a filling-and-closing member arranged on the handling station, connected to a filling product supply and a closure supply, and configured to both fill and close the container at the handling station. The filling-and-closing member comprises a filling valve and a mating holder, both of which are above the carrier. The carrier and the mating holder carry out controlled vertical movement relative to one another to cause the carrier and the mating holder to transition between a starting position, a filling position, and a closing position. The mating holder and the carrier are configured such that either mating holder or carrier generates a controlled force, which is either being a closing force directed vertically downward or a holding force directed vertically upwards.

A multi-purpose container-handler includes a carrier for receiving and carrying the container, a handling station extending along a vertical axis, and a filling-and-closing member arranged on the handling station, connected to a filling product supply and a closure supply, and configured to both fill and close the container at the handling station. The filling-and-closing member comprises a filling valve and a mating holder, both of which are above the carrier. The carrier and the mating holder carry out controlled vertical movement relative to one another to cause the carrier and the mating holder to transition between a starting position, a filling position, and a closing position. The mating holder and the carrier are configured such that either mating holder or carrier generates a controlled force, which is either being a closing force directed vertically downward or a holding force directed vertically upwards.

The present invention concerns a group (10) and method for measuring the pressure in closed containers (30) made from optically transparent material at least at a portion of a top space (31) thereof, and a filling and/or packaging plant (100) using the measuring group. In particular the present invention concerns a group and a method for contactlessly measuring the pressure in closed containers, able to be used directly in automatic filling and/or packaging plants operating at high speed, without the need to stop or slow down such plants or in any case to pick up the containers from the same. The measuring group for measuring the pressure in closed containers (30) made from optically transparent material at least at a portion of a top space (31) thereof, comprises at least one inspection area (20) adapted for the passage of at least one portion of a top space (31) of a closed container (30) of said closed containers; at least one laser source (11) with optical axis (A) for the emission of a laser beam at a wavelength tunable with an absorption wavelength of a gas contained in the top space (31) of the closed container (30), the at least one laser source (11) being positioned so as to direct the laser beam towards the at least one inspection area (20); at least one detector (12) positioned so as to detect at least one portion of the laser beam emitted by the laser source (11) once it has travelled through the inspection area (20) and to provide in output data representative of an absorption spectrum of said gas as a consequence of the passage of the laser beam through the inspection area (20); at least one device (14,14′) for detecting the signal acquisition time period corresponding to the passage of said at least one portion of a top space (31) of a closed container (30) through the inspection area; and is characterised in that it comprises means (41) for identifying signal contributions useful for the pressure measurement amongst the data representative of an absorption spectrum acquired during the signal acquisition time period.

In a carbonated drink filling method, a preform is continuously transferred and introduced into a heating furnace, heated to a temperature for molding the preform into a container, molded into the container in a molding die after the preform exits the heating furnace, conveyed in an upright position during which a coolant (F) is injected to a bottom of the container to cool the bottom. The container is filled with a carbonated drink (a) through a mouth portion of the container, and the mouth portion is then sealed. The coolant is injected in the cooling to the bottom of the container from a nozzle opening on either or both sides of a conveyance line of the container, and the nozzle opening is directed diagonally upward to the bottom of the container in such a manner that an extension of the nozzle opening intersects with the conveyance line of the container.

In a carbonated drink filling method, a preform is continuously transferred and introduced into a heating furnace, heated to a temperature for molding the preform into a container, molded into the container in a molding die after the preform exits the heating furnace, conveyed in an upright position during which a coolant (F) is injected to a bottom of the container to cool the bottom. The container is filled with a carbonated drink (a) through a mouth portion of the container, and the mouth portion is then sealed. The coolant is injected in the cooling to the bottom of the container from a nozzle opening on either or both sides of a conveyance line of the container, and the nozzle opening is directed diagonally upward to the bottom of the container in such a manner that an extension of the nozzle opening intersects with the conveyance line of the container.

An aseptic filling machine capable of performing molding and filling at the same time that has a compact facility size, requires a reduced initial investment, requires a reduced running cost because of its simplified process, and ensures an aseptic condition with reliability, and an aseptic filling method therefor. An aseptic filling machine includes a pre-heating sterilizing portion that sterilizes a preform, a heating portion that heats the sterilized preform, a molding and filling portion that fills the heated preform with a sterilized content under high pressure, thereby molding the preform into a bottle and at the same time filling the preform with the content, and a sealing portion that seals the bottle filled with the content. Before the aseptic filling machine starts operating, each portion is sterilized. During operation of the aseptic filling machine, aseptic air is supplied to each portion to maintain the aseptic condition.

An aseptic filling machine capable of performing molding and filling at the same time that has a compact facility size, requires a reduced initial investment, requires a reduced running cost because of its simplified process, and ensures an aseptic condition with reliability, and an aseptic filling method therefor. An aseptic filling machine includes a pre-heating sterilizing portion that sterilizes a preform, a heating portion that heats the sterilized preform, a molding and filling portion that fills the heated preform with a sterilized content under high pressure, thereby molding the preform into a bottle and at the same time filling the preform with the content, and a sealing portion that seals the bottle filled with the content. Before the aseptic filling machine starts operating, each portion is sterilized. During operation of the aseptic filling machine, aseptic air is supplied to each portion to maintain the aseptic condition.

To simplify management of a process of sterilization of a filling nozzle.

In a method for sterilizing a filling nozzle, hot water or a liquid chemical agent is fed to drink supply piping (7) that feeds a drink to a plurality of filling nozzles (2a) at the same time, the hot water or liquid chemical agent is discharged from all the filling nozzles (2a), a flow rate of the hot water or liquid chemical agent is detected at all the filling nozzles (2a), a representative temperature of the hot water or liquid chemical agent upstream or downstream of at least one filling nozzle is measured, and a sterilization process is ended when both the flow rate at each filling nozzle and the representative temperature reach respective target values.

An automated, unmanned continuous system (200) for packaging flowable food products at elevated temperatures and pressures includes an upstream thermal processing station (202) to heat the food products and direct the heated food products to a pressurized unmanned filling station (204), whereat containers (242) are filled with the heated food products within a pressurized housing (232), and then transported to a pressurized and unmanned sealing station (206) where the containers are sealed with a lid or cover (283) within a pressurized housing (282). Thereafter, the filled and sealed containers (242) are routed from the pressurized housing (282) through a pressurized transfer tube or passageway (208) for further processing at a downstream thermal processing station (210).