In a filling machine, a circulation line connects a filling element to a filling tank at a location for drawing beverage from the filling tank and at a location for adding beverage to the filling tank. A controller connects to a measuring system that itself connects to either or both the filling tank and the circulation line. Based in part on measurements from the measuring system, the controller controls addition of beverage components at a dosage section along the circulation line.

A capping apparatus includes a capping chuck assembly having (i) one or more peripheral ejector projections to facilitate ejection of an upside down cap and/or (ii) a single collet style cap gripper with an adjustment assembly to facilitate handling of different cap sizes.

A machine for moving containers to be processed along a feed path. Containers are fed to an infeed station and an infeed transfer unit. The infeed transfer unit is configured to pick up one container at a time and carry it to a loading station of a carousel. The carousel includes supports for the containers. A detector detects an initial orientation of each container. A control unit calculates the angle of rotation of each support in order to orient each container loaded on a support of the carousel in a final predetermined orientation as a function of the initial orientation detected by the detector and the movement of the transfer unit. The support is rotated by the calculated angle of rotation.

A machine for moving containers to be processed along a feed path. Containers are fed to an infeed station and an infeed transfer unit. The infeed transfer unit is configured to pick up one container at a time and carry it to a loading station of a carousel. The carousel includes supports for the containers. A detector detects an initial orientation of each container. A control unit calculates the angle of rotation of each support in order to orient each container loaded on a support of the carousel in a final predetermined orientation as a function of the initial orientation detected by the detector and the movement of the transfer unit. The support is rotated by the calculated angle of rotation.

Apparatus and associated methods relate to a housing having a deformable membrane configured to interface with a programming module of an industrial product, where the deformable membrane includes a waved surface designed to deform under the finger pressure of a human user. In an illustrative example, the housing may be formed of a rigid material (e.g., polyamide) to serve as a protective barrier for the industrial product. The waved surface may have one or more waves (e.g., 7) that may possess certain dimensions and deformation parameters that are designed to allow a user to engage a programming switch via the deformable membrane. A user may advantageously provide input to the programming module via the deformable membrane without having to access the internal areas of the industrial product, thus avoiding the risk of damaging or interfering with the internal mechanisms and systems of the industrial product.

Apparatus and associated methods relate to a housing having a deformable membrane configured to interface with a programming module of an industrial product, where the deformable membrane includes a waved surface designed to deform under the finger pressure of a human user. In an illustrative example, the housing may be formed of a rigid material (e.g., polyamide) to serve as a protective barrier for the industrial product. The waved surface may have one or more waves (e.g., 7) that may possess certain dimensions and deformation parameters that are designed to allow a user to engage a programming switch via the deformable membrane. A user may advantageously provide input to the programming module via the deformable membrane without having to access the internal areas of the industrial product, thus avoiding the risk of damaging or interfering with the internal mechanisms and systems of the industrial product.

A re-stacker assembly used to stack container closures that are output by a can liner system includes at least one offloading assembly having a receiving portion, at least one loading device coupled to the offloading assembly, and a motion control system for detecting motion of the container closures and, in response to detecting such motion, driving the loading device to stack, or re-stack, the container closures in a predetermined manner.

A re-stacker assembly used to stack container closures that are output by a can liner system includes at least one offloading assembly having a receiving portion, at least one loading device coupled to the offloading assembly, and a motion control system for detecting motion of the container closures and, in response to detecting such motion, driving the loading device to stack, or re-stack, the container closures in a predetermined manner.

An automated system for carrying out capping tests is provided. The system comprises electronic processor means, a first container for randomly arranged caps, a second container for randomly arranged preforms, a quality control device for caps and preforms, a robotic device for identifying, selecting and picking a cap from the first container and a preform from the second container, and for subsequently placing the cap and the preform into corresponding seats of the quality control device, a capping control device, arranged downstream of the quality control device and configured for carrying out at least one cycle of application of the cap to the preform, so as to obtain a sample, and ascertaining one or more characteristics of the sample on the basis of mechanical and/or physical quantities detected during the application cycle, and a marking device for affixing, to each tested sample, a marking identifying characteristics ascertained in respect thereof.

A method for detecting a covering state of a laboratory sample container is presented. Light is injected into the laboratory sample container and an optical power is measured at a measuring location. A corresponding laboratory sample distribution system is also presented.