An improved container transportation and filling system and method is provided. The system can deliver cartridges and other containers, such as tubes, in a horizontal orientation. The containers can have a closed bottom end and an open top end. A screw conveyor(s) is used to engage the containers and urge them forward and into rotation around the axis of the screw conveyor, from horizontal to vertical. A guide engages an end of the containers. The guide acts as a camming surface and guides the end of the container downward as it is advanced by the screw conveyor, to orient the container vertically for filling, capping and sealing. A second mirror image downstream screw conveyor and guide can reorient the container from vertical to horizontal.

An improved container transportation and filling system and method is provided. The system can deliver cartridges and other containers, such as tubes, in a horizontal orientation. The containers can have a closed bottom end and an open top end. A screw conveyor(s) is used to engage the containers and urge them forward and into rotation around the axis of the screw conveyor, from horizontal to vertical. A guide engages an end of the containers. The guide acts as a camming surface and guides the end of the container downward as it is advanced by the screw conveyor, to orient the container vertically for filling, capping and sealing. A second mirror image downstream screw conveyor and guide can reorient the container from vertical to horizontal.

An apparatus for treating containers includes treatment positions arranged on a transport element with a rotor, a transport element, treatment blocks, and functional elements. The treatment positions are formed on the treatment blocks, with at least two per block. Each treatment position ha all functional elements required for treating a container. The functional elements can be for controlled relative movement between treatment blocks and containers, for control of controlled fluid paths for a fluid treatment medium, for monitoring the treatment process, a functional element for controlling the treatment process, or for actuating elements or drives. At least one common functional element needed for treatment of the containers is provided jointly for all treatment positions assigned to one treatment block.

An apparatus for treating containers includes treatment positions arranged on a transport element with a rotor, a transport element, treatment blocks, and functional elements. The treatment positions are formed on the treatment blocks, with at least two per block. Each treatment position ha all functional elements required for treating a container. The functional elements can be for controlled relative movement between treatment blocks and containers, for control of controlled fluid paths for a fluid treatment medium, for monitoring the treatment process, a functional element for controlling the treatment process, or for actuating elements or drives. At least one common functional element needed for treatment of the containers is provided jointly for all treatment positions assigned to one treatment block.

A system and method for simultaneously filling containers with different fluent products are disclosed. The system includes a plurality of vehicles that are independently routable along a track system to deliver containers to at least one unit operation station for dispensing fluent materials into the containers. The containers receive one or more fluent materials that differ from another in ingredients and/or weight percentage of at least one ingredient.

A system and method for simultaneously filling containers with different fluent products are disclosed. The system includes a plurality of vehicles that are independently routable along a track system to deliver containers to at least one unit operation station for dispensing fluent materials into the containers. The containers receive one or more fluent materials that differ from another in ingredients and/or weight percentage of at least one ingredient.

A dummy container for controlling a container filling device includes a base, a housing, a locking mechanism, and an actuating mechanism. The housing is attached to the base and is movable in view of the base between a first extended position and a second collapsed position. The housing defines a fluid inlet extending into a pressure chamber. The locking mechanism is arranged between the housing and the base allowing locking of the housing in the first extended position in view of the base. The actuating mechanism is designed to release the locking mechanism between the base and housing upon a pressure increase in the pressure chamber, thereby triggering the movement of the housing into the second collapsed position in view of the base.

According to aspects of this disclosure there is provided a method for processing plastic containers comprising: i. Providing a container suitable for hot-filling; ii. Filling the container with heated or heatable liquid including water; iii. Sealing the container with a seal or cap to close the container; iv. Cooling the liquid in the sealed container to create a first headspace pressure within the container; v. Enclosing the cooled and sealed container within an open aseptic converter chamber, wherein the converter chamber comprises: 1. A sanitized environment; 2. Means for maintaining the sanitization of the container within the converter chamber; 3. Means for perforating or opening the cap or seal of the container within the converter chamber; 4. Means for sealing the opening or perforation within the converter chamber; and 5. Means for transporting or conveying multiple containers within the converter chamber. vi. Creating an opening in the seal or cap of the container within a sanitized environment of a perforator means or device for creating an opening in the seal or cap; vii. Increasing the first headspace pressure to a second headspace pressure within the container by the introduction of a sanitized fluid to the headspace of the container; viii. Resealing the container within a sanitized environment of a sealing means or device; ix. Transporting or conveying the sealed container from the sanitized environment of the converter chamber.

The embodiments disclose a method including bottling alcoholic beverages with selected ingredients including alcohol neutral spirits, alcohol and whisky, beer, wine, ingredients to add flavors and nutritional additive ingredients to benefit the health of an alcoholic beverage drinker, wherein a selection of alcohols includes vodka, tequila, gin, rum, brandy and other alcoholic spirits, wherein a selection of ingredients to add flavors includes flavorings including fruit flavorings, an artificial sweetener, and natural sweetener, wherein a selection of nutritional additive ingredients includes vitamins, minerals, fulvic acid, humic acid, ulmic acid and a purified and sanitized black water with humic acid and fulvic acid molecules in a mixed solution, and wherein bottling includes a bottling electronic monitoring, at least one control network, at least one bottling quality control process and a bottling labeling and packaging process and devices.

The present invention is directed to a method of inkjet printing an image on a glass container comprising the steps of: a) manufacturing a glass container having a CEC layer; b) removing at least part of the CEC layer to a level wherein the remaining CEC layer has a thickness of less than 20 nm by washing the CEC from the glass container with an aqueous solution containing non-ionic surfactant, rinsing with water and blowing the water from the container by means of a pressurized air stream, c) inkjet printing an image on the glass container.