Methods for simultaneously producing products in a single production system are disclosed. The method may be used to produce different fluent products and other types of products including assembled products. In some cases, the method includes providing a plurality of articles which are components of the products to be produced. The method further involves providing a system that includes a workspace, a plurality of unit operation stations, and a plurality of vehicles for the articles. At least some of the vehicles may be independently routable around at least a portion of workspace which is trackless. The method further includes simultaneously sending one article-loaded vehicle to a unit operation station where a step in the production of a product is performed and another article-loaded vehicle to a unit operation station where a step in the production of a different product is performed.

A filling system includes a conveyance chamber in which a center wheel for conveying vessels is housed inside, a filling chamber where filling machines are housed inside, an inlet/outlet wheel that transfers the vessels from the center wheel to the filling machine, an opening that allows conveyance of the vessels, and a shutter that closes the opening. The inlet/outlet wheel includes grippers configured from a fixed section and a movable section. The movable section can be raised or lowered with respect to the rotational axis of the inlet/outlet wheel. When the shutter closes the opening, movable section is raised or lowered by a predetermined amount relative to the fixed section, after which the movable section is rotated by a predetermined amount to a position where it does not interfere with the shutter.

A plastic container comprises an upper portion including a finish defining an opening into the container, a lower portion including a base defining a standing surface, a sidewall extending between the upper portion and the lower portion, the sidewall defining a longitudinal axis, and at least one substantially transversely-oriented pressure panel located in the lower portion. The pressure panel is movable between an outwardly-inclined position and an inwardly-inclined position to compensate for a change of pressure inside the container. The standing surface defines a standing plane, and the entire pressure panel is located between the standing plane and the upper portion of the container when the pressure panel is in the outwardly-inclined position.

Method for collision monitoring for a periodically moving, electrically driven component of a container handling machine with another component, wherein a limit value for a measured variable that is indicative of a collision between the components is stipulated that, when exceeded, prompts the drive of the component to be shut down, characterized in that the limit value for the measured variable is determined dynamically for a current period of the movement of the component on the basis of the measured variable measured during a preceding period, and a container handling machine designed to perform the method.

A system and method for independently routing vehicles and delivering containers and closures to unit operation stations are disclosed. The containers and closures can, in some cases, be transported on the same vehicle. In other cases, the containers and closures can be transported on different vehicles.

A process for packaging pressurized beverages. The process includes mixing liquid, a solute that depresses the freezing point of the liquid, and gas. Next, the liquid-gas mixture is allowed to rest. Then, retail containers are filled with the mixture. During the mixing and filling steps of the process, the liquid-gas mixture is subjected to pressures that are higher than atmospheric pressure. Unfortunately, such pressure cannot be maintained when the container is transferred from the filling station to the sealing station causing dissolved gas to leave the liquid and foam to overflow the container during the transfer. To prevent such an overflow, prior to the transfer, the dissolved gas is put to sleep by reducing the temperature of the liquid to below 0 C. (32 F.) and optionally allowing the liquid-gas mixture to rest. The liquid beverage may include milk, coffee, tea, fruit juice, chocolate or mixtures thereof, and may include a gum.

A plastic container comprises an upper portion including a finish defining an opening into the container, a lower portion including a base defining a standing surface, a sidewall extending between the upper portion and the lower portion, the sidewall defining a longitudinal axis, and at least one substantially transversely-oriented pressure panel located in the lower portion. The pressure panel is movable between an outwardly-inclined position and an inwardly-inclined position to compensate for a change of pressure inside the container. The standing surface defines a standing plane, and the entire pressure panel is located between the standing plane and the upper portion of the container when the pressure panel is in the outwardly-inclined position.

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 independently routing vehicles and delivering containers and closures to unit operation stations are disclosed. The containers and closures can, in some cases, be transported on the same vehicle. In other cases, the containers and closures can be transported on different vehicles.

A system and method for simultaneously filling containers of different shapes and/or sizes are disclosed. A plurality of vehicles are routable along a track system to facilitate simultaneous delivery of first containers and second containers to different unit operation stations. The first and second containers may differ from one another in outer shape and/or interior volume.