There is provided an automated analyzer which can eliminate static charge on receptacles storing analytes or reagents to thereby offer improved accuracy of analysis. The automated analyzer comprises: a receptacle carrier mechanism operative to hold a plurality of receptacles storing liquid and to carry the held receptacles in a given direction; a reader device for reading identification information of the receptacles carried by the receptacle carrier mechanism; a static eliminator for eliminating static charge on the receptacles carried by the receptacle carrier mechanism; and an input/output controller for causing the static eliminator to carry out the elimination of the static charge in synchronism with successive reading by the reader device of the identification information of the receptacles carried by the receptacle carrier mechanism.

A drink filling system including: a bottle molding section; a sterilizing section that sterilizes a molded bottle; a rinsing section that rinses the bottle; a filling section that fills and seals the bottle; and a conveying unit that conveys the bottle from the molding section through to the filling section. A chamber covers a portion extending from the sterilizing section to the filling section, and an atmosphere shut-off chamber is provided between a sterilizing section chamber and a rinsing section chamber. An exhaust unit is provided for the atmosphere shut-off chamber and/or the sterilizing section chamber, a clean air supply unit is provided for a filling section chamber so that a clean air flows from the filling section chamber into the atmosphere shut-off chamber through the rinsing section chamber or further flows into the sterilizing section chamber, and the air-flow flowing therein is exhausted by an exhaust unit.

A plant (1) for filling and closing cans (2) under hygienic conditions which comprises a hygienic compartment (3), a lid applying device (7) and an inlet (30) for a filling material. The lid applying device (7) is arranged in the hygienic compartment (3) and the inlet (30) is formed on the hygienic compartment (3). When used as intended, one or more cans (2) can be assigned to the hygienic compartment (3) and the hygienic compartment (3) can be moved together with the can(s) (2) in the system (1).

An apparatus for closing fluid containers includes a rotary gassing station. In the rotary gassing station, at least one container containing a quantity of fluid within an interior space thereof receives a quantity of gas in the interior space. A rotary seaming station is positioned proximate to the rotary gassing station. In the rotary seaming station, a lid is seamed to an opening of the container to seal the quantity of fluid and the quantity of gas in the interior space. At least one container piston of the rotary seaming station is movable around a center axis of the rotary seaming station. The container piston holds the container between a first radial position when the container is within the rotary gassing station to at least a second radial position when a lid is seamed to an opening of the container in the rotary seaming station.

A method for filling a container (2) with a filling product, comprising the steps of: positioning the container (2) in a filling station (1) so that its mouth (2b) is below the filling valve (9); separating a treatment volume (40) of the neck (2a) comprised between the filling valve (9) and at least one part of the neck (2a) of the container (2) from an external environment (6) containing the body (2d) of the container (2); dispensing plasma into the treatment volume (40) so that it flows over the neck (2a) of the container (2); enabling the filling valve (9) to dispense the filling product into the container (2).

Apparatus and method for producing plastic bottles. An apparatus for producing plastic bottles includes a blow molding machine to receive and to stretch blow mold preforms into bottles. The apparatus includes a modular machine to receive the bottles from the blow molding machine and to at least one of label or print on the bottles. The modular machine includes a first unit to perform a first task. The first unit is replaceable with a second unit. The second unit is to perform a second task different from the first task. The blow molding machine is bloc-synchronized with the modular machine to space the blow molding machine a distance from the modular machine.

A system and method for filling liquid products into bottles are described. The system comprises a machine block with a blow-molding machine for providing a flow of bottles, with a labeler for labeling the flow of bottles, with a first and second transport stretch, each comprising a filler for filling the bottles, and with a distribution unit dividing the labeled flow of bottles to the transport stretches when the transport is fully populated at all circulating labeling positions of the labeler and all circulating filling positions of the fillers. The filling system comprises outflow conveyors downstream of the fillers, with a combining device for combining the transport stretches to form a common outflow for the flow of bottles, thereby reducing the transport speed during filling and subsequent handling of the bottles, as well as problems due to the product in the bottles spilling over during the closure process.

A bottle is conveyed to a filling device without being sterilized by a container sterilizer, and a culture medium is filled inside the bottle by using the filling device. Then, the bottle is capped with a cap using a cap attachment device. Thereafter, whether or not bacteria survive or propagate in the culture medium in the bottle is verified.

A beverage bottle filling device or container filling device and a method for filling beverage bottles or similar containers with a beverage or similar product. The abstract of the disclosure is submitted herewith as required by 37 C.F.R. 1.72(b). As stated in 37 C.F.R. 1.72(b): A brief abstract of the technical disclosure in the specification must commence on a separate sheet, preferably following the claims, under the heading Abstract of the Disclosure. The purpose of the abstract is to enable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and gist of the technical disclosure. The abstract shall not be used for interpreting the scope of the claims. Therefore, any statements made relating to the abstract are not intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.

A device for treating at least one container, for example a beverage filling system for filling and/or closing a container is described. The device includes a treatment carousel rotating about an axis of rotation with at least one treatment unit, arranged in the peripheral region of the treatment carousel, for treating the container that is to be treated, and a container holder arranged on the treatment carousel and assigned to the treatment unit, for holding the container during treatment with the treatment unit. A container transfer receptacle which is assigned to the container holder and is radially displaceable with respect to the axis of rotation is provided for receiving the container to be treated from an upstream treatment carousel and/or for transferring the now treated container to a downstream treatment carousel.