One embodiment of the present invention provides an apparatus for processing sealed plastic containers having a first headspace pressure. The apparatus may include: an open entry port or tunnel for continuously receiving containers; a sanitizer configured to sanitize outside surfaces of the received containers; a perforator configured to perforate or open a cap or seal of the containers within the apparatus; a sealer configured to seal the perforation or opening formed in the cap or seal of the containers; an open exit port of tunnel for continuously exiting the processed containers; and a conveyor system configured to transporting or convey the containers from the open entry port or tunnel, through and within the apparatus, to the open exit port or tunnel and away from the sanitized environment of the apparatus. The apparatus may be further configured to maintain a sanitized environment within the apparatus, perforator, and/or sealer.

An apparatus for filling a vessel with a multicomponent filling product includes a filler having at least one filling unit set up to introduce the filling product into the vessel, and a filler tank set up for intermediate buffering of the filling product and in fluid connection with the filling unit via a product conduit to supply the filling unit with the filling product; and a mixer set up to blend the filling product from at least two filling product components, wherein the mixer has a circulation conduit; and the mixer has at least one dosage branch set up to introduce one filling product component into the circulation conduit, wherein the mixer has a heat exchanger set up to adjust the temperature of the filling product in the circulation conduit.

The invention relates to a device for dispensing a small quantity of a liquid product, comprising a dispensing head (9) comprising an injection nozzle (7) to dispense a desired quantity of liquid product. The dispensing head (9) comprises an inlet (2) connected to a source of the liquid product (12) and an outlet (3) provided with the injection nozzle (7). It comprises a first valve (10) and a second valve (11) installed in series. The device comprises a control system (17) to command an opening sequence of the first valve (10) and of the second valve (11), resulting in a time of concomitant opening of the valves. The invention also relates to a method for introducing a liquid product into a container using this device. The invention makes it possible to obtain a dispensing head, which allows the dispensing of a liquid product for a period less than the minimum opening period of the valves that it comprises.

The invention relates to a system for introducing an additive into a container (2). The system comprises an automated device for transporting the container (2) in a horizontal plane (P), such as a rotary wheel. The system further comprises a static microdoser (5) having a nozzle from which a jet (7) of an additive issues upon passage of an opening of the container (2). Additive is so injected into said container (2). According to the invention, the nozzle of the static microdoser (5) is inclined relative to a direction orthogonal to said horizontal plane (P). This limits splashing, in particular when the jet (7) of additive hits an inner wall of the container (2) that is free of liquid. This can be facilitated by an acceleration applied on the container (2) which inclines the free surface (8) of the liquid material present in the container (2). A preferred application is the introduction of a flavored concentrate into a bottle of water.

A container filling assembly that can be used with container filling systems to fill containers during successive filling cycles with the same or different fluid compositions at high rates of speed, with little to no machinery changeover, and/or with little to no fluid waste.

The disclosure concerns a dispensing system, having at least one dispense location with at least one dispensing head configured to dispense a beverage through a bottom portion of a container. In one aspect, the dispensing head may dispense a plurality of different beverage ingredients which a user may select to dispense a custom beverage. In another aspect the dispensing system comprises a modular dispensing system having a plurality of dispense locations each connected through piping to a central, remote ingredient system.

One embodiment of the present invention provides a method for processing plastic containers within an open aseptic converter chamber comprising a sanitized environment, a supply line, a sanitizer device, a perforator device, a sealing device, and a conveyer. During operation, the method includes: providing and filling a container with heated or heatable liquid including water; sealing the container with a seal or cap; cooling the container to create a first headspace pressure; enclosing the container within the chamber; creating an opening in the seal or cap within a sanitized environment of the perforator device; increasing the first headspace pressure to a second headspace pressure by introduction of a sanitized fluid; resealing the container within a sanitized environment of the sealing device; and, transporting or conveying the sealed container away from the chamber.

The present invention relates to an improved nozzle assembly for the high-frequency dispensing of (small) volumes of a dosing fluid in a container, as well as a dosing system according to the nozzle assembly of the invention. The invention also relates to an improved volumetric device for a dosing system.

An apparatus for filling a vessel with a multicomponent filling product includes a filler having at least one filling unit set up to introduce the filling product into the vessel, and a filler tank set up for intermediate buffering of the filling product and in fluid connection with the filling unit via a product conduit to supply the filling unit with the filling product; and a mixer set up to blend the filling product from at least two filling product components, wherein the mixer has a circulation conduit; and the mixer has at least one dosage branch set up to introduce one filling product component into the circulation conduit, wherein the mixer has a heat exchanger set up to adjust the temperature of the filling product in the circulation conduit.

The present application provides a filling line for filling a container with one of a number of different beverages. The filling line may include a water circuit with a counter-pressure nozzle to fill the container with carbonated water and one or more micro-ingredient towers with a number of micro-ingredients therein positioned downstream of the counter-pressure nozzle to fill the container with the micro-ingredients.