A container-treatment machine includes a frame, transport devices for conveying containers, and intermediate conveyors. Treatment stations, some of which are treatment modules, are arranged between the first and second transport-devices. The intermediate conveyors convey containers to corresponding ones of the treatment stations. The intermediate conveyors extend transversely between the transport devices. Some of the treatment modules are held on the frame so as to be removable from operating positions thereof.

A linear filling machine for filling containers that are transported in groups along a linear conveying path has a plurality of machine sections following one another along the conveying path. The respective machine sections form an input station for receiving the containers, a handling station for treating the containers, a filling station for filling the containers, and a discharge station for delivering the containers. The machine sections are exchangeable machine modules, wherein each machine module forms an independent functional unit with a power supply unit and a media supply unit, in particular a pneumatic medium supply unit. The supply units are arranged spatially separate from one another, with the power supply unit arranged on a first side and the pneumatic medium supply unit arranged on an opposite, second side of the machine module.

In a method of making a beverage, a plurality of beverage containers is placed onto a conveyor. A first phase including a base salt is dispensed into each one of the plurality of beverage containers. An acidic phase is dispensed into each one of the plurality of beverage containers. At least one of the first phase and the acidic phase includes water. At a third location on the conveyor that is spaced apart from both the first location and the second location, each one of the plurality of beverage containers is sealed individually with a substantially airtight seal at a predetermined amount of time after both the first phase and the acidic phase have been dispensed therein so that the first phase reacts with the second phase to carbonate the beverage therein with a predetermined amount of carbonation.

A conveyor and carriage assembly are synchronized to increase the speed of operation and eliminate any dwell periods to improve the rate at which a linear container filler is able to fill containers with a material. The fill rate approaches or exceeds that of prior art linear and rotary filling machines.

The present invention concerns a group (10) and method for measuring the pressure in closed containers (30) made from optically transparent material at least at a portion of a top space (31) thereof, and a filling and/or packaging plant (100) using the measuring group. In particular the present invention concerns a group and a method for contactlessly measuring the pressure in closed containers, able to be used directly in automatic filling and/or packaging plants operating at high speed, without the need to stop or slow down such plants or in any case to pick up the containers from the same. The measuring group for measuring the pressure in closed containers (30) made from optically transparent material at least at a portion of a top space (31) thereof, comprises at least one inspection area (20) adapted for the passage of at least one portion of a top space (31) of a closed container (30) of said closed containers; at least one laser source (11) with optical axis (A) for the emission of a laser beam at a wavelength tunable with an absorption wavelength of a gas contained in the top space (31) of the closed container (30), the at least one laser source (11) being positioned so as to direct the laser beam towards the at least one inspection area (20); at least one detector (12) positioned so as to detect at least one portion of the laser beam emitted by the laser source (11) once it has travelled through the inspection area (20) and to provide in output data representative of an absorption spectrum of said gas as a consequence of the passage of the laser beam through the inspection area (20); at least one device (14,14′) for detecting the signal acquisition time period corresponding to the passage of said at least one portion of a top space (31) of a closed container (30) through the inspection area; and is characterised in that it comprises means (41) for identifying signal contributions useful for the pressure measurement amongst the data representative of an absorption spectrum acquired during the signal acquisition time period.

A beverage bottle filling machine and a method of filling beverage bottles and similar containers.

A transferring device is provided for transferring containers from a container advancing device, where they are aligned in at least one row along an advancing direction, to at least one operating unit arranged outside the line, adjacent to the container advancing device, along a transferring direction transverse to the advancing direction. The transferring device includes at least two transferring arms, movable to selectively translate along the transferring direction from the container advancing device toward the operating unit.

A capping unit (100) for articles such as containers and/or bottles in general, of the type including at least one capping group (3) bearing one or more capping heads (8) for screwing caps (6) or capsules on the articles moved by at least one transport line (4). It includes at least one capping heads store (19), adapted to retain a series of capping heads (8), in order to allow the rapid and automatic exchange and substitution of the spindles (25) of the capping group (3); the capping group (3) being moved by an associated motorization, up to reaching the store (19) such to store and pick up, automatically from the group (3) itself the suitable capping head (8) as a function of the size of the caps (6) or capsules to be screwed.

A group and method for measuring the pressure in closed containers made from optically transparent material at least at a portion of a top space without contacting the containers, and a filling and/or packaging plant using the measuring group. The measuring group comprises an inspection area; a laser source with optical axis for the emission of a laser beam at a wavelength tunable with an absorption wavelength of a gas contained in a container top space; at least one detector to detect the laser beam once it has travelled through the inspection area to provide an absorption spectrum of said gas; a device for detecting the signal acquisition time period corresponding to the passage of a top space through the inspection area; having means for identifying signal contributions useful for the pressure measurement amongst the data representative of an absorption spectrum acquired during the signal acquisition time period.

A beverage bottle filling machine and a method of filling beverage bottles and similar containers.