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.

A cap sterilization device (50) includes an introduction unit (52), a sterilant spraying unit (53) that sprays a sterilant onto a cap (33) supplied from the introduction unit (52), an air-rinsing unit (54) that subjects the cap (33) onto which the sterilant has been sprayed by the sterilant spraying unit (53) to air-rinsing, and a conveyance guide (70) that is disposed to extend successively through the introduction unit (52), the sterilant spraying unit (53), and the air-rinsing unit (54) and along which the cap (33) is conveyed from the introduction unit (52) toward the air-rinsing unit (54). The air-rinsing unit (54) is provided with an air-rinsing nozzle (83) that supplies hot air to the cap (33). The air-rinsing nozzle (83) is disposed such that a distal end (83a) thereof is in front of a proximal end (83b) thereof in a conveying direction of the conveyance guide (70).

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).

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).

An apparatus for filling product into containers includes a working chamber through which the containers pass and the containers are acted upon by a sterile fluid to avoid contamination. An external line extends through the working chamber having a plurality of gas openings for the introduction of sterile air into the working chamber and that an internal line extends into the external line having a plurality of openings for spraying a cleaning medium. An annular chamber extends in a longitudinal direction between the internal and the external line. The cross-sectional area of the annular chamber varies in the longitudinal direction so that an even distribution of sterile air emerging from the gas openings into the working chamber is achieved.

Closing machine for closing bottles or similar containers (2) using closures (3, 3a), having a plurality of closing stations (11) which each have a closing tool (12, 14) and a container carrier and are formed on the circumference of a rotor (4), which can be driven in circulation around a vertical machine axis (MA), wherein the rotor (4) has formed on it, in the region of the closing stations (11), a sterile chamber (5) which is bounded in the direction of the surroundings by walls or wall portions (6, 7, 8, 9) and into which the containers (2), which are retained in a hanging state on the container carriers, extend by way of their container mouth (2.1) which is to be closed, and wherein the respective closing tool (12, 14) extends into the sterile chamber (5) merely by way of a part which interacts with the container (2) which is to be closed and/or with the closure (3, 3a), all the rest of its functional elements being arranged outside the sterile chamber (5).

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.

A method is described for shaping the bottom of hot-filled containers, in which the bottoms of the containers are forced inwardly from a state bulged outwardly, in particular as they cool down. Complex mechanisms for forcing the bottom inwardly are dispensable for the reason that the bottoms are forced inwardly by at least one fluid jet and/or fluid pressure wave. In addition, shaping the bottom can advantageously be carried out in a production region immediately downstream of a closer.

An aseptic apparatus for filling and closing an aluminium receptacle. The aseptic apparatus may include a filling unit, which includes a first chamber, and at least one transfer star-wheel downstream the filling unit. The aseptic apparatus may also include a closures placing station arranged on a first zone of the transfer star-wheel that is located beside the filling unit. The closures placing station may be configured to place a concave closure onto a mouth of each receptacle. The aseptic apparatus may also include a closing unit arranged downstream from the transfer star-wheel. The closing unit may include a second chamber housing a closing machine that is configured to apply each concave closure around a neck of the corresponding receptacle. The first chamber may be at a first pressure and the second chamber may be at a second pressure that is lower than the first pressure.

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.