Continuous cycle bottling line thermal conditioning structure in controlled environment

Abstract

A continuous cycle bottling line for containers of thermoplastic material comprises: a parison molding unit; a blow-molding unit for making containers; a unit for filling the containers; a thermal conditioning structure for the parisons, for heating and cooling the parisons in a heating module and in a cooling module, respectively; an automatic controlled-atmosphere storage system for containing the parisons and interconnected with the other parts of the line; a pressurization system configured to pressurize at least the following parts of the line: the storage system, the at least one blow-molding unit and the connections between the thermal conditioning structure and the storage system; where the heating and cooling modules, alternatively or in combination, i) are pressurized, ii) have a plurality of shutters configured to occlude the opening at the end of each parison, so that the interior of the parison remains closed when the parison is inside the heating and cooling module.

Claims

1. A continuous cycle bottling line for containers of thermoplastic material, comprising: at least one moulding unit for making parisons of thermoplastic material from the thermoplastic material in raw form; at least one blow-moulding unit configured to receive and to blow-mould the parisons in such a way as to make containers designed to be filled; at least one filling unit configured to receive the containers from the blow-moulding unit and to fill the containers with liquid or semi-liquid food products; a parison thermal conditioning structure configured to receive the parisons from the moulding unit and to heat and cool the parisons; an automatic storage system internally defining a controlled atmosphere, configured to contain the parisons and connected to the thermal conditioning structure to receive and feed parisons from and to the thermal conditioning structure, wherein the thermal conditioning structure comprises at least one cooling module, connected downstream of the parison moulding unit to receive parisons to be cooled and to the storage system to transfer the cooled parisons, and at least one heating module connected to the storage system to receive previously stored parisons to be heated and connected upstream of the blow-moulding unit in order to feed the blow-moulding unit with heated parisons, the bottling line comprising a pressurization system configured to generate an overpressure at least inside the following parts of the line, compared to the atmosphere outside the line: the storage system, the at least one blow-moulding unit and connections between the thermal conditioning structure and the storage system, and each one of the at least one heating module and the at least one cooling module of the thermal conditioning structure, alternatively or in combination: i) is internally pressurized; ii) has a plurality of shutters configured to occlude an opening at the end of each parison, so that an interior of the parison remains closed when the parison is inside the heating and cooling module, and wherein the connections between the thermal conditioning structure and the storage system comprise: closed ducts provided with slots to allow controlled flow of air from an environment inside the ducts, where there is overpressure, to an environment outside the line; conveyors for transporting the parisons and located inside the ducts.

2. The bottling line according to claim 1, wherein the pressurization system is configured to generate, inside the storage system and the at least one blow-moulding unit, an overpressure that is greater than the overpressure generated inside the connections between the thermal conditioning structure and the storage system.

3. The bottling line according to claim 1, wherein the at least one cooling module is distinct and separate from the at least one heating module, the at least one cooling module being located in the proximity of the parison moulding unit and the at least one heating module being located in the proximity of the blow-moulding unit.

4. The bottling line according to claim 3, wherein the at least one cooling module and the at least one heating module of the thermal conditioning structure are connected to the storage system by means of respective straight conveyors.

5. The bottling line according to claim 1, comprising a plurality of moulding machines for making parisons of thermoplastic material, each connected to a respective cooling module, the cooling modules of the thermal conditioning structure being connected to the storage system so that the moulding units are connected to the same storage system in parallel with each other.

6. The bottling line according to claim 1, comprising a plurality of blow-moulding units, each connected to a respective heating module, the heating modules of the thermal conditioning structure being connected to the storage system so that the blow-moulding units are connected to the same storage system in parallel with each other.

7. The bottling line according to claim 6, comprising a plurality of filling units, one for each blow-moulding unit, connected to corresponding blow-moulding units.

8. The bottling line according to claim 1, wherein the at least one moulding unit for making parisons of thermoplastic material is an injection moulding unit for making parisons from the thermoplastic material in raw form.

9. The bottling line according to claim 1, comprising a capping unit configured to receive caps made of thermoplastic material and to apply the caps securely to respective full containers, the capping unit being integrated with the at least one filling unit and positioned downstream thereof.

10. A continuous cycle bottling line for containers of thermoplastic material, comprising: at least one moulding unit for making parisons of thermoplastic material from the thermoplastic material in raw form; at least one blow-moulding unit configured to receive and to blow-mould the parisons in such a way as to make containers designed to be filled; at least one filling unit configured to receive the containers from the blow-moulding unit and to fill the containers with liquid or semi-liquid food products; a parison thermal conditioning structure configured to receive the parisons from the moulding unit and to heat and cool the parisons; an automatic storage system internally defining a controlled atmosphere, configured to contain the parisons and connected to the thermal conditioning structure to receive and feed parisons from and to the thermal conditioning structure, wherein the thermal conditioning structure comprises at least one cooling module, connected downstream of the parison moulding unit to receive parisons to be cooled and to the storage system to transfer the cooled parisons, and at least one heating module connected to the storage system to receive previously stored parisons to be heated and connected upstream of the blow-moulding unit in order to feed the blow-moulding unit with heated parisons; a pressurization system configured to generate an overpressure at least inside the following parts of the line, compared to the atmosphere outside the line: the storage system, the at least one blow-moulding unit and connections between the thermal conditioning structure and the storage system, wherein the at least one heating module of the thermal conditioning structure has a plurality of shutters configured to occlude an opening at the end of each parison, so that an interior of the parison remains closed when the parison is inside the heating and cooling module, wherein in the heating module the shutters are movable gripper elements for transporting the parisons along a path inside the heating module.

11. A continuous cycle bottling line for containers of thermoplastic material, comprising: at least one moulding unit for making parisons of thermoplastic material from the thermoplastic material in raw form; at least one blow-moulding unit configured to receive and to blow-mould the parisons in such a way as to make containers designed to be filled; at least one filling unit configured to receive the containers from the blow-moulding unit and to fill the containers with liquid or semi-liquid food products; a parison thermal conditioning structure configured to receive the parisons from the moulding unit and to heat and cool the parisons; an automatic storage system internally defining a controlled atmosphere, configured to contain the parisons and connected to the thermal conditioning structure to receive and feed parisons from and to the thermal conditioning structure, wherein the thermal conditioning structure comprises at least one cooling module, connected downstream of the parison moulding unit to receive parisons to be cooled and to the storage system to transfer the cooled parisons, and at least one heating module connected to the storage system to receive previously stored parisons to be heated and connected upstream of the blow-moulding unit in order to feed the blow-moulding unit with heated parisons, the bottling line comprising a pressurization system configured to generate an overpressure at least inside the following parts of the line, compared to the atmosphere outside the line: the storage system, the at least one blow-moulding unit and connections between the thermal conditioning structure and the storage system, and wherein each one of the at least one heating module and the at least one cooling module of the thermal conditioning structure, alternatively or in combination: i) is internally pressurized; ii) has a plurality of shutters configured to occlude an opening at the end of each parison, so that an interior of the parison remains closed when the parison is inside the heating and cooling module, wherein the connections between the at least one cooling module and the storage system and between the at least one heating module and the storage system are one-way connections, whereby the parisons always move from the cooling module of the thermal conditioning structure towards the storage system and always from the storage system towards the heating module of the thermal conditioning structure.

12. A continuous cycle bottling line for containers of thermoplastic material, comprising: at least one moulding unit for making parisons of thermoplastic material from the thermoplastic material in raw form; at least one blow-moulding unit configured to receive and to blow-mould the parisons in such a way as to make containers designed to be filled; at least one filling unit configured to receive the containers from the blow-moulding unit and to fill the containers with liquid or semi-liquid food products; a parison thermal conditioning structure configured to receive the parisons from the moulding unit and to heat and cool the parisons; an automatic storage system internally defining a controlled atmosphere, configured to contain the parisons and connected to the thermal conditioning structure to receive and feed parisons from and to the thermal conditioning structure, wherein the thermal conditioning structure comprises at least one cooling module, connected downstream of the parison moulding unit to receive parisons to be cooled and to the storage system to transfer the cooled parisons, and at least one heating module connected to the storage system to receive previously stored parisons to be heated and connected upstream of the blow-moulding unit in order to feed the blow-moulding unit with heated parisons, the bottling line comprising a pressurization system configured to generate an overpressure at least inside the following parts of the line, compared to the atmosphere outside the line: the storage system, the at least one blow-moulding unit and connections between the thermal conditioning structure and the storage system, and wherein each one of the at least one heating module and the at least one cooling module of the thermal conditioning structure, alternatively or in combination: i) is internally pressurized; ii) has a plurality of shutters configured to occlude an opening at the end of each parison, so that an interior of the parison remains closed when the parison is inside the heating and cooling module, and wherein the at least one moulding unit for making parisons of thermoplastic material is a rotary compression moulding machine; and wherein the line comprises at least a first and a second blow-moulding unit connected to the same filling unit in parallel with each other; and wherein the thermal conditioning structure comprises: a heating module and a cooling module which are integrated with each other, interposed between the parison moulding unit and the first blow-moulding unit and connected to the storage system by means of a two-way connection; a further heating module located upstream of the second blow-moulding unit and connected to the storage system.

13. A continuous cycle bottling line for containers of thermoplastic material, comprising: at least one moulding unit for making parisons of thermoplastic material from the thermoplastic material in raw form; at least one blow-moulding unit configured to receive and to blow-mould the parisons in such a way as to make containers designed to be filled; at least one filling unit configured to receive the containers from the blow-moulding unit and to fill the containers with liquid or semi-liquid food products; a parison thermal conditioning structure configured to receive the parisons from the moulding unit and to heat and cool the parisons; an automatic storage system internally defining a controlled atmosphere, configured to contain the parisons and connected to the thermal conditioning structure to receive and feed parisons from and to the thermal conditioning structure, wherein the thermal conditioning structure comprises at least one cooling module, connected downstream of the parison moulding unit to receive parisons to be cooled and to the storage system to transfer the cooled parisons, and at least one heating module connected to the storage system to receive previously stored parisons to be heated and connected upstream of the blow-moulding unit in order to feed the blow-moulding unit with heated parisons, the bottling line comprising a pressurization system configured to generate an overpressure at least inside the following parts of the line, compared to the atmosphere outside the line: the storage system, the at least one blow-moulding unit and connections between the thermal conditioning structure and the storage system, and wherein each one of the at least one heating module and the at least one cooling module of the thermal conditioning structure, alternatively or in combination: i) is internally pressurized; ii) has a plurality of shutters configured to occlude an opening at the end of each parison, so that an interior of the parison remains closed when the parison is inside the heating and cooling module, and wherein the bottling line further comprises a sterilizing unit, which is located at one of the following locations: at an infeed of the at least one filling unit to sterilize the containers entering the at least one filling unit, wherein the filling unit defines an aseptic environment inside it; at an infeed of the at least one blow-moulding unit to sterilize the parisons entering the at least one blow-moulding unit, wherein the blow-moulding unit and the at least one filling unit define an aseptic environment there-inside; at an infeed of the at least one heating module of the thermal conditioning structure to sterilize the parisons entering the at least one heating module, wherein the at least one heating module, the at least one blow-moulding unit and the at least one filling unit define an aseptic environment there-inside; at an infeed of the storage system to sterilize the parisons entering the storage system, wherein the storage system, the at least one heating module, the at least one blow-moulding unit and the at least one filling unit define an aseptic environment there-inside; at an infeed of a capping unit, which is included in the bottling line and is configured to receive caps made of thermoplastic material and to apply the caps securely to respective full containers, the sterilizing unit being located at the infeed of the capping unit to sterilize the containers entering the capping unit, wherein the capping unit defines an aseptic environment there-inside.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Below is a description of embodiments of the invention, illustrated solely by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a line according to the invention in a plan view;

(3) FIG. 1A illustrates a heating module of the thermal conditioning structure of the line of FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 1B illustrates a communication between the thermal conditioning structure and the storage system, in the line of FIG. 1;

(5) FIG. 2 shows the line of FIG. 1 in a variant embodiment of the layout of the line;

(6) FIG. 3 shows the line of FIG. 1 in a further variant embodiment of the layout of the line;

(7) FIG. 4 shows the line of FIG. 1 in a further variant embodiment of the layout of the line.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

(8) The numeral 1 in the accompanying drawings denotes a bottling line according to this invention.

(9) The bottling line of the invention is a continuous cycle line for bottling containers of thermoplastic material (for example bottles) preferably designed to be filled with liquids (preferably beverages or other liquid food products).

(10) The numeral 2 denotes a moulding unit (or a plurality thereof) for making parisons of thermoplastic material from the thermoplastic material in its raw form.

(11) The moulding unit 2 may, in principle, be of any type, an injection moulding unit or a (rotary) compression moulding unit.

(12) The numeral 3 denotes a blow-moulding unit (or a plurality thereof), this blow-moulding unit 3 being configured to receive the parisons and to blow-mould them in such a way as to make containers designed to be filled. The blow-moulding unit 3 is preferably a rotary machine.

(13) The numeral 4 denotes a filling unit (or a plurality thereof). The filling unit 4 is configured to receive the containers from the blow-moulding unit and to fill them with liquid or semi-liquid food products.

(14) The numeral 5 denotes a capping unit (or a plurality thereof). The capping unit 5 is configured to receive caps made of thermoplastic material and to apply the caps securely to respective full containers.

(15) Preferably, the capping unit 5 is integrated in the filling unit 4.

(16) The numeral 6 denotes a cap moulding unit for making caps from raw plastic material.

(17) The cap moulding unit 6 is connected to the capping unit 5 to feed the caps thereto.

(18) The numeral 7 denotes a storage system designed to contain at least the parisons. The storage system 7 is preferably configured to also contain the caps and the containers which have been blow-moulded from the parisons.

(19) The storage system 7 is an automatic storage system. It is managed by an electronic management unit (not illustrated).

(20) Also, inside it the storage system 7 defines a controlled atmosphere.

(21) The numeral 8 denotes a cooling module (or a plurality thereof).

(22) The cooling module 8 is connected downstream of the parison moulding unit 2 to receive parisons to be cooled and is connected to the storage system 7 to transfer the cooled parisons.

(23) The numeral 9 denotes a heating module (or a plurality thereof).

(24) The heating module 9 is connected to the storage system 7 to receive previously stored parisons in order to heat them. Also, the heating module 9 is connected upstream of the blow-moulding 3 in order to feed it with heated parisons.

(25) The cooling module 8 and the heating module 9 constitute a structure (or unit) for thermally conditioning the parisons. The thermal conditioning structure is configured to receive the parisons from the moulding unit 2 and to heat and cool the parisons, to feed the blow-moulding unit 3.

(26) The storage system 7 is thus connected to the thermal conditioning structure to receive and feed parisons.

(27) The numeral 10 denotes the connections between the thermal conditioning structure and the storage system.

(28) The numeral 11 denotes a connection between the blow-moulding unit 3 and the filling unit 4.

(29) More in general, it should be noted that the line 1 comprises a plurality of connections designed to move the plastic objects processed by the line (parisons, caps and containers) from one unit to another and to and from the thermal conditioning structure and the storage system 7.

(30) These connections comprise conveyors enclosed within protective covers. The conveyors thus define substantially closed spaces in which the objects processed by the line 1 travel.

(31) More specifically, preferably, the connections (at least those between the thermal conditioning structure and the storage system) comprise: closed ducts 103 provided with slots 104 to allow controlled flow of air from a pressurized environment inside the ducts to an environment outside the line; conveyors 105 (preferably, but not necessarily, belt conveyors) designed transport the objects located inside the ducts.

(32) The line 1 is installed in a room. Preferably, the room does not define a controlled atmosphere but is under ordinary atmospheric conditions (for example, atmospheric pressure).

(33) According to the present disclosure, the line 1 comprises a pressurization system (101) configured to generate an overpressure at least inside the following parts of the line, compared to the atmosphere outside the line: the storage system 7, the blow-moulding unit 3 and the connections 10 between the thermal conditioning structure and the storage system and, preferably, the connection 11 between the blow-moulding unit 3 and the filling unit 5.

(34) Also, according to the invention, the cooling modules 8 and the heating modules 9, alternatively or in combination:

(35) i) are internally pressurized;

(36) ii) have a plurality of shutters (102) configured to occlude the opening at the end of each parison, so that the interior of the parison remains closed when the parison is inside the heating and cooling module.

(37) Preferably, the shutters are defined by spindles connected to a conveyor and operatively insertable (at least partly) into the parisons in order to pick them up and transport them.

(38) The pressurization system comprises, for example, a plurality of outlet vents (not illustrated) located at various points in the line (in the storage system 7, in the connections, in the units and, if necessary, also in the thermal conditioning structure).

(39) With regard to line layout, several variant embodiments are possible.

(40) A first variant embodiment of the layout is illustrated in FIG. 1.

(41) A second variant embodiment of the layout is illustrated in FIG. 2.

(42) A third variant embodiment of the layout is illustrated in FIG. 3.

(43) A fourth variant embodiment of the layout is illustrated in FIG. 4.

(44) In the first and second variant embodiments of the layout, the parison moulding unit 2 is an injection moulding unit. Further, the cooling module 8 is distinct and separate from the heating module 9. More specifically, the cooling module 8 is located in the proximity of the parison moulding unit 2 and the heating module 9 is located in the proximity of the blow-moulding unit 3.

(45) Also, preferably, the connections between the cooling modules 8 and the storage system 7 and between the heating modules 9 and the storage system 7 are one-way connections, which means that the parisons always move from the cooling module 8 towards the storage system 7 and always from the storage system 7 towards the heating module 9.

(46) The second embodiment differs from the first in that it comprises a plurality of parison moulding units 2, a corresponding plurality of cooling modules 8, connected to the storage system 7 in parallel with each other and a plurality of blow-moulding units 3 and a corresponding plurality of heating modules 9 connected to the storage system 7 in parallel with each other. The plurality of blow-moulding units 3 are connected to one or more filling units 4 in various possible ways. For example, they may be connected to a corresponding plurality of filling units 4 or to a single filling unit 4 common to all of them. In the third variant embodiment of the layout, the moulding unit 2 for making parisons from thermoplastic material is a rotary compression moulding machine. The line 1 also comprises at least a first and a second blow-moulding unit 3 connected to the same filling unit 4 in parallel with each other. Further, the thermal conditioning structure comprises a heating module 9 and a cooling module 8 which are integrated with each other and interposed between the moulding unit 2 and the first blow-moulding unit 3. The integrated heating and cooling modules 9 and 8 are connected to the storage system 7 by a two-way connection. A further heating module 9 is located upstream of the second blow-moulding unit 3 and is connected to the storage system 7.

(47) The fourth variant embodiment of the layout is a layout according to the first embodiment with the following additional features.

(48) The line 1 (optionally) comprises an area 12. Located in the area 12 are a cap moulding unit 13 and a cap container 14 (of the type known as octabin, a container of standard size or capacity and open, that is to say, without any systems controlling the space inside it).

(49) The cap moulding unit 13 and the cap container 14 are connected to the storage system 7 and/or directly to the capping unit 5. The cap moulding unit 13 and the cap container 14 may feed the caps to the storage system 7 or, if the filler/capper is in the stand-by configuration (not running), the caps may be fed directly to the capping unit 5.

(50) The line 1 further comprises a parison container 15 (a container of the type known as octabin) connected to the storage system 7 in order to feed it with parisons and also (in parallel), or alternatively, to the parison moulding unit 2.

(51) It should be noted that the description which follows applies indistinctly to all the layout variant embodiments of the line 1.

(52) Preferably, the line 1 comprises at least one sterilizing unit (of essentially known type) configured to sterilize the objects processed by the line 1 (in particular the parisons but also the caps and, if necessary, the blow-moulded containers). For example, the sterilizing unit comprises an electron beam or UV ray emitter directed at the walls of the object to be sterilized.

(53) Preferably, the line 1 comprises at least a first sterilizing unit 201 for sterilizing the parisons and a second sterilizing unit 202 for sterilizing the caps. The cap sterilizing unit is located at the infeed of the capping unit 5.

(54) Preferably, a third sterilizing unit 203 is located at the infeed of the filling unit 4 to sterilize the containers entering the filling unit 4. In light of this, it should be noted that the filling unit 4 preferably defines an aseptic environment inside it.

(55) In an embodiment, the first sterilizing unit 201, is positioned at the infeed of the blow-moulding unit 3 to sterilize the parisons entering the blow-moulding unit 3. In light of this, it should be noted that the blow-moulding unit also preferably defines an aseptic environment inside it.

(56) Preferably, in addition to one or more of the aforementioned sterilizing units (or alternatively to one or more such sterilizing units), there is a fourth sterilizing unit 204 located at the infeed of the heating module 9 of the thermal conditioning structure to sterilize the parisons entering the heating module 9. In light of this, it should be noted that the heating module 9 also defines an aseptic environment inside it.

(57) Preferably, in addition to one or more of the aforementioned sterilizing units (or alternatively to one or more such sterilizing units), there is a fifth sterilizing unit 205 located at the infeed of the storage system 7 to sterilize the parisons (and the caps and, more generally, all the other objects) entering the storage system 7. In light of this, it should be noted that the storage system 7 also defines an aseptic environment inside it. This invention also provides a continuous cycle method for continuous cycle production and filling of containers of thermoplastic material in a bottling line.

(58) The method comprises the following steps: making parisons of thermoplastic material from the thermoplastic material in its raw form, in at least one moulding unit 2; blow-moulding the parisons in moulds of at least one blow-moulding unit 3 to make containers designed to be filled; filling the containers with liquid or semiliquid products (preferably food products) in a filling unit 4 fed by the blow-moulding unit; storing the parisons in an automatic storage system 7 internally defining a controlled atmosphere; cooling the parisons feeding out of the at least one moulding unit 2, in a cooling module 8 before the parisons are stored in the storage system 7; heating the parisons withdrawn from the storage system 7, in a heating module 9, before the parisons are fed into the blow-moulding unit 3.

(59) According to the invention, the method comprises the following steps: generating an overpressure, compared to the atmosphere outside the line 1, at least in the storage system 7, in the at least one blow-moulding unit 3 and in the connections of the line 1.

(60) With regard to the thermal conditioning structure, the method preferably further comprises the following steps. alternatively to, or in combination with, each other:

(61) i) generating an overpressure in the at least one heating module 9 and in the at least one cooling module 8 of the thermal conditioning structure;

(62) ii) occluding the cavity at the end of each parison while the parisons are inside the heating module 9 and the cooling module 8 so that the interior of each parison remains closed for as long as it is inside the module

(63) The method preferably also comprises a step of acquiring, through the agency of an electronic management unit, the values of a plurality of parameters representing the operation of the line 1 and the size of the objects processed by the line (the values being acquired, for example, from sensors or user settings applied through an interface).

(64) Further, the management unit preferably transmits control signals to an electronic control unit of the storage system 7, to automatically control operations by which objects transported to the storage system 7 through the connections of the line 1 are stored in the selfsame storage system and operations by which objects are retrieved from the storage system 7 and fed out of the storage system 7 through the connections of the line 1.

(65) Also, preferably, the management unit calculates with a respective internal processor the values of one or more control parameters as a function of the parameters acquired and transmits the control parameters to one or more (preferably all) of the parts of the line 1 (units, thermal conditioning structure and connections).

(66) The paragraphs listed below, labelled with alphanumeric references, are non-limiting example modes of describing this invention.

(67) A. A continuous cycle bottling line for containers of thermoplastic material, comprising: at least one moulding unit for making parisons of thermoplastic material from the thermoplastic material in its raw form; at least one blow-moulding unit configured to receive the parisons and to blow-mould them in such a way as to make containers designed to be filled; at least one filling unit configured to receive the containers from the blow-moulding unit and to fill them with liquid or semi-liquid food products; a parison thermal conditioning structure configured to receive the parisons from the moulding unit and to heat and cool the parisons; an automatic storage system internally defining a controlled atmosphere, configured to contain the parisons and connected to the thermal conditioning structure to receive and feed parisons from and to the thermal conditioning structure,

(68) wherein the thermal conditioning structure comprises at least one cooling module, connected downstream of the parison moulding unit to receive parisons to be cooled and to the storage system to transfer the cooled parisons, and at least one heating module connected to the storage system to receive previously stored parisons to be heated and connected upstream of the blow-moulding unit in order to feed it with heated parisons.

(69) A1. The line of paragraph A, comprising a pressurization system configured to generate an overpressure at least inside the following parts of the line, compared to the atmosphere outside the line: the storage system, the at least one blow-moulding unit and the connections between the thermal conditioning structure and the storage system, and wherein the at least one heating module and the at least one cooling module of the thermal conditioning structure, alternatively or in combination:

(70) i) are internally pressurized;

(71) ii) have a plurality of shutters configured to occlude the opening at the end of each parison, so that the interior of the parison remains closed when the parison is inside the heating and cooling module.

(72) A1.1. The line of paragraph A1, wherein at least in the heating module the shutter elements are movable gripper elements for transporting the parisons along a path inside the module.

(73) A1.2. The line of paragraph A1 or of paragraph A1.1, wherein the pressurization system is configured to generate, inside the storage system and the at least one blow-moulding unit, an overpressure that is greater than the overpressure generated inside the connections between the thermal conditioning structure and the storage system.

(74) A1.3. The line of any of the paragraphs from A1 to A1.2, wherein the connections between the thermal conditioning structure and the storage system comprise: closed ducts 103 provided with slots to allow controlled flow of air from an environment inside the ducts 103, where there is overpressure, to an environment outside the line; conveyors for transporting the parisons and located inside the ducts.

(75) A2. The line of any of the paragraphs from A to A1.3, wherein the at least one cooling module is distinct and separate from the at least one heating module, the at least one cooling module being located in the proximity of the parison moulding unit and the at least one heating module being located in the proximity of the blow-moulding unit.

(76) A2.1. The line of paragraph A2, wherein the at least one cooling module and the at least one heating module of the thermal conditioning structure are connected to the storage system by means of respective straight conveyors.

(77) A3. The line of any of the paragraphs from A to A2.1, wherein the connections between the at least one cooling module and the storage system and between the at least one heating module and the storage system are one-way connections, which means that the parisons always move from the cooling module of the thermal conditioning structure towards the storage system and always from the storage system towards the heating module of the thermal conditioning structure.

(78) A4. The line of any of the paragraphs from A to A3, comprising a plurality of moulding units for making parisons of thermoplastic material, each connected to a respective cooling module, the cooling modules of the thermal conditioning structure being connected to the storage system so that the moulding units are connected to the same storage system in parallel with each other.

(79) A4.1. The line of paragraph A4, comprising a plurality of blow-moulding units, each connected to a respective heating module, the heating modules of the thermal conditioning structure being connected to the storage system so that the blow-moulding units are connected to the same storage system in parallel with each other.

(80) A4.1.1. The line of paragraph A4.1, comprising a plurality of filling units, one for each blow-moulding unit, connected to corresponding blow-moulding units.

(81) A5. The line of any of the paragraphs from A to A4.1.1, wherein the moulding unit for making parisons of thermoplastic material is an injection moulding unit for making parisons from the thermoplastic material in its raw form.

(82) A6. The line of any of the paragraphs from A to A2.1 wherein the moulding unit for making parisons of thermoplastic material is a rotary compression moulding machine; and wherein the line comprises at least a first and a second blow-moulding unit connected to the same filling unit 4 in parallel with each other; and wherein the thermal conditioning structure comprises: a heating module and a cooling module which are integrated with each other, interposed between the parison moulding unit and the first blow-moulding unit and connected to the storage system by means of a two-way connection; a further heating module located upstream of the second blow-moulding unit and connected to the storage system.

(83) A7. The line of any of the paragraphs from A to A6, comprising a capping unit configured to receive caps made of thermoplastic material and to apply the caps securely to respective full containers, the capping unit being integrated with the filling unit and positioned downstream thereof.

(84) A8. The line of any of the paragraphs from A to A7, comprising a sterilizing unit located at the infeed of the filling unit to sterilize the containers entering the filling unit, wherein the filling unit defines an aseptic environment inside it.

(85) A9. The line of any of the paragraphs from A to A8, comprising a sterilizing unit located at the infeed of the blow-moulding unit to sterilize the parisons entering the blow-moulding unit, wherein the blow-moulding unit and the filling unit define an aseptic environment inside them.

(86) A10. The line of any of the paragraphs from A to A9, comprising a sterilizing unit located at the infeed of the heating module of the thermal conditioning structure to sterilize the parisons entering the heating module, wherein the heating module, the blow-moulding unit and the filling unit define an aseptic environment inside them.

(87) A11. The line of any of the paragraphs from A to A10, comprising a sterilizing unit located at the infeed of the storage system to sterilize the parisons entering the storage system, wherein the storage system, the heating module, the blow-moulding unit and the filling unit define an aseptic environment inside them.

(88) A12. The line of any of the paragraphs from A8 to A11, comprising: a capping unit configured to receive caps made of thermoplastic material and to apply the caps securely to respective full containers; a sterilizing unit located at the infeed of the capping unit to sterilize the containers entering the capping unit, wherein the capping unit defines an aseptic environment inside it.

(89) A13. The line of any of the paragraphs from A to A12, comprising a management unit configured to acquire (for example, from sensors or user settings applied through an interface) the values of a plurality of parameters representing the operation of the line and the size of the objects processed by the line.

(90) A13.1. The line of paragraph A13, wherein the management unit is programmed to transmit control signals to an electronic control unit of the storage system, to automatically control operations by which objects transported to the storage system through the connections of the line are stored in the selfsame storage system and operations by which objects are retrieved from the storage system and fed out of the storage system through the connections of the line 1.

(91) A13.2. The line of paragraph A13 or A13.1, wherein the management unit is configured to calculate with a respective internal processor the values of one or more control parameters as a function of the parameters acquired and is programmed to transmit the control parameters to one or more (preferably all) of the parts of the line (for example, the units, the thermal conditioning structure and the connections).

(92) B. A method for continuous cycle production and filling of containers of thermoplastic material in a bottling line, comprising the following steps: making parisons of thermoplastic material from the thermoplastic material in its raw form, in at least one moulding unit; blow-moulding the parisons in moulds of at least one blow-moulding unit to make containers designed to be filled; filling the containers with liquid or semiliquid food products in a filling unit fed by the blow-moulding unit; storing the parisons in an automatic storage system internally defining a controlled atmosphere; cooling the parisons feeding out of the at least one moulding unit, in a cooling module before the parisons are stored in the storage system; heating the parisons withdrawn from the storage system, in a heating module, before the parisons are fed into the blow-moulding unit.

(93) B1. The method of paragraph B, comprising the following steps: generating an overpressure, compared to the atmosphere outside the line, at least in the storage system, in the at least one blow-moulding unit and in the connections between the thermal conditioning structure and storage system; alternatively or in combination,

(94) i) generating an overpressure in the at least one heating module and in the at least one cooling module of the thermal conditioning structure;

(95) ii) occluding the opening at the end of each parison while the parisons are inside the heating module and the cooling module so that the interior of each parison remains closed for as long as it is inside the module.

(96) B2. The method of paragraph B or B1, comprising the following steps: acquiring, through the agency of an electronic management unit, the values of a plurality of parameters representing the operation of the line and the size of the objects processed by the line; transmitting control signals to an electronic control unit of the storage system, through the agency of the management unit, to automatically control operations by which objects transported to the storage system through the connections of the line are stored in the selfsame storage system and operations by which objects are retrieved from the storage system and fed out of the storage system through the connections of the line.