Abstract:
A method for controlling a molding unit (10) for the forming of a container made of thermoplastic material by blow molding of a preform, with the unit (10) including: a carriage (24) that carries, in a stationary manner, a mold bottom (16); at least one stationary cylinder (32) housing a piston (98) that slides between a lower rest position and an upper boxing position in which it pushes the carriage (24) from an intermediate position to an upper molding position; actuating elements for moving the carriage (24) from its upper molding position to a lower extraction position; with the method including an extraction step (E4) wherein the movement of the carriage (24) toward its lower extraction position is initiated while the piston (98) has not yet returned into its lower rest position.
Abstract:
An air filter unit for removing contaminations from air is disclosed. The air filter unit includes an airflow generating device configured to generate and direct at least one airflow from an air inlet to an air outlet, a filter disposed between the air inlet and the air outlet and including at least one filter layer for removing contaminations from the at least one airflow, a heater disposed upstream of the filter and configured to heat the at least one airflow directed towards the filter, an ejection device disposed upstream of the filter and configured to inject a sterilizing agent into the at least one airflow directed towards the filter, and a duct interposed between the air inlet and the filter and configured to feed the at least one airflow to the filter. The duct includes a volute-like outlet portion, and the ejection device is arranged in the duct.
Abstract:
A machine for filling containers, each container having a longitudinal axis, the machine comprising: a conveying device; at least one handling unit including a support device configured to receive and retain a container and at least one filling device selectively activated for feeding a pourable product into the container while the at least one handling unit travels along the transfer path; a pressurizing circuit; a decompression circuit; at least one actuating device; and a control unit configured to: control activation and deactivation of the at least one filling device and the at least one actuating device; control connection of the pressurization circuit and the decompression circuit with the container; and simultaneously maintain the at least one actuating device in an active state while the decompression circuit is in communication with the container so as to rotate the container about the longitudinal axis during decompression.
Abstract:
A sterilization apparatus for sterilizing receptacle closures, comprising: a treatment chamber having an inlet station and an outlet station; a feeding device configured to feed a succession of receptacle closures to the inlet station; a conveyor configured to convey the receptacle closures through the treatment chamber from the inlet station to the outlet station; a sterilization agent injection device configured to inject a sterilization agent into the treatment chamber, wherein: the conveyor includes a plurality of adjacent guide rails; the feeding device is configured to feed the receptacle closures to at least one active guide rail of the plurality of guide rails; and the sterilization agent injection device includes a plurality of injection devices, each injection device being associated with one of the guide rails; and a controller configured to selectively actuate the injection devices according to a first and second operative mode.
Abstract:
A filling device for a filling machine configured to fill receptacles with a pourable product, comprising: a tubular body having a longitudinal axis, defining a central flowing channel for the pourable product, and terminating at a lower end with an axial outlet opening adapted to deliver the pourable product to a receptacle to be filled, wherein the channel includes a tapered-section portion located at a given axial distance from, and above, the outlet opening and tapering towards the outlet opening up to a narrowed-section zone; a shutter movable within the channel; and at least one exhaust conduit arranged on an outer circumference than the channel with reference to the longitudinal axis; wherein the channel includes an enlarged-section portion located immediately below the tapered-section portion, having a larger diameter than the narrowed-section zone, and defining an expansion chamber receiving a bottom end opening of the exhaust conduit.
Abstract:
A flow control valve for a filling machine configured to fill receptacles with a pourable product, the flow control valve comprising: a tubular body defining a channel for the pourable product, the tubular body having a longitudinal axis and terminating with at least one narrowed end mouth; and a shutter movable within the channel between a closed position, and an open position. The shutter includes a main portion coupled in a sliding manner with an inner surface of the tubular body; and a narrowed closing head, wherein the main portion of the shutter includes a flat plate extending along a diameter of the channel with respect to the longitudinal axis, contacting the inner surface of the tubular body at opposite sides and defining, with the remaining portions of the inner surface, two opposite cavities, which have respective profiles shaped as circular segments and through which the pourable product can flow during operation.
Abstract:
A machine for filling containers, each container having a longitudinal axis, the machine comprising: a conveying device; at least one handling unit including a support device configured to receive and retain a container and at least one filling device selectively activated for feeding a pourable product into the container while the at least one handling unit travels along the transfer path; a pressurizing circuit; a decompression circuit; at least one actuating device; and a control unit configured to: control activation and deactivation of the at least one filling device and the at least one actuating device; control connection of the pressurization circuit and the decompression circuit with the container; and simultaneously maintain the at least one actuating device in an active state while the decompression circuit is in communication with the container so as to rotate the container about the longitudinal axis during decompression.
Abstract:
A filling system for filling a container with a pourable product, comprising: a tank configured to be filled with the pourable product; at least one filling device including a local control unit having a control module configured to selectively allow filling of the container with the pourable product; at least one duct interposed between the tank and the filling device; and at least one vortex flowmeter disposed along the duct and configured to generate a pulse-train detection signal as a function of a flow rate of the pourable product along the duct, wherein the local control unit of the filling device includes a processing module configured to process the detection signal from the at least one vortex flowmeter in order to determine an amount of the pourable product flowing into the container, as a function of a number of pulses of the detection signal.
Abstract:
A diagnostic method for a container processing machine including a rotating conveyor, and processing units carried by the rotating conveyor and designed to engage at least one container to carry out processing operations is disclosed. The method includes operatively coupling a first set of monitoring sensors to the processing units on-board the processing machine to monitor relevant operating parameters. The method also includes controlling the processing units to execute test operations in lieu of processing operations. The method further includes acquiring measurement data from the first set of monitoring sensors during the test operations. The method further includes processing the acquired measurement data to provide maintenance information on the reliability of at least one of the processing units or the processing machine.
Abstract:
A gluing system for applying glue on products is disclosed. The gluing system includes a glue applicator configured to deposit melted glue on products, a glue container configured to contain excess melted glue discharged from the applicator and fresh melted glue, a glue delivering unit configured to deliver glue from the container to the applicator and a glue discharging unit configured to convey excess glue not used by the applicator to the container. The container is divided by a partition into a first chamber, containing the fresh melted glue, and into a second chamber containing the excess melted glue and separated from the first chamber. The partition includes a filter allowing flow of the fresh melted glue and the excess melted glue from both the first and second chambers to the delivering unit.