EP2792634B1

EP2792634B1 - Position control system for an article-handling machine, and relative method

Info

Publication number: EP2792634B1
Application number: EP13164594.7A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Annalisa Malfatto; Roberto Zoni
Original assignee: Sidel SpA
Current assignee: Sidel SpA
Priority date: 2013-04-19
Filing date: 2013-04-19
Publication date: 2017-07-05
Anticipated expiration: 2033-04-19
Also published as: EP2792634A1

Description

The present invention relates to an article-handling machine and a method for controlling the position of an article fillable with a pourable product with respect to an operating unit of an article-handling machine. Article-handling machines are known which comprise a plurality of units for carrying out respective operations on articles, in particular containers filled with a pourable food product.
In greater detail, known article-handling machines substantially comprise:

a rinsing unit for rinsing containers;
a filling unit for filling containers with a pourable food product;
a capping unit for capping the containers; and
a labelling unit for applying labels onto respective containers.

Still more precisely, the above-identified units comprise, each,:

a carousel which rotates about a first axis, receives the containers at an input station, conveys the containers along an arc-shaped path and outputs containers at an output station; and
a plurality of operating elements which are driven in rotation by carousel and are adapted to carry out respective operations on the containers travelling along the arc-shaped path.

With reference to the filling unit, the operating elements are filling valves supported by the carousel in radially external position with respect to the rotation axis of this carousel.
The filling unit also comprises:

a tank filled with the pourable food product; and
a plurality of handling devices associated to respective filling valves.

Each filling valve is adapted to fill a relative container with the pourable product and substantially comprises:

a fixed body connected to the carousel and provided with a washer;
a duct downwardly protruding from the body; and
a shutter movable between an open position and a closed position.

In greater detail, when the shutter is arranged in the open position, it allows the pourable product to flow from the tank to the opening of the duct.
Differently, when the shutter is arranged in the closed position, it prevents the pourable product from flowing from tank to the opening of the duct.
Each handling device is driven in rotation by the carousel about the first axis and moves alternatively between a lowered and a raised position along a respective second axis parallel to and radially staggered from the first axis of the carousel.
In order to move the handling devices along the respective second axes, the filling unit comprises:

a fixed cam which interacts with a plurality of cam followers carried by respective handling devices, in order to raise the latter from the lowered position to the raised position; and
a plurality of pneumatic devices which downwardly thrust respective handling devices from the raised position to the lowered position.

Each handling device is set in the lowered position at the inlet and the outlet station and reaches the raised position between the inlet station and the outlet station.
When each handling device is in the raised position, the duct passes through the mouth of the respective container and is partially housed inside the inner volume of the same container.
At this stage, the shutter is arranged in the open position and the container is filled with the pourable food product.
Filling units are required to carry out different kind of filling operation.
In particular, in case of still food products, i.e. of food products without gas, filling unit may either carry out a "contact" filling or a "contactless" filling.
In the first case, a mouth of the container is tight-fluidly pressed against the washer of relative filling valve, whereas in the second case the mouth of the article is axially spaced from the washer.
Accordingly, the raised positions of the containers vary, on the basis of the nature of food product.
In case of carbonated products, i.e. of products with carbon dioxide dissolved, the filling unit generally carries out a contact filling.
However, in case of products particularly sensible to the oxidation, e.g. beer, the filling unit flows a gas, e.g. carbon dioxide, inside the containers and before the filling thereof, in order to reduce as far as possible the risk of oxidation of the food product.
When the gas is flown in the container, the mouths of the latter can be selectively arranged either in tight-fluid contact with the washers or axially spaced from the washer of the respective filling valves.
In the light of the above, it is evident that the containers need to be arranged in a wide range of raised positions, depending on a number of parameters, e.g. the nature of the food product, on the format of the container, on the modality of filling.
It is therefore required to change the cam, when the raised position must be changed, i.e. when nature of the food product and/or on the format of the container and/or on the modality of filling changes.
The replacement of the cam is costly and time-consuming.
A need is therefore felt to arrange the containers in a wide range of raised positions, without incurring the cost and the time losses connected with the replacement of the cam.
Furthermore, in case of "contactless" filling of still products, it is important to prevent the pourable product from contacting the outer surface of the ducts, during the filling of the respective containers.
As a matter of fact, the action of food products could cause the oxidation of the ducts, thus affecting the sterility of the food product flowing inside the duct and intended to fill the containers.
Accordingly, the containers must be arranged in different raised positions, depending on the format of the same containers.
A need is therefore felt within the industry to fill containers of different format with a still food product, while minimizing the costs and time losses connected with the change of format of the containers.
Furthermore, the labelling units are known which apply a heat-sealed tubular sleeve-labels onto respective containers.
In greater detail, the carousel comprises a plurality of carrier elements which are arranged on the periphery of the same carousel.
Each carrier element feeds a respective article between an input station, where the articles are fed onto the conveyor wheel, and an output station, where the articles are fed off the carousel.
Each carrier unit comprises a tubular upright fixed to the carousel, and having a third longitudinal axis substantially parallel to the first axis; a supporting spindle, which engages the upright in rotary and axially-sliding manner, has a top end defining a substantially horizontal supporting surface for a respective article, and is bounded externally by a cylindrical lateral surface connectable to a pneumatic suction device; and a top retaining member, which cooperates with the spindle to keep the article upright on the supporting surface.
The spindle is movable axially between a lowered position - in which the spindle is substantially housed inside the upright, so the carrier elements can receive an article at the input station and release the article at the output station - and a raised position - in which the spindle projects from the upright, so the lateral surface of the spindle can receive and retain a label.
The spindle also rotates about the third axis, to wind the label completely about the spindle into a tubular configuration having a longitudinal overlap defined by superimposed portions of the label, and which is heat sealed longitudinally by a heat-seal bar associated with the carrier unit.
In other words, the heat-seal bars can be regarded as the operating elements while the spindles can be regarded as the handling device, which both rotate and axially displace the containers.
The movement of spindles from the lowered positions to the raised positions is caused by the interaction of a fixed cam with a plurality of cam followers carried by respective spindles.
The return of spindles from the raised position to the lowered positions is caused by respective springs.
When it is necessary to vary the length of the stroke of the spindles between the lowered position and the raised position, it necessary to re-design and change the cam, thus generating inevitable costs and time losses.
In particular, the length of the stroke of the spindles could be changed in order to vary the throughput of the labelling machine on the basis of the throughput of the upstream filling machine.
A need is therefore felt to reduce as far as possible the costs and the time losses associated with the variation of the length of the stroke of the spindle, for example in order to align the throughput of the labelling unit with the throughput of the filling unit.
EP-A-1182165 discloses an article-handling machine and a method according to the preamble of claims 1 and 10 in the form of a capping unit. EP-A-2604571 discloses a filling unit, which comprises an actuator for moving a container between a lowered position and only one raised position, in which it is in tight-fluid contact with a filling head. EP-A-2604571 is published on 19.06.2013 and discloses a filling machine comprising a carousel, a position control system and an actuator which translates a container upwards in contact with the filling valve for filling. It is an object of the present invention to provide an article-handling machined, which meets at least one of the above requirements.
The aforementioned object is achieved by the present invention as it relates to an article-handling machine, as claimed in claim 1.
The present invention also relates to a method for controlling the position of an article fillable with a pourable food product, as claimed in claim 10.
Two preferred embodiments are hereinafter disclosed for a better understanding of the present invention, by way of non-limitative example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a frontal view of a filling unit with a plurality of position control systems in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 2 shows the position control system of Figure 1, during a contact filling step of the relative container;
Figure 3 shows a second embodiment of a position control system of Figure 1, during a contactless flowing step of a gas inside the relative container;
Figure 4 shows the position control system of Figures 3, during a contact filling step of the relative container; and
Figure 5 shows the position control system of Figures 3 and 4, during a pressurizing step of the relative container.

With reference to Figures 1 and 2, numeral 1 indicates a first embodiment of a filling unit for filling containers 2 with a pourable food product.
Non-limitative examples of the pourable food product are fruit juices, tea, beer or energy drinks.
Filling unit 1 is adapted to be incorporated in an article-handling machine which may comprise one or more of the following:

a rinsing unit (not-shown) for rinsing empty containers 2 before the filling thereof;
a capping unit (not-shown) for applying a plurality of caps onto respective filled containers 2; and
a labelling unit (not-shown) for applying a plurality of labels onto respective empty or filled containers 2.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2, each container 2 is made of glass and substantially comprises:

a mouth 3 adapted to allow the filling of the same container 2 by means of filling unit 1 and the following pouring of the food product from container 2;
a bottom wall 4 opposite to mouth 3; and
a neck portion 6 arranged adjacent to mouth 3, and which is limited at its top by mouth 3.

Filling station 1 substantially comprises (Figure

a tank (not-shown) filled with the pourable food product;
a carousel 7 rotating about an axis A, vertical in the embodiment shown;
a plurality of filling valves 8 arranged at the radial outer periphery of carousel 7; and
a plurality of positioning systems 9 arranged at the radial outer periphery of carousel 7, associated to respective filling valves 8 and adapted to move relative containers 2 along relative axes B towards and away from respective filling valves 8.

In detail, carousel 7 is fed with empty containers 2 at an input station I, conveys containers 2 along an arc-shaped path P of centre on axis A, and outputs filled containers 2 at an output station O.
Each filling valve 8 substantially comprises:

a body 11 fixed to carousel 7;
a duct 12 defining a filling opening of valve 8 and downwardly protruding from body 11; and
a shutter 13 movable between an open position in which it allows the fluidic connection between the tank and duct 12 and a closed position in which it prevents the fluidic connection between the tank and duct 12.

Each filling valve 8 may be controlled, in a known and not-shown way, to cause a flow of a gas, e.g. carbon dioxide, to enter respective container 2.
Each filling valve 8 also comprises a washer 35 which is fitted to body 11.
Advantageously, filling unit 1 comprises:

a plurality of actuators 15 which are part of respective positioning system 9, and each of which rotates about axis A integrally with filling valve 8, completely carries the weight of relative container 2, and is adapted to move respective container 2 along a respective axis B; and
a common control unit 16 configured for:
1. i) receiving a control signal associated to one parameter between the nature of the pourable food product, the format - i.e. the shape, the volume and the material of container 2, the movement law of container 2 along respective axis B; and
2. ii) controlling the movement of actuators 15 along respective axis B, on the basis of the control signal.

It is important to stress that containers 2 are held by respective positioning systems 9, as they travel along path P and move along relative axes B.
Furthermore, filling unit 1 comprises a human-machine interface 14, through which a user can select one or more of the above-identified parameters.
In other words, the user enters a sort of recipe in human machine interface 14 and control unit 16 controls positioning systems 9 on the basis of the recipe.
Axes B are vertical and parallel to axis A, in the embodiment shown, and coincide with the axes of containers 2.
In greater detail, each positioning system 9, on the basis of the parameters set by the user through the human-machine interface 14, moves respective container 2 along respective axis B and selectively sets respective container 2 in:

a lowered position (not-shown) at station I, O of path P; and
a plurality of raised positions (one of which is shown in Figure 2) at intermediate stations between stations I, O.

In the raised positions, each container 2 undergoes an operation by relative filling valve 8.
The number of those raised positions and the movement law (displacement, speed and acceleration) of positioning systems 9 along respective axes B is controlled by control unit 16, on the basis of parameters, i.e. of the recipe, inserted by the user on human machine interface 14.
For example, in case of still products, e.g. non-carbonated products, each container 2 is selectively arranged by respective positioning system 9:

either in a first raised position (not shown), in which respective mouths 3 are axially spaced by washer 35; or
in a second raised position (shown in Figure 2), in which respective mouths 3 are pressed against washer 35.

In particular, control unit 16 controls, on the basis of the recipe selected by the user, positioning systems 9 to arrange containers 2 in the respective first raised positions in case the recipe requires contact-less filling and to arrange containers 2 in the respective second raised positions in case the recipe requires a contact filling.
Furthermore, duct 12 of each filling valve 8 enters the inner volume of relative container 2, in both the first raised position and in the second raised position.
It is important to stress that control unit 16 can create different movement laws for actuators 15 and, therefore, for containers 2 along axes B and between respective lowered positions and respective first raised positions, on the basis of the recipe, especially in case of still food products.
In this way, when the format of containers 2 changes, it is not necessary to change ducts 12 in order to prevent the pourable food product from contacting the outer surface of ducts 12.
As a matter of fact, when the format of containers 2 changes, control unit 16 varies the first raised position, in such a way to avoid the contact of food product with ducts 12.
Furthermore, in case of carbonated food product, each container 2 is selectively arranged by respective positioning system 9:

in a first raised position, in which respective mouths 3 are axially spaced by washer 35; and/or
in a second raised position, in which respective mouths 3 are pressed against washer 35.

Still more precisely, in case of carbonated food product particularly sensible to the oxidation, e.g. beer, each container 2, on the basis of the recipe selected by the user, selectively undergoes a gas flowing operation.
During the gas flowing operation, filling valves 8 generate a flow of gas inside containers 2 before the filling thereof. That gas is allowed to escape containers 2.
On the basis of the recipe selected by the user, the flowing operation is carried out onto containers 2 arranged either in the respective first raised position (Figure 3) or in the second raised position.
In case the flowing operation is carried out onto containers 2 arranged in the first raised positions, the gas is allowed to escape through respective mouths 3 which are spaced from washers 35.
In case the flowing operation is carried out onto containers 2 arranged in the second raised position, the gas is allowed to escape through not-shown ducts of respective filling valves 8.
In this way, it is possible to vary the flow of gas coming out from containers 2 and, therefore, the throughput of filling unit 1.
Furthermore, in case of carbonated food products, containers 2 generally undergo the following operations, when set in the respective second raised positions,:

a filling operation, in which they are filled with the food product; and
a pressurization operation, in which relative ducts 12 flow the gas in the inner volume of container 2, in order to increase the pressure therein.

Both the filling operation and the pressurization operation are carried out with containers 2 in the respective second raised positions.
In the following of the present description, only one positioning system 9 will be described, being positioning systems 9 identical to each other.
Actuator 15 substantially comprises:

a stationary housing 17 fitted to a plate 10 of carousel 7; and
a carrier 18 movable relative to housing 17 along axis B.

In particular, plate 10 rotates about axis A and is prevented from translating along axes B.
Carrier 18 comprises, in turn, a rod 19 which extends parallel to axis B.
Housing 17 and rod 19 form a brushless electric motor, which is controlled by control unit 16.
In other words, on the basis of a control signal generated by control unit 16, rod 19 slides with respect to housing 17 parallel to axis B.
In particular, housing 17 defines a not-shown guide, inside which rod 19 slides.
Carrier 18 also comprises:

a pair of rods 20 which extend parallel to axis B;
a top plate 21 which defines a support plane for bottom wall 6 of container 2 and to which top ends 23, 24 of rods 19, 20 are fitted; and
a bottom plate 22 to which bottom ends 25, 26, opposite to top ends 23, 24 respectively, of rods 19, 20 are fitted.

Rods 20 are driven by rod 19 parallel to axis B and slide inside respective guide (not-shown) defined housing 17.
Rods 20 prevent the rotation of container 2 around its own axis, especially when containers 2 enter or output carousel 7 respectively at station I, O.
As a matter of fact, rod 19 is free to rotate relative to housing 17 and about axis B.
In the embodiment shown, rods 20 are arranged on opposite lateral sides of rod 19. Still more precisely, one rod 20 is radially inner with respect to rod 19 and other rod 20 is radially outer with respect to rod 19.
Rods 19, 20 also slide through respective holes defined by plate 10 of unit 1. Actuator 15 also comprises a thrust device 30 for exerting on container 2 a thrust having a main component parallel to axis B and directed towards body 11 of filling valve 8.
In other words, thrust device 30 presses container 2 towards body 11 of filling valve 8, during the pressurization step of container 2.
Thrust device 30 is configured to generate a thrust, which is enough to balance at least the sum of:

the weight of container 2; and
the thrust exerted by the pressure existing in the inner volume of container 2 on wall 4, especially when container 2 is pressurized in the second raised position.

In greater detail, thrust device 30 is configured to generate a thrust onto container 2 which increases as container 2 approaches body 11 of filling valve 8, i.e. as container 2 raises parallel to axis B in the embodiment shown.
Thrust device 30 comprises, in turn,:

a magnetic fixed element 31 which is fitted to housing 17; and
a pair of magnetic movable elements 32 fixed to carrier 18 and, therefore, movable integrally with container 2 along axis B.

In the embodiment shown, positioning system 9 further comprises a rod 27 which can slide parallel to axis B inside a guide defined by element 31.
Still more precisely, rod 27 is fixed to plates 21, 22 and slides together with rod 19 parallel to axis B. Furthermore, elements 32 are fixed to rods 20 and are arranged on the opposite side of element 31 relative to plate 21 and, therefore, to container 2.
Furthermore, element 31 has a first magnetic polarity while element 32 has a second magnetic polarity.
In this way, when rod 19 drives container 2 and element 32 towards washer 35 of body 11 (upwards in Figure 2), elements 32 approach element 31. The reduction in the distance between elements 32 and element 31 increases their reciprocal attraction, thus generating an additional upwards thrust on container 2.
In other words, thrust device 30 is a sort of magnetic spring, which generates an upward thrust on container 2 which increases while container 2 approaches body 11 and reaches its maximum value when container 2 is in contact with washer 35.
In use, the user inserts on interface 14 a plurality of parameters associated at least to the nature of food product, the size and the material of containers 2, the kind of filling required and the desired law movement of container 2.
In other words, the user inserts a recipe in the human-machine interface 14, on the basis of which control unit 16 controls the movement of actuator 15 and, therefore, of container 2 along axis B towards and away from washer 35.
The operation of unit 1 is described with reference to only one container 2 and to respective only one positioning system 9 and only one filling valve 8.
Furthermore, the operation of unit 1 is described starting from a situation, in which positioning system 9 is set in the lowered position at station I and shutter 13 is in the closed position.
Carousel 7 rotates about axis A and drives in rotation positioning system 9 about same axis A.
When it is in a station intermediate between station I and O, control unit 16 controls actuator 15 to move, on the basis of the inserted recipe, container 2 along axis B and towards body 11.
In detail, control unit 16 controls actuator 15, in such a way that rod 19 slides relative to housing 17 along axis B and towards body 11.
On the basis of the recipe inserted by the user positioning system 9 moves container 2 for a given stroke along axis B from the lowered position to the first raised position and/or the second raised position.
In particular, the height of first raised position and the second raised position relative to a fixed part of unit 1, e.g. plate 10, depends on the recipe inserted by user on interface 14.
Accordingly, on the basis of the recipe, a wide range of movement law of container 2 as well a wide range of operative steps may be achieved.
For example, in case of still products, control unit 16 controls, on the basis of the recipe, actuator 15 in such a way to arrange container 2:

either in the first raised position, in case of a contactless filling has been required in the recipe; or
in the second raised position, in case of a contact filling has been required in the recipe.

In particular, during the filling operation, duct 12 passes through mouth 3 and enters the inner volume of container 2.
Still more precisely, mouth 3 is in tight-fluid contact with washer 35 in case of contact filling with carbonated food product whereas it is axially spaced from washer 35 in case of contactless filling with still food product.
In particular, in case of contactless filling, the distance of first raised position from a fixed part of unit 1, e.g. plate 10, is associated to the format of the container.
In other words, control unit 16 raises actuator 15 and, therefore, container 2 for a given distance which is associated to the format, the shape and the material of container 2. In this way, it is not necessary to replace duct 12, when the format of container 2 changes.
During the contact or contactless filling, shutter 13 is set in the open position and the pourable product fills container 2.
Once the filling of container 2 is completed, shutter 13 is set in the closed position.
In case of carbonated food products particularly sensible to the oxidation, e.g. beer, filling valve 8 flows gas, e.g. carbon dioxide, inside container 2, before the latter is filled with the pourable food.
On the basis of the recipe, the gas is flown with container 2 in the first raised position (shown in Figure 3, with reference to the second embodiment of the present invention) or with container 2 in the second raised position (shown in Figure 2).
Accordingly, on the basis of the recipe, control unit 16 controls actuator 15 in such a way to arrange container 2 either in the first raised position or in the second raised position.
After the gas flowing operation, container 2 is arranged - or remains - in the second raised position and undergoes a filling operation and a pressurizing operation.
In particular, duct 12 passes through mouth 3 of container 2 and enters the inner volume of container 2.
Furthermore, mouth 3 is in sealing contact with washer 35 in case of contact filling with carbonated food product whereas it is axially spaced from washer 35 in case of contactless filling with still food product.
At this stage, shutter 13 is set in the open position and the pourable product fills container 2.
Once the filling of container 2 is completed, shutter 13 is set in the closed position.
During the pressurization, due to the fact that that mouth 3 is in tight-fluid contact with washer 35, the gas is prevented from coming out from container 2, thus keeping the inner volume thereof at a given pressure.
When container 2 approaches body 11, the distance between elements 32 and element 31 narrows down, thus increasing the magnetic thrust directed along axis B and towards body 11 and acting on container 2.
In this way, when mouth 3 is in tight-fluid contact with washer 35, container 2 is subjected to the maximum magnetic thrust along axis B and towards washer 35. That thrust balances the sum of the weight of container 2 and of the force generated by the pressure of gas inside container 2.
Upstream from station O, control unit 16 controls actuator 15 to move container 2 along axis B and away from washer 35, up to reach the lowered position.
At station O, container 2 is fed by carousel 7 to a downstream not-shown station.
With reference to Figures 3 to 5, 9' indicates a second embodiment of positioning device.
Positioning system 9' is similar to positioning system 9 and will be disclosed hereinafter only insofar as it differs from the latter; corresponding parts or equivalents of positioning systems 9, 9' will be indicated, where possible, by the same reference numerals.
Positioning system 9' differs from positioning system 9 in that it operates on containers 2' made of plastic.
Container 2' is similar to container 2 and will be disclosed hereinafter only insofar as it differs from the latter; corresponding parts or equivalents of containers 2, 2' will be indicated, where possible, by the same reference numerals.
In particular, each container 2' is made of plastic material and comprises a ring 5' protruding from neck 6' and at a certain distance from mouth 7'.
Positioning system 9' differs from positioning device for comprising a pair of jaws 50' hinged to plate 21' about relative axes parallel to each other and vertical, in the embodiment shown.
Jaws 50' are movable relative to each other between a closed position (shown in Figures 3 to 5) in which they grip ring 5' of container 2', and an open position (not-shown) in which they do not contact ring 5'.
Furthermore, positioning system 9' differs from positioning system 9 in that rod 19 extends along an axis C' parallel and is staggered relative to axis B.
The operation of positioning system 9' differs from the operation of positioning system 9 in that jaws 50' are arranged in the open position at station I, O and are arranged in the closed position along path P.
Still more precisely, Figure 3 shows container 2 in the first raised position while undergoes a contact-less flowing of gas, Figure 4 shows container 2 in the second raised position during the filling thereof, and Figure 5 shows container 2 in the second raised position during the pressurization thereof.
From an analysis of the features of positioning systems 9, 9' made according to the present invention, the advantages it allows to obtain are apparent.
In particular, the movement of actuators 15 and, therefore of respective containers 2, along axis B is completely controlled by control unit 16 on the basis of the recipe inserted by the user, without using any mechanical cam and any pneumatic device.
Accordingly, a wide range of filling modality can be obtained by using the same unit 1, without using any mechanical cam and any pneumatic device.
In greater detail, on the basis of the recipe, unit 1 can carry out either a contact filling or a contactless filling, in case of still product, with no need of replacing a mechanical cam.
Furthermore, in case of carbonated product, filling unit 1 can, on the basis of the recipe, either carries out a flowing of the gas inside containers 2 before the filling thereof or directly fills containers 2 without any gas flowing.
On the basis of the recipe, unit 1 can flow the gas inside containers 2 before the filling either with containers 3 in the first raised positions (Figure 3) or with containers 3 in the second raised positions.
In other words, the speed of the flowing may be varied by unit 1, simply on the basis of the recipe.
Furthermore, in case of contactless filling, actuators 15, on the basis of the format of containers 2, arrange respective containers 2 at different first raised position relative to plate 10. In this way, it is possible to prevent the pourable food product from contacting the outer surface of ducts 12, without replacing ducts 12 every time the format of containers 2 changes.
Furthermore, in case of carbonated food product and during the pressurization step of containers 2, each thrust device 30 is effective in contrasting the weight of relative container 2 and the pressure existing inside relative container 2.
Furthermore, filling valves 8 could not comprise relative ducts 12 and the filling openings could be defined by body 11.

Claims

An article-handling machine (1), comprising:
- an operating unit (8);

- a carousel (7) rotatable about said first axis (A) parallel to and staggered from said second axis (B) and which carries said operating unit (8);

- at least one position control system (9, 9') for controlling the position of an article (2, 2') fillable with a pourable product with respect to a operating unit (8) and comprising:
- an actuator (15) which may rotate about a first axis (A) integrally with said operating unit (8) and completely carries, in use, the weight of said article (2, 2'); said actuator (15) being further adapted to move said article (2, 2') relative to said operating unit (8) along a second axis (B) distinct from said first axis (A); and

- a control unit (16) configured for:
i) receiving a control signal associated to at least one parameter between the nature of the pourable product, the format or the material of said article (2, 2'), the movement law of said article (2, 2') along said second axis (B) with respect to the angular position of said actuator (15) about said first axis (A); and

ii) controlling the movement of said actuator (15) on the basis of said control signal;

characterized in that said article-handling machine further comprises at least one filling valve (8) for filling said article with said pourable product, carried by said carousel (7) and defined by said operating unit (8); and in that said control unit (16) is configured for moving said actuator (15) along said second axis (B) between:
- a lowered position;

- a first raised position, in which, in use, a mouth (3) of said article (2, 2') is axially spaced from an abutting element (35) of said filling valve (8); and

- at least one second raised position, in which, in use, said mouth (3) is in tight-fluid contact with said filling valve (8);
said first raised position being interposed between said lowered position and said second raised position along said second axis (B);
said control unit (16) is further configured for positioning, on the basis of said control signal, said article (2, 2') in said first raised position, either for a contactless filling of said article (2, 2') with a still pourable product or for a contactless flowing of aeriform before the filling of said article (2, 2') with a pourable product with aeriform;
said control unit (16) is further also configured for positioning, on the basis of said control signal, said article (2, 2') in said second raised position, either for a contact filling of said article (2, 2') with said still product or for a contact flowing of said aeriform before the filling of said article (2, 2') with a pourable product with aeriform.
The article-handling machine of claim 1, characterized in that said actuator (15) comprises:
- a fixed part (17) which is stationary relative to said second axis (B);

- a movable part (18) which may be moved by said control unit (16) relative to said fixed part (17) and on the basis of said control signal; and

- a handling device (21, 50') operatively connected to said movable part (18) and connectable to said article (2, 2').
The article-handling machine of claim 2, characterized by comprising an electric brushless motor formed at least by said fixed part (17) and said movable part (18).
The article-handling machine of claims 2 or 3, characterized in that said control unit (16) is configured to control said actuator (15) in such a way to cause said movable part (18) to slide relative to said fixed part (17) along said second axis (B) only.
The article-handling machine of claim 4, characterized by comprising an anti-rotating device (20) for preventing the rotation of said movable part (18) around said second axis (B).
The article-handling machine of any one of claims 2 to 5 characterized in that said control unit (16) is configured for moving said movable part (18) in a first direction along said second axis (B);
said position control system (9, 9') further comprising a thrust device (30) for exerting onto said movable part (18) a thrust directed, in use, towards said operating unit (8) and in a first direction; said thrust being adapted to contrast, in use, the pressure of an aeriform inside said article (2, 2').
The article-handling machine of claim 6, characterized in that said thrust device (30) is configured to exert an increasing thrust onto said movable part (18), as said movable part (18) moves, in use, in said first direction and towards said operating unit (8).
The article-handling machine of claim 6 or 7, characterized in that said thrust device (30) comprises:
- at least one first magnetic element (31) fitted to said fixed part (17); and

- at least one second magnetic element (32) fitted to said movable part (18);
said first magnetic element and said second magnetic element (31, 32) having such respective polarities and being arranged in such a mutual position that said movable part (18) is subject to a thrust in said first direction when moving, in use, in said first direction.
The article-handling machine of any one of the previous claims, characterized by comprising a human-machine interface (14) through which an user can selectively insert said at least one parameter.
A method for controlling the position of an article (2, 2') fillable with a pourable product with respect to an operating unit (8) of an article-handling machine (1), comprising the steps of:
i) completely carrying the weight of said article (2, 2') by using an actuator (15);

ii) moving an actuator (15) and said article (2, 2') integrally with said operating unit (8) about a first axis (A);

iii) moving said article (2, 2') relative to said operating unit (8) along a second axis (B) distinct from said first axis (A);

iv) receiving a control signal associated to at least one parameter between the nature of the pourable product, the material or the format of said article (2, 2'), the movement law of said article (2, 2') along said second axis (B) with respect to the position of said actuator (15) about said first axis (A);

v) controlling the movement of said actuator (15) on the basis of said control signal;characterized in that the method further comprises the steps of:
vi) filling said article (2, 2') with said pourable food product, by using said operating unit (8); whereby step vi) comprises the step vii) of moving said article (2, 2') along said second axis (B) between:
- a lowered position;

- a first raised position, in which, in use, a mouth (3) of said article (2, 2') is axially spaced from an abutting element (35) of said filling valve (8); and

- a second raised position, in which, in use, said mouth (3) is in tight-fluid contact with said abutting element (35);

said first raised position being interposed between said lowered position and said second position along said second axis (B);
said step vii) comprising the steps of:
viii) positioning said article (2, 2') in said first raised position on the basis of said control signal, either for a contactless filling of said article (2, 2') with a still pourable product or for a contactless flowing of aeriform before the filling of said article (2, 2') with a pourable product with aeriform; or

ix) positioning said article (2, 2') in said second raised position on the basis of said control signal, either for a contact filling of said article (2, 2') with said still product or for a contact flowing of said aeriform before the filling of said article (2, 2') with a pourable product with aeriform.
The method of claim 10, characterized by comprising the steps of
x) pressurizing said article (2, 2') when the latter is in the second raised position and before filling it with said product with aeriform; and

xi) magnetically thrusting said article (2, 2') against said abutting element (35), in order to contrast the pressure of said aeriform, in order to contrast the pressure inside said article (2, 2').