WO2006128884A2

WO2006128884A2 - Apparatus for sterilising components of packaging units, particularly bottles and/or caps

Info

Publication number: WO2006128884A2
Application number: PCT/EP2006/062772
Authority: WO
Inventors: Luca Colato; Angelo Silvestri
Original assignee: Sidel S.P.A.
Priority date: 2005-06-03
Filing date: 2006-05-31
Publication date: 2006-12-07
Also published as: US20090129975A1; ITMO20050138A1; EP1890730A2; CN101237893A; WO2006128884A3; JP2008545592A

Abstract

An apparatus for treating objects comprises a plurality of rotating carousel means for transporting said objects along a curved path, sterilising means arranged on said plurality of carousel means along said path and distributed on carousel means of said plurality of carousel means and partially on at least further carousel means of said plurality of carousel means; an apparatus for treating objects comprises rotating carousel means for transporting said objects along a curved path, said rotating carousel means comprising at least a carousel for treating objects, and sterilising means arranged on said carousel means along said path, and comprising sterilising means that operates at ambient pressure; a method for treating objects comprises transporting along a curved path said objects by means of a plurality of rotating carousel means comprising sterilising said objects during said transporting with sterilising means arranged on said plurality of carousel means, wherein said transporting comprises transferring said objects between first carousel means of said plurality of carousel means and at least further carousel means of said plurality of carousel means.

Description

Apparatus and methods for treating components of packaging units , particularly bottles and/or caps .

The invention relates to an apparatus and methods for treating components of packaging units, in particular bottles, and/or caps. These apparatuses and methods are particularly suitable for being used for sterilising bottles filled in aseptic conditions .

In producing containers filled in an aseptic manner, in particular containers intended to be filled with foodstuffs such as milk or fruit juices, or other drinks, it is on the one hand very important to ensure that both the containers and the contents thereof, and the caps are sterile and safe for the health of the consumer, on the other hand it is very important to maintain the organoleptic features of these substances .

For this purpose, it is necessary to sterilise the containers, both internally and externally, before filling them, sterilising the caps with which to close the containers, filling and closing the containers in an aseptic environment in order to avoid contamination thereof after sterilisation.

Various sterilising techniques of containers to be filled are known that use various sterilising agents, depending on the final use of the containers and on the features of the substances contained in the treated containers .

For example, in the case of containers filled with fruit juices with added vitamins that are thermolabile or sensitive to heat variations and to the presence of oxygen it is necessary to treat the filled containers in such a way that the vitamin content in the juices does not decrease and thus avoid heat treatments or treatments sensitive to temperature variations and avoid operating in the presence of oxygen. In particular, using a hydrogen peroxide solution is known that is injected inside the containers to be sterilised and is left in contact with the internal surface of the containers for a period that is sufficient to bring about the sterilisation reaction. When this time has passed, the containers are treated so as to eliminate the residues of hydrogen peroxide.

From WO02/072158 is known using a hydrogen peroxide solution for sterilising bottles moving on a treatment carousel. The bottles are first inserted in a sterilising chamber that is sealed, subsequently the pressure of the sterilising chamber is varied and then into each bottle a mixture of water steam and hydrogen peroxide vapour are introduced; condensation of the mixture of vapour and steam is awaited, in consequence of which sterilisation occurs. Therefore the condensates are extracted through the effect of the vacuum and the bottles are subjected to a current of sterile air or sterile oxygen that enables the residues of hydrogen peroxide to be removed. A drawback of the apparatus disclosed in WO02/72158 is that the operations provide for varying the pressure to which the bottles to be sterilised are subjected, first in the sterilising chamber, and subsequently to extract the condensates of the sterilising solution. These operations entail considerable loss of time and a considerable financial outlay.

The hydrogen peroxide sterilising solution that is normally stored in liquid state, has to be vaporised before being introduced into the bottles to be sterilised to improve the sterilising operation.

For this purpose, in the prior art, is known making a sterilising unit by winding an electric resistor around each conveying conduit that is provided in a sterilising apparatus for conveying the sterilising solution to an injecting nozzle connected to a bottle to be sterilised.

When the sterilising solution has to be introduced into a bottle, a valve of the conveying conduit is opened and a volumetric dosing system dispenses a determined quantity of solution that had previously accumulated in a suitable accumulating chamber to flow into the conveying conduit. Simultaneously, the resistor is heated in a virtually instant manner so that it can transfer to the solution that is flowing in the conduit the heat required to make it vaporise. A drawback of an installation of this type is that each resistor has to heat and vaporise the solution within a very- short time, by absorbing from the electrical network alone all the necessary power.

The electric power absorbed by each resistance will therefore be equal, except for possible losses, to the installed power, which consequently has to be very high to heat each resistor instantaneously.

This fact places a great limit on the treating apparatuses for industrial products in which simultaneously a considerable number of containers to be sterilised are treated, especially when rotating machines are used, as in such apparatuses high production speeds are required and many- sterilising units are installed for vaporising the sterilising solution, each of these units is provided with a respective electrical resistance. Further, all the resistors provided in the same treatment apparatus have to be connected to a collector that has to be transported with the rotating machine, and that takes up the current from the electrical network and transfers it to the resistors that absorb it in turn. Further, between the collector and the resistors a current transformer has to be interposed, which is also to be transported with the rotating machine, as the collector absorbs current from the electrical network at a voltage of 380 V, whilst the resistances absorb current at 220 V. During the warm-up phase of such apparatuses all the resistances provided on the same machine (controlled with the PWM method) have to be simultaneously supplied and so the total electric power installed on the apparatus overall can reach very extremely high values . Further, the collectors and transformers provided for these apparatuses have to have great dimensions and are difficult to transport on rotating parts .

During the operative phase of these apparatuses not all the resistances provided are supplied simultaneously but the number of resistances supplied at the same moment is nevertheless such as to require installed electric power values that are so high that the collectors and the transformers have dimensions that are such that they are difficult to transport on rotating parts.

Thus, in providing installations according to the prior art, as previously disclosed, in rotating machines, numerous technical obstacles are encountered, the most obvious of which are: — the need to use, on the rotating parts of the apparatuses, electrical brush collectors of large dimensions with consequent problems of bulk, weight, cost, reliability, maintenance, etc. ...;

— the need to use, on the rotating parts of the apparatuses, large 380V-220V transformers with consequent problems of bulk, weight, cost, reliability, maintenance, etc

Such installation is thus difficult to provide on rotating carousels, especially on carousels intended to treat a great number of bottles .

A further drawback of known apparatuses consists of the dosing system of the sterilising solution.

In fact, volumetric dosing systems enable a flow rate of solution to be obtained at the outlet that is not constant over time but variable according to a step function.

This causes oscillations in the temperature reached by the solution and, therefore, in the degree of vaporisation thereof and can negatively influence the efficacy of sterilisation. Further, to keep the temperature of the solution leaving the heating system constant, it would be necessary to vary the instantaneous power absorbed by the resistances, and this may further increase the peaks of instant power.

An object of the invention is to improve treatment apparatuses of components of packaging units . A further object is to make treatment apparatuses for treating components of packaging units that are cheap, but also flexible, i.e. which can easily adapt to possible variations in productive conditions without causing rejects. Still another object is to make treatment apparatuses provided with improved systems of vaporisation of a sterilising solution.

Still another object is to provide treatment apparatuses for treating components of packaging units provided with vaporisation systems of a sterilising solution of moderate cost.

Still another object is to make treatment apparatuses provided with dosing systems of the sterilising solution that enable sterilising solution to be supplied at a flow rate that is constant over time. In a first aspect of the invention, an apparatus is provided for treating objects comprising a plurality of rotating carousel means for transporting said objects along a curved path, sterilising means arranged on said plurality of carousel means along said path, characterised in that said sterilising means is distributed on carousel means of said plurality of carousel means and partially on at least further carousel means of said plurality of carousel means . In a second aspect of the invention, a method is provided for treating objects comprising transporting along a curved path said objects by means of a plurality of rotating carousel means comprising sterilising said objects during said transporting with sterilising means arranged on said plurality of carousel means, characterised in that said transporting comprises transferring said objects between first carousel means of said plurality of carousel means and at least further carousel means of said plurality of carousel means .

Owing to these aspects of the invention, it is possible to make versatile and safe treatment apparatus and methods for treating components of packaging units that enable sterile components of packaging units to be obtained.

These apparatuses and methods adapt easily to treating different types of packaging units that are also of dimensions and features that are very different from one another.

In a third aspect of the invention, an apparatus is provided for treating objects comprising rotating carousel means for transporting said objects along a curved path, said rotating carousel means comprising at least a carousel for treating objects, and sterilising means arranged on said carousel means along said path, characterised in that said sterilising means comprises sterilising means that operates at ambient pressure . In an embodiment, said sterilising means comprises hydrogen peroxide sterilising means.

Owing to this aspect of the invention, it is possible to make a sterilising apparatus for treating objects that is compact and always operates at ambient pressure, i.e. for the operation of which it is not necessary to vary the pressure to which the objects to be sterilised are subjected, this enabling an extremely economical apparatus to be obtained. In a fourth aspect of the invention, a method is provided for treating objects comprising transporting along a curved path said objects by means of rotating carousel means comprising at least a carousel, sterilising said objects during said transporting with sterilising means arranged on said carousel means, characterised in that said sterilising comprises sterilising at ambient pressure. In an embodiment, said sterilising comprises sterilising by means of hydrogen peroxide. In a fifth aspect of the invention, a sterilising apparatus is provided for sterilising objects, comprising conduit means for conveying a sterilising solution to said objects, resistor means arranged for heating said solution flowing in said conduit means, characterised in that it comprises heat- accumulating means arranged for accumulating the heat released by said resistor means and transferring it to said solution. In this way the heat-accumulating means accumulates heat transferred by the resistor means for a relatively long time, whilst the sterilising solution is heated in a short time, i.e. in the time in which it flows to the objects to be sterilised, this time being defined as injection time. In an embodiment, vaporisation chamber means is further provided arranged for momentaneously housing said sterilising solution.

In this way the heat-accumulating means accumulates heat transferred by the resistor means and simultaneously transfers it to the sterilising solution present in the vaporisation chamber means, thus the solution is heated over a relatively long period of time, such period of time being different from the injection time and prior thereto, and the solution is released already in vapour form, during the injection time, flowing to the objects to be sterilised. In sixth aspect of the invention, a method is provided for sterilising objects by means of a sterilising solution, comprising conveying said solution to said objects, absorbing energy by means of resistor means, characterised in that there is provided for accumulating said heat produced by said resistor means and transferring it to said solution by means of heat-accumulating means .

In an embodiment, said heat is transferred by said accumulation means to said flowing solution during said conveying. In this way, the sterilising solution is heated during the time in which it flows along said conduit means to said objects to be sterilised, said time being defined as injection time.

In another embodiment, said heat is transferred by said accumulation means to said solution momentaneously housed in vaporisation chamber means provided inside said accumulation means .

In this way, the sterilising solution is heated in a period of time that is different from the injection time and precedes it, and is released already in vapour form, during the injection time, flowing to said objects to be sterilised. Owing to these aspects, it is possible to heat in a simple and effective manner a sterilising solution that has to be injected in vapour state into objects to be sterilised, these objects being preferably positioned as closely as possible to the heating apparatus .

Apparatuses characterised by high productivity are further obtained.

In a seventh aspect of the invention, a dosing apparatus is provided for dosing a solution, preferably a sterilising solution for sterilising objects, comprising accumulating chamber means for accumulating said solution, propelling means for propelling said solution along piping, characterised in that it comprises pressure-reducing means positioned downstream of said accumulating chamber means and arranged for reducing the pressure of said sterilising solution.

In an embodiment, flow intercepting means is provided for intercepting the flow that passes through the pipe. In an eighth aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for dosing a solution, preferably a sterilising solution for sterilising packaging units, comprising accumulating said solution in accumulating chamber means, successively propelling said solution along piping, characterised in that there is provided for reducing the pressure of said solution by means of pressure-reducing means positioned downstream of said accumulating chamber means. This enables losing fractions of the sterilising solution along said piping to be avoided, and in particular losing fractions of the sterilising solution in the portion comprised between the chamber means and a heating device of said solution to be avoided.

The invention can be better understood and implemented with reference to the enclosed drawings that illustrate some embodiments thereof by way of non-limitative example, in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a first embodiment of an apparatus for treating and filling components of packaging units;

Figure 2 is a schematic view of the apparatus in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a partial schematic view of a second embodiment of a treatment apparatus for treating components of packaging units;

Figure 4 is a partial schematic view of a third embodiment of a treatment apparatus for treating components of packaging units; Figure 5 is a partial schematic view of a fourth embodiment of a treatment apparatus for treating components of packaging units;

Figure 6 is a partial schematic view of a version of the apparatus in Figures 1 and 2; Figure 7 is a schematic view of a further embodiment of an apparatus for sterilising objects;

Figure 8 is a possible diagram that illustrates schematically the devices provided in the treatment carousel in Figures 1 and 2; Figure 9 is a schematic view is a heating system for heating a sterilising solution according to the prior art;

Figure 10 is a graph that shows the trend over time of the electric power absorbed by the heating system in Figure 8;

Figure 11 is a schematic view of a first embodiment of a heating and heat-accumulation system for a sterilising solution according to the invention; Figure 12 is a schematic view of a second embodiment of a heating system, of the batch type, of a sterilising solution according to the invention;

Figure 13 is a graph that shows the trend over time of the of the electric power absorbed by the heating systems for heating the sterilising solution according to the invention, shown in Figures 11 and 12;

Figure 14 is a graph that shows the trend over time of the thermal power transferred by the heating system in Figure 11;

Figure 15 is a graph that shows the trend over time of the thermal power transferred by the heating system in Figure

12;

Figure 16 is a schematic view of an embodiment of a dosing system for dosing the sterilising solution according to the invention;

Figure 16A is a schematic view of the structure of the dosing system for dosing the sterilising solution of Figure

16; Figure 17 is a schematic section of a further embodiment of a dosing system for dosing the sterilising solution according to the invention in a first operating phase;

Figure 18 is a schematic section of the dosing system in

Figure 17 in a further operating phase; Figure 19 is a schematic view from above of a first disc of the dosing system in Figure 17;

Figure 20 is a schematic view from above of a second disc of the dosing system in Figure 17;

Figure 21 is a schematic view of a sterilising nozzle for sterilising containers that shows the circulation of a sterilising solution;

Figure 22 is an enlarged detail of the nozzle in Figure 21.

With reference to Figures 1 and 2, there is shown a system 1 for treating components of packaging units coming from a supplying line 10, in particular of bottles and/or caps suitable for being used for obtaining filled sterile containers .

The apparatus 1 is externally delimited by walls 2 having the function of insulating it from the external environment, to ensure that aseptic conditions are maintained in the interior thereof. For this purpose, inside the walls 2 slight overpressure can be generated with respect to the external environment to prevent the entry of air and thus of possible contaminants from the external environment. The bottles to be sterilised are introduced into the apparatus 1 from the supplying line 10 in the direction of the arrow F in the inlet zone 3 at a first sterilising zone 4 and are subjected to a series of treatments along their path inside the apparatus 1, in particular, they are subjected to the action of a plurality of sterilising devices provided along this path.

In the first sterilising zone ■i , a first transporting star 401, a second transporting star 402 and a third transporting star 403 are provided that are rotatable around the respective vertical axes in the direction indicated by the respective arrows, and interacting between themselves to shift the bottles from the supplying line 10 to an inlet A of a carousel 5 along a sinuous path that passes through sterilising devices intended for sterilising the external surface of the bottles .

The carousel 5 draws the bottles by means of drawing means that are not shown and comprising, for example, drawing grippers, that grasp the bottles during the entire journey thereof on the carousel 5. The carousel, rotating in the direction indicated by the arrow Fl, rotates the bottles, each one of which is positioned at a treatment station, defined, for example, by a pair of drawing grippers, in suitable treatment zones provided on the carousel 5 and provided in succession. The treatment zones are defined as follows . The bottles that enter the carousel 5 from the inlet A are taken by the rotating carousel to an outlet C at which the bottles are removed from the carousel 5 and move to a fourth transport star 404 that takes them to a cooling carousel 6. Between the inlet A and the outlet C an active zone α is defined in which the various devices provided on the carousel 5 interact with the bottles, whilst between the outlet C and the inlet A a passive angular sector is defined, known also as a "dead angle" along which the carousel 5 is devoid of bottles.

Between the outlet C and a point B, a heat accumulation sector αl is provided, extending along the passive sector β and along a part of the active sector α, in which, depending on the type of heating device for heating the hydrogen peroxide solution provided, different operations occur.

In particular, if the heating device for heating the solution, disclosed below with reference to Figure 11 has been provided, this device accumulates in a metal material the heat necessary for subsequent vaporisation of the solution, this vaporisation occurs in the portion α3 simultaneously with the injection of the solution into a bottle to be sterilised.

If, on the other hand, the heating device is provided for heating the solution disclosed below with reference to Figure 12, this device transfers, in the heat accumulating sector αl, the heat necessary for the vaporisation of a dose of solution, to a dose of solution housed in a vaporising chamber. In this case, at the sector α3 the solution is already vaporised and is injected only into a bottle to be sterilised.

In general, whatever the system of vaporisation of the sterilising solution provided, the device provided at a set treatment station of the carousel 5, start to accumulate heat in the accumulation mass and, as in the embodiment in Figure 12, starts to transfer it to the sterilising solution immediately after the phase of injection of sterilising solution into a bottle in that given treatment station, using in this way all the useful rotation time of the carousel 5. In a portion of the heat accumulating sector αl, between a further point D and the point B, there is provided a preheating sector α2, in which also the internal surface of the bottles is heated.

Lastly, between the point B and the outlet C a vaporisation and injection sector α3 is provided (as in Figure 11) or an injection sector for injecting already prepared vapour (as in Figure 12), is provided, in which the hot hydrogen peroxide solution is injected in vapour state inside the bottles and is left in contact with the internal surface of the bottles so as to bring about the sterilisation reaction. The previous heating of the internal surface of the bottles prevents the vaporised hydrogen peroxide solution condensing too rapidly in contact with the surface of the bottles and thus not homogeneously spreading over the entire surfaces of the bottles, and further enables rapid activation of the sterilising solution in the zone in contact with the wall and thus the rapid start of the sterilisation reaction.

In fact, in order for the hydrogen peroxide sterilising solution to be activated, it is necessary for the activating energy to be reached, namely for the wall of the bottles to be sterilised to have a temperature of approximately 50°- 7O⁰C.

The temperature of the bottles must not, however, bee too high to prevent the sterilising solution evaporating too fast so that it does not remain sufficiently long in contact with the internal surfaces of the bottles, and also to prevent thermal deformation that would change the shape and volume of the bottles .

The position of the further point D and of the point B on the carousel 5 can be suitably varied according to given process requirements for varying the duration of the bottle preheating phase and/or the vaporisation phase of the sterilising solution. Successively, the bottles are unloaded from the carousel 5 to a fourth transport star 404 that takes them to a cooling carousel 6, in which they are subjected to a stream of cold air at ambient temperature that is suitable for preventing deformation of the bottles due to the excessive temperatures reached and to the contact of the vapours of the sterilising solution with the walls of the bottles.

Subsequently, the bottles are removed by a fifth transport star 405 that takes them to a drying carousel 7, wherein they are subjected to a stream of dry hot air suitable for evaporating the hydrogen peroxide solution present in the bottles, in order to eliminate any residue of the solution that could compromise subsequent use of the bottles. Subsequently, by means of further transport stars 406, the sterile bottles are supplied to further treatment phases, for example to a filling carousel 8, which is also placed inside the sterile walls 2 in which therefore, always in aseptic conditions, the bottles can be filled with suitable contents and be possibly capped and/or sealed. From the filling carousel 8 the bottles are evacuated by means of still further transport stars 407 along a sinuous path moving away from the apparatus 1 in the direction indicated by the movement arrow F2. With reference to Figure 7, an embodiment of a further apparatus 100 is shown for treating objects, and in particular bottles, this apparatus comprises some parts having the same function and/or structure, and/or in which the same operations of corresponding parts of the apparatus 1 occur, which will therefore be indicated by the same numeric references and will not be explained in detail.

Bottles to be sterilised are moved along the supplying line 10 in the direction of the arrow F and introduced into the apparatus 100 in the inlet zone 3 at a first sterilising zone 4 in which, by means of a plurality of transport stars, the bottles are moved to an inlet A of a carousel 5' along a sinuous path that passes through sterilising devices intended for sterilising the external surface of the bottles. The carousel 5' by rotating in the direction indicated by the arrow Fl, transports the bottles as it rotates, each of which bottles is positioned at a treatment station, defined, for example, by a pair of drawing grippers, in suitable treatment zones provided on the carousel 5 and arranged in succession. The treatment zones of the carousel 5' are those provided in the carousel 5 of the apparatus 1 and differ from the latter as in the carousel 5' a drying zone is also provided as explained better below.

The bottles that enter the carousel 5' from the inlet A are taken by the rotating carousel to an outlet C at which the bottles are removed from the carousel 5' and move to a fourth transport star 404.

Between the inlet A and the outlet C an active zone α is defined in which the various devices provided on the carousel 5' interact with the bottles, whereas between the outlet C and the inlet A a passive angular sector β is defined, also known as a "dead angle" along which the carousel 5 is devoid of bottles .

Between the point A2 and the point Al a heat accumulating sector αl is provided, extending along the passive sector β and along a part of the active sector α, in which, depending on the type of heating device provided for heating the hydrogen peroxide solution, different operations occur, as already seen with reference to Figure 1.

In general, whatever vaporisation system of the sterilising solution is provided, the device provided at a given treatment station of the carousel 5' starts to accumulate heat in the accumulation mass and, embodiment di Figure 12, to transfer it to the sterilising solution immediately after the phase of injection of sterilising solution into a bottle in that given treatment station has terminated, using in this way fr accumulating heat, all the useful rotating time of the carousel 5' . In a portion of the heat accumulating sector αl, between inlet A and point Al, there is provided a preheating sector α2, in which heating the internal surface of the bottles is also provided. Between point Al and point A2 a vaporisation and injection sector α3 is provided (as in Figure 11) or injection sector for injectiong an already prepared vapour is provided (as in Figure 12), in which the hot hydrogen peroxide solution is injected in vapour state inside the bottles and is left in contact with the internal surface of the bottles so as to bring about the sterilisation reaction.

Lastly, in a portion of the accumulating sector αl, between point A2 and the inlet A, a drying sector α4 is provided, in which the bottles are subjected to a stream of dry hot air suitable for evaporating the hydrogen peroxide solution in the bottles, in order to eliminate any residue of this solution that could compromise the subsequent uses of the bottles . The position of the further point Al and of the point A2 on the carousel 5' can be appropriately varied on the basis of given process requests for varying the duration of the preheating phase of the bottles and/or the vaporisation phase of the sterilising solution. Subsequently, the bottles are unloaded from carousel 5' to the transport stars 420 that by means of sinuous paths take the bottle to possible other treatment carousels and/or treatment devices that may, for example, comprise, a cooling carousel, or a filling carousel 8, as shown in Figure 7, etc .. With reference to Figure 3 a second embodiment of the treatment apparatus 1 is shown schematically, comprising a preheating carousel 101 that receives the bottles to be sterilised coming from a first sterilising zone that is not shown in which the external surface of the bottles was sterilised. From the preheating carousel 101 the bottles are drawn by a first transport star 102 that takes them to a treatment carousel 103, in which each bottle is treated with a given quantity of a hydrogen peroxide sterilising solution in vapour state to sterilise the internal surface thereof.

In the treatment carousel 103 there is defined an inlet A' at which the bottles are introduced into the treatment carousel 103 and an outlet C at which the bottles are evacuated from the treatment carousel 103 and move to a second transport star 104 that takes them to a cooling carousel 105.

Between the inlet A' and the outlet C there is defined an active zone α' in which the various devices provided on the treatment carousel 103 interact with the bottles, in particular the overheated vapours of the hydrogen peroxide solution are injected inside each bottle and interact with the internal surface of the latter to sterilise it, whilst between the outlet C and the inlet A' there is defined a passive angular sector β' , along which the carousel 103 is devoid of bottles . Also in this case, the same considerations apply to the vaporisation systems for the sterilising solution provided as apply to the embodiment in Figure 1 with reference to two embodiments of the heat accumulating device in Figures 11 and 12. In the cooling carousel 105 the bottles are subjected to a stream of cold, sterile and dry air.

Subsequently, by means of a third transport star 106, the bottles are removed from the cooling carousel 105 and taken to a drying carousel 107 in which they are treated with a stream of hot and sterile dry air to evaporate the residues of hydrogen peroxide.

With reference to Figure 4 a third embodiment of the apparatus in Figure 1 is presented that differs from the embodiment in Figure 3 through the fact that treating the bottles with hydrogen peroxide solution and cooling them are carried out in the same carousel. In this embodiment the apparatus comprises a preheating carousel 108, a treatment and cooling carousel 109, and a drying carousel 110 between which the bottles are moved in succession by means of suitable transport stars 111, 116. In the treatment and cooling carousel 109 there is defined an inlet A' ' at which the bottles are introduced inside the treatment and cooling carousel 109 and an outlet C ' . Between the outlet C ' and the inlet A' ' there is defined a passive angular sector β'', along which the carousel 109 is devoid of the bottles and in which the hydrogen peroxide solution is preheated and is then injected into the bottles in vapour state. Between the inlet A'' and the outlet C' there is defined an active zone α' ' comprising a treatment sector αl'', extending between the inlet A'' and a point B'', in which the hydrogen peroxide solution is injected inside each bottle, and a cooling sector α2'', extending between point B' ' and the outlet C ' in which the bottles are cooled. The position of point B' ' , and therefore the duration respectively of the treatment phase and of the heating phase can be varied appropriately on the basis of specific process requests .

Also in this case, the same considerations apply to the operation of the vaporisation systems of the sterilising solution provided as apply to the embodiment in Figure 1 with reference to two embodiments of the heat accumulating device in Figures 11 and 12.

With reference to Figure 5 a fourth embodiment of the apparatus in Figure 1 is presented, that differs from the embodiment in Figure 3 by the fact that cooling and drying of the bottles are conducted in the same carousel.

In this embodiment, the apparatus comprises a preheating carousel 112, a treatment carousel 113, and a cooling and drying carousel 114 between which the bottles are transported in succession by means of appropriate transport stars 115, 117. In the treatment carousel 113 an inlet A' ' ' , an outlet C ' ' and the same sectors are provided, marked respectively as α' ' ' and β' ' ' , provided in the carousel 103, for which the same considerations apply to the vaporisation systems for the sterilising solution provided as apply to the embodiment Figure 1.

In the cooling and drying carousel 114 there is defined an inlet E and an outlet E' between which there is defined an active angular sector Y comprising a cooling sector γl extending between the inlet E and a point G the position of which can be varied on the basis of process requirements, in which the bottles are cooled, and a drying sector γ2 extending between the point G and the outlet F in which the bottles are dried. Between the outlet F and the inlet E there is defined a passive angular sector ε in which the cooling and drying carousel 114 is devoid of bottles.

With reference to Figure 6 an embodiment of the apparatus in Figure 1 is presented, in which the same devices are defined by the same alphanumeric references and which comprises a cooling carousel 6 in which there is provided for varying the duration of the cooling operation.

In the cooling carousel 6 there is defined an inlet H and an outlet I, between which an active sector δ is defined in which the cooling carousel 6 is provided with bottles to be cooled, and which comprises an effectively active sector δl in which cooling actually occurs, that is the bottles are treated with a stream of cold cooling air in the effectively active sector δl. The active sector δ further comprises transporting sectors δ2 and δ3 in which the bottles are not subjected to any treatment, whilst between the outlet I and the inlet H, a passive sector η is defined in which the carousel 6 is devoid of bottles.

The width of the active sector δl and of the transporting sectors δ2 and δ3 can be reciprocally varied in an appropriate manner on the basis of particular process requirements . As can be seen, the different embodiments shown of treatment apparatuses for treating containers, and in particular bottles, enable the bottles to be sterilised in an effective manner with hydrogen peroxide at ambient pressure, i.e. without the pressure of the bottles and/or the operating pressure of the treatment devices of the bottles along the apparatuses being varied along the path of the bottles along the apparatuses . The apparatuses disclosed above can further sterilise the bottles also with sterilising agents other than hydrogen peroxide .

With reference to Figure 8 a possible diagram is presented that illustrates schematically some devices provided in a treatment carousel of parts of components of packaging units, for example in the carousel 5 of Figures 1 and 2.

The carousel 5 is peripherally provided with a plurality of positioning and gripping elements, that are not shown, comprising for example a plurality of pairs of grippers, for gripping components of packaging units, for example of bottles 50, such plurality of pairs of grippers draw the bottles 50 that have to be treated and keep them in position on their path on the treatment carousels, for example on carousel 5. This plurality di positioning and gripping elements, defines on the carousel 5 a plurality of treatment stations for treating the bottles 50.

Each station is provided with a nozzle 51 that is movable in a manner that is integral with the station, shown in greater detail in Figures 21 and 22, and that can be connected, by means of a distributing element 52, alternatively to a supplying line of hot air 53, coming from a corresponding accumulating zone for accumulating preheating hot air 53' and suitable for heating the bottles 50 in the preheating phase, (sector α2), with a further supplying line of hot air 54, coming from a corresponding accumulating zone 54' of hot air and suitable for supplying hot air that is mixed with the vaporised hydrogen peroxide solution to be introduced into the bottles 50 in the treatment phase, (sector α3) , and with a supplying line of sterile air at ambient temperature 55, supplied by a corresponding accumulating zone of sterile air at low pressure 55', for cooling the bottles 50.

The nozzle 51 may further be connected during the bottles 50 treatment phase to a conduit 56 to enable the vaporised sterilising solution enter inside each bottle 50. With reference to Figures 21 and 22, the nozzle 51 comprises a cylindrical body 51a into which flows, during the treatment phase, the vapours of the hydrogen peroxide sterilising solution for treating the bottle 50 and a hat-shaped portion 51b arranged for surrounding a portion of neck 50a of the bottle to be sterilised and provided with flaps 51d. The shape of the nozzle 51 seen above enables all the parts of the bottle 50 to be treated in an effective manner, and in particular enables the external surfaces 50b of the neck portions 50a of the bottles 50 to be sterilised. The neck of the bottle and, in particular, the thread on which the cap of the bottle is screwed is a very ticklish zone that has to be sterilised appropriately, also because a user may consume the contents of the bottle by drinking it directly from the bottle, and on the other hand it must be completely devoid of residues of sterilising solution that could be harmful for a user.

Thus whilst the external surface of the body of the bottles can be sterilised with equanimity, for example with a sterilising solution of hydrogen peroxide in liquid state, without excessively worrying about possible residues of solution on the surface of the body of the bottle, or possibly can be treated in the same way in which the internal surface of the bottle is treated, to the neck the same restrictions apply as those seen for the internal surface of the bottles to be sterilised, and they therefore have to be treated with hydrogen peroxide vapours . The hydrogen peroxide sterilising solution vapours are injected into bottle to be sterilised from a port 51c of the nozzle 51 and flow inside the bottle 50, as shown by the flow lines FF in Figure 21, reaching the bottom of the bottle 50, touching the internal surfaces thereof and ascending again to the neck 50a to then exit the bottle 50.

If the nozzle 51 was devoid of the hat portion 51b, the hydrogen peroxide vapours would flow, after sterilising the inside of the bottle 50, outside the bottle 50 in a non- controlled manner, risking not sterilising in an appropriate manner the external surface 50b of the neck portion 50a of the bottles 50.

The presence, on the other hand, of the hat portion 51b and of the flaps 51d, force the sterilising solution vapours to flow with a turbulent and spiralling flow so that they touch the external surface of the neck portion 50b and the thread thereof, sterilising it in an effective manner before flowing freely outside the bottle 50.

At each station a pretreatment system for pretreating the sterilising solution is further provided that is overall indicated by 57, comprising a dosing system for dosing the solution 500 that is disclosed in greater detail with reference to Figure 14, and a heating system for heating the solution 300 that is disclosed in greater detail with reference to Figures 10 and 11 and that is positioned downstream of the dosing system and which supplies the conduit 56 with vaporised solution.

Each dosing system 500 for dosing the solution receives liquid hydrogen peroxide solution from a respective branch 58 of a supplying line of the liquid solution 59, which in turn receives it from a storage tank 59' for stroing the solution; the branch 58 comprises a loop circuit zone 61 to keep the solution circulating in order to prevent the formation of gas within it and to enable it to be renewed continuously in the pipes . The liquid solution, therefore, from the branch 58, by means of the conduit 62 provided with an opening/closing valve 63, is introduced into the dosing system 500, from the latter a properly determined dose of solution passes through the further conduit 64 to the heating system 300, from which the vaporised solution, passes through the conduit 56 into the nozzle 51 and then into the bottles 50.

Sterile air is further introduced into the heating system 300 by means of the line 65 connected to a corresponding accumulating zone 65' for accumulating sterile air, sterile air being used as a transporting fluid for the hydrogen peroxide vaporised solution, in order to prevent residues of solution remaining inside the heating system 300 and/or inside the conduit 56 and thus do not reach the bottle 50 so that sterilisation is thus not effective.

With reference to Figure 9, heating system is shown for heating a sterilising solution according to the prior art. For sterilising the containers, a vaporised sterilising solution, for example a hydrogen peroxide solution is injected inside them.

This solution is normally stored in liquid state and has to be vaporised along its path between the storage tank and the point of injection into the bottles. In order to obtain the aforementioned heating, in the prior art, as shown in Figure 9, each conduit 201 that conveys the sterilising solution to the bottles present on a sterilising machine is provided with an electric resistor 200 that is wound around at least a part of this conduit. When at the conduit 201 there is a bottle 50 to be sterilised a valve 202 is opened that is located along the conduit 201, so that a given quantity of sterilising solution is intaken into the conduit 201 flows inside the latter, as shown by the flow arrow F3. Simultaneously, the resistor 200 connected by means of appropriate transformers that are not shown to the electric network, absorbs power from the electric network, so heating almost instantaneously and simultaneously transferring the heat to the solution that flows in the conduit 201. In this way, the solution enters the conduit 201 by means of the valve 202 in liquid state and exits therefrom, at the end 204 placed on the part of the bottle to be sterilised, in vapour status .

In the graph in Figure 10 the trend over time [s] of the power absorbed [W] by the resistor 200 is shown. As can be seen from this graph, for each resistor total energy is absorbed from the elctric network amounting to about 3000 Joule, over a time of about 2 sec, which is the sterilising time, i.e. the time that elapses between the moment in which a determined bottle is loaded onto a sterilising machine and the moment in which vaporisation of the solution is obtained inside the bottle, the total energy- absorbed is equivalent of instant absorbed power of 1500 W. By installing such a vaporising device for each of the treatment stations provided in a treatment machine, for example of the rotating carousel type, the following would occur:

— all the vaporisers mounted on the treatment carousel (i.e. not only those present at a given instant in the active sector α3) have to be switched on simultaneously;

— control of the resistances is performed using the PWM method, i.e. the modulation of electric power is achieved by alternating instants of maximum power with instant of zero power.

Therefore, the condition would arise in which in some instants the total electric power required for the operation of the machine is the same as the product of the installed power of a single vaporiser for the total number of the stations provided in the aforementioned machine. In a sterilising carousel of large dimensions, in which the number of stations is high, for example 80 or also more, an installation of the type seen above would thus require very- high installed power to be transmitted on the rotating part, with the constructional and structural limitations seen previously.

These drawbacks are overcome by a heating system of the sterilising solution according to the invention of which, with reference to Figures 11 and 12, two embodiments are shown, the heating system uses a heat accumulation mass for accumulating the heat transferred by the resistor and then transferring it to the sterilising solution. In the embodiment in Figure 11, the heating system 300 comprises a heat accumulator 310 of material with high thermal capacity, i.e. in a material capable of accumulating a great quantity of heat within the mass thereof, which is enclosed inside a layer of insulating material 301, and within which a resistor 302 is immersed, connected, by means of appropriate transformers that are not shown, to the electric network.

In the heat accumulator 310 a conduit 303 is furthermore obtained that is provided with a valve 304 positioned on the side of the further conduit 64, the conduit 303 communicates at one end 305 thereof located on the side of the conduit 56 with a bottle to be sterilised.

The operation of this system is as follows: at each cycle, immediately after a given bottle has been unloaded from the treatment carousel, i.e. when a given treatment station is in the position C in Figures 1 and 2, the resistor 302 starts to transfer energy to the heat accumulator 310, which continues to absorb it until the aforementioned treatment station, into which in the meantime a bottle 50 has been loaded in position A of Figures 1 and 2, is in the treatment start position, for example in position B in Figures 1 and 2.

In position B, the valve 304 is opened so that the solution flows into the conduit 303, as indicated by the flow arrow F3, the solution enters the conduit in liquid state, absorbs the heat that is transferred to it by the mass 310 and exits from the end 305 in vapour state flowing into conduit 56 and then into the bottle 50 to be sterilised. In this system the heat accumulator 310 absorbs energy from the resistor 302 for a relatively long time, lasting approximately 10 seconds, corresponding, for example with reference to Figures 1 and 2, to the width of the rotation arc αl, and transfers this energy to the solution in a short length of time, approximately 2 seconds, as shown in Figures 13 and 14 respectively.

In the embodiment in Figure 12, the system comprises a heat accumulator 310 inside which a vaporising chamber 306 is created that is connected by means of portions of conduit 307, 308, respectively to a first valve 309 connected to the further conduit 64 and to a second valve 311 connected to the conduit 56. The operation of such system is as follows: at each cycle, immediately after a given bottle has been unloaded from the treatment carousel, the first valve 309 is opened, keeping the second valve 311 shut, so that a given quantity of liquid sterilising solution is loaded in the vaporising chamber 306, simultaneously, after the shutting of the valve 309, the resistor 302 starts to transfer energy, by means of the heat accumulator 310, to the solution in the vaporising chamber 306 making it evaporate before the treatment station, at which a bottle 50 has in the meantime been loaded, is in the treatment start position. When the treatment station is in the treatment start position the second valve 311 is opened in such a way that the solution, already in vapour state flows therefrom, and is injected into the bottle 50 to be sterilised, by means of the pressure that is created inside the vaporising chamber 306. In this system, the heat accumulator 310 absorbs energy from the resistor 302 and simultaneously transfers this energy to the solution housed in the vaporising chamber 306 for a relatively long time, lasting approximately 10 seconds, corresponding, for example with reference to Figures 1 and 2, to the width of the rotation arc αl, as shown in Figure 15, and in the treatment phase the solution is already in vapour state ready to be injected into the bottle 50.

In the graphs in Figures 13 and 14 there is shown respectively the trend of the absorbed power and of the transferred power transferred to the fluid by the heating system for heating the sterilising solution according to the invention in the embodiment in Figure 11.

In the graph in Figure 15 there is shown the trend of the electric power absorbed by the resistance and of the thermal power transferred to the fluid by the heating system for heating the sterilising solution of Figure 12.

As can be seen from the analysis of these graphs, these systems use an inactive "long" phase of work, i.e. a phase in which injection of the vapour of the hydrogen peroxide sterilising solution H2O2 into the bottle to be sterilised does not occur, but in which the resistor 302 absorbs low- power electric energy for a relatively long time, for example: 300 W for 10 sec = 3000 joule, reducing significantly in this way, the total electric power to be installed.

As already said, this enables significant electrical wiring problems to be eliminated and treatment carousels to be installed that are provided with a great number of treatment stations . These systems further provide an active "short" operating phase in which the injection of the previously vaporised hydrogen peroxide sterilising solution occurs; in the latter phase on the other hand the following conditions obtain:

— in the case of the embodiment of the heating system in Figure 11, for a time equal to 2 sec the material of the heat accumulator 310 transfers to the sterilising solution the 3000 joule that had been previously accumulated, at a thermal power equal to 1500 W;

— in the case of the embodiment of the heating system in Figure 12, the sterilising solution is already in vapour state and is ready and available for injection, injection lasting approximately 2 seconds .

As can be seen from the analysis of this graphs, these systems increase, with respect to known systems, the duration of the energy absorption phase by the resistor 302 from 2 seconds to 10 seconds, so for the same total energy absorbed, the instantaneous absorbed power become equal to approximately 300 W with respect to the 1500 Watt of power absorbed by the prior-art system. Such energy being accumulated in the form of heat, in a heat accumulation mass (Figure 11) , or, by means of a heat accumulation mass in a given quantity of sterilising solution.

With reference to Figures 16 and 17 to 20 two embodiments are shown in detail of the dosing system 500 of the sterilising solution to be positioned, for example, upstream of the heating system 300 of the solution.

With reference to Figure 16, the dosing system 500 comprises an accumulation chamber for accumulating the sterilising solution 501 connected to a first pipe 502, connected to the conduit 62 to supply the pressurised liquid solution of H2O2 inside the accumulation chamber 501, a second pipe 503 arranged for conveying the sterilising solution outside the accumulation chamber 501 and supplying it, by means of the further conduit 64 to the heating system 300 of the solution, and a third pipe 504, connected to a source of compressed air and to a movement pump 507, and arranged for supplying compressed air to the accumulation chamber 501 for propelling the solution into the second pipe 503. The pipe 503 comprises, as shown by Figure 16A, a main portion 503a connected to the accumulation chamber 501 from which a plurality of pipes 503b leads away, shaped in such a way that each treatment station provided in the treatment carousel is supplied by a corresponding pipe 503b. On each of these pipes 503b a device is provided for creating a flow resistance, such device comprising for example a capillary pipe 505 having a section that is reduced with respect to the section of the pipe 503b and a valve 506 of the on/off type that is movable between a closed position in which the valve 506 blocks the passage of the solution in the pipe 503b, and an open position in which the valve 506 enables the passage of the solution in the pipe 503b towards one of the heating systems 300 for heating the solution previously discussed.

The valve 506 has a very limited internal volume, which is negligible with respect to the volume of sterilising solution to be dosed at each cycle, the volume being comprised preferably between 30 and 100 μl .

The dosing system 500 enables to dose with extreme precision the doses of sterilising solution that have to be sent to each heating system 300 and therefore to each bottle 50, this provides the certainty of vaporising completely the dose of solution and therefore to effectively sterilise each bottle to be treated.

The operation of the dosing system 500 is of proportional type in function of parameters such as the length of the opening time of the valve 506 and the pressure of the solution in the pipe 503.

When the valve 506 opens, i.e. when a dose of solution has to be supplied to a heating system 300 for heating the solution, the pressure of the solution pushes the solution to flow from the chamber 500 through the pipe 503 and through one of the pipes 503b, through the capillary pipe 505 and the valve 506 that remains open until it is traversed by a quantity of sterilising solution that is the equivalent of a dose, after which the valve 506 shuts. This quantity of solution or dose of solution is measured in time, i.e. when the pressure of the solution upstream of the capillary pipe 505 is known, i.e. the pressure in the third pipe 504 is known, and when the pressure downstream of the capillary pipe 505 is known, i.e. when the flow resistances are known to which the solution is subjected along the capillary pipe 505, the flow of the solution and therefore the quantity of solution that has flowed through the valve 506 in a set period of time are known.

To assure that the dosing system is precise the pressure of the solution must be as constant as possible and the solution must preferably have high pressure, approximately 1 bar.

A dose of solution is usually a quantity comprised between 0.3 and 1 ml, depending on the features of the container, and/or on the closure of the container to be sterilised, and is therefore a very small quantity. For dosing in a precise manner these small quantities of solution great flow resistance are necessary, i.e. it is necessary to make piping with very small passage diameters of a few tenths of a millimetre. This constitutes a problem due to the likelihood of clogging of pipes with such reduced dimensions during operation in a continuously operative industrial environment. In order to overcome the above drawbacks, the invention provides for transforming the concentrated flow resistances obtained with small diameters into an equivalent distributed flow resistance distributed along the capillary pipe 505 that has a length L, preferably comprised between 10 and 100 cm, and a diameter that is greater than the diameter required to achieve the required concentrated flow resistances, i.e. a diameter greater than 0.5 mm so as to avoid or minimise clogging phenomena.

With reference to Figures 17 to 20, a second embodiment is shown of a dosing system 600 for dosing the sterilising solution to be positioned upstream of the heating system 300 of the solution. The dosing system 600 comprises a first pipe for supplying the pressurised liquid sterilising solution of H2O2 to a second pipe 603 comprising a common portion common to all the treatment stations of the same carousel, from which a plurality of pipes leads away, one for each treatment station provided on the carousel and each provided with the dosing system 600 and a third piping connected to a source of compressed air.

The dosing system 600 comprises a first disc 601 and a second disc 602 superimposed on one another and connected together so that the second disc 602 can rotate with respect to the first disc 601.

In the first disc 601 are made first through holes 603 and 604 respectively for the inlet and the outlet of the liquid hydrogen peroxide sterilising solution (H2O2) , and second through holes 605 and 606 respectively for the inlet and the outlet of compressed air.

In the second disc 602 a first slot 607, a second slot 608 and a third slot 609 are made that do not go through the second disc 602 but are obtained in the surface thereof. The dosing system 600 operates in the following manner: the first disc 601 and the second disc 602 are positioned in such a way that the second slot 608 is positioned that the at the ends thereof are situated the first holes 603 and 604, position of Figure 17, in this way when the liquid sterilising solution of H2O2 is dispensed the second slot 608 fills with a known volume of sterilising solution, this volume being determined by the dimension of the slot 608. The second disc 602 is then rotated so that the second slot 608 and the ends thereof moves to the second holes 605 and 606 in this way enabling the compressed air to evacuate the volume of sterilising solution present in the second slot 608, position of Figure 18, and to transport it to the heating system 300. Following this rotation the third slot 609 moves to the first holes 603 and 604, thus getting filled with liquid sterilising solution, up to a known volume determined by the dimension of the slot 609.

The disc 602 is then rotated again, repeating the process disclosed before, namely the third slot 609 is taken to the second holes 605 and 606 so that the compressed air can evacuate the volume of sterilising solution present in the third slot 609.

Thus, each subsequent rotation of the second disc 602 is matched by volumetric dosing of sterilising solution defined by the volume of each slot, and by transporting said defined volume of solution by means of air.

Claims

1. Apparatus (1) for treating objects (50) comprising a plurality of rotating carousel means (5, 6, 7, 8; 101, 103, 105, 107; 108, 109, 110; 112, 113, 114) for transporting said objects along a curved path (50) , sterilising means arranged on said plurality of carousel means (5, 6, 7, 8; 101, 103, 105, 107; 108, 109, 110;

112, 113, 114) along said path, characterised in that said sterilising means is distributed on carousel means of said plurality of carousel means (5, 6, 7, 8; 101, 103, 105, 107; 108, 109, 110; 112, 113, 114) and partially on at least further carousel means of said plurality of carousel means (5, 6, 7, 8; 101, 103, 105, 107; 108, 109, 110; 112, 113, 114) . 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said sterilising means comprises first sterilising means positioned in a first sterilising zone (4) of said apparatus (1) located upstream of said plurality of carousel means (5, 6, 7, 8; 101, 103, 105, 107; 108, 109, 110; 112, 113, 114) arranged for sterilising an external surface of said objects (50) .

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, and further comprising star transporting means (401, 402, 403) arranged for transporting said objects (50) from said first sterilising means to said plurality of carousel means (5, 6, 7, 8; 101, 103, 105, 107; 108, 109, 110; 112,

113, 114) .

4. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said sterilising means comprises treating means, arranged for treating said objects (50) with a sterilising solution.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said sterilising means further comprises preheating means arranged for preheating said objects (50) .

6. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said sterilising means further comprises cooling means arranged for cooling said objects (50) .

7. Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said sterilising means further comprises drying means arranged for drying said objects (50) .

8. Apparatus according to any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein said preheating means is positioned on first carousel means (5; 101; 108; 112) of said plurality of carousel means .

9. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said treating means is positioned on said first carousel means (5) of said plurality of carousel means in such a way as to interact with said objects (50) after said preheating means .

10. Apparatus according to claim 8, or 9, as claim 8 is appended to claim 6, or 7, wherein said cooling means is positioned on second carousel means (6) of said plurality of carousel means located downstream of said first carousel means (5) .

11. Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said second carousel means (6) is provided with regulating means that enables the duration of the cooling action of said cooling means on said objects (50) to be varied.

12. Apparatus according to claim 10, or 11, and further comprising first star transporting means (404) arranged for transporting said objects (50) from said first carousel means (5) to said second carousel means (6) .

13. Apparatus according to any one of claims 10, to 12, as claim 8 is appended to claim 7, wherein said drying means is positioned on third carousel means (7) of said plurality of carousel means located downstream of said second carousel means (6) .

14. Apparatus according to any one of claims 13 and further comprising second star transporting means (405) arranged for transporting said objects (50) from said second carousel means (6) to said third carousel means (7) .

15. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said treating means is positioned on second carousel means (103) of said plurality of carousel means located downstream of said first carousel means (101) .

16. Apparatus according to claim 15, and further comprising first star transporting means (102) arranged for transporting said objects (50) from said first carousel means (101) to said second carousel means (103) .

17. Apparatus according to claim 15, or 16, as claim 8 is appended to claim 6, or 7, wherein said cooling means is positioned on third carousel means (105) of said plurality of carousel means located downstream of said second carousel means (103) .

18. Apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said third carousel means (105) is provided with regulating means that enables the duration of the cooling action of said cooling means on said objects (50) to be varied.

19. Apparatus according to claim 17, or 18, and further comprising second star transporting means (104) arranged for transporting said objects (50) from said second carousel means (103) to said third carousel means (105) .

20. Apparatus according to any one of claims 17 1 19, as claim 8 is appended to claim 7, wherein said drying means is positioned on fourth carousel means (107) of said plurality of carousel means located downstream of said third carousel means (105) .

21. Apparatus according to claim 22, and further comprising third star transporting means (106) arranged for transporting said objects (50) from said third carousel means (105) to said fourth carousel means (107) .

22. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said treating means is positioned on second carousel means (109) of said plurality of carousel means located downstream of said first carousel means (108) .

23. Apparatus according to claim 22, and further comprising first star transporting means (111) arranged for transporting said objects (50) from said first carousel means (108) to said second carousel means (109) .

24. Apparatus according to claim 22, or 23, as claim 8 is appended to claim 6, or 7, wherein said cooling means is positioned on said second carousel means (109) of said plurality of carousel means in such a way as to interact with said objects (50) after said treating means.

25. Apparatus according to claim 24, as claim 8 is appended to claim 7, wherein said drying means is positioned on third carousel means (110) of said plurality of carousel means located downstream of said second carousel means

(109) .

26. Apparatus according to claim 25, and further comprising second star transporting means (116) arranged for transporting said objects (50) from said second carousel means (109) to said third carousel means (110) .

27. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said treating means is positioned on second carousel means (113) of said plurality of carousel means located downstream of said first carousel means (112) .

28. Apparatus according to claim 27, and further comprising first star transporting means (115) arranged for transporting said objects (50) from said first carousel means (112) to said second carousel means (113) .

29. Apparatus according to claim 27, or 28, as claim 8 is appended to claim 6, or 7, wherein said cooling means is positioned on third carousel means (114) of said plurality of carousel means located downstream of said second carousel means (113) .

30. Apparatus according to claim 29, and further comprising second star transporting means (117) arranged for transporting said objects (50) from said second carousel means (113) to said third carousel means (114) .

31. Apparatus according to claim 29, or 30, as claim 8 is appended to claim 7, wherein said drying means is positioned on said third carousel means (114) of said plurality of carousel means in such a way as to interact with said objects (50) after said cooling means.

32. Apparatus according to any one of claims 4 to 31, wherein said treating means comprises conveying means

(59, 61, 58, 62, 63, 64, 51, 303, 304, 305, 307, 308, 503, 504) arranged for conveying into said objects (50) a sterilising solution for sterilising said objects (50) .

33. Apparatus according to any one of claims 4 to 32, wherein said treating means comprises heating means

(300, 301, 302, 303, 310; 300, 301, 302, 306, 310) arranged for heating a sterilising solution for sterilising said objects (50) .

34. Apparatus according to claim 33, wherein said heating means comprises resistor means (302) arranged for absorbing energy from a source to supply it to said sterilising solution.

35. Apparatus according to claim 34, wherein said heating means further comprises heat-accumulating means (310, 301) arranged for accumulating the heat released by said resistor means (302) and transferring it to said sterilising solution.

36. Sterilising apparatus (300) for sterilising objects

(50) , comprising conduit means (303) for conveying a sterilising solution to said objects (50) , resistor means (302) arranged for heating said solution flowing in said conduit means (303) , characterised in that it comprises heat-accumulating means (310, 301) arranged for accumulating the heat released by said resistor means (302) and transferring it to said solution.

37. Apparatus according to claim 35, or 36, wherein said heat-accumulating means (310, 301) is made of a material having high thermal capacity.

38. Apparatus according to any one of claims 35 to 37, wherein said heat-accumulating means is surrounded by layer means of insulating material (301) for eliminating heat losses to the exterior.

39. Apparatus according to any one of claims 35 to 38 and further comprising first valve means (304; 309) arranged for allowing said solution to get in said heat- accumulating means (310, 301) .

40. Apparatus according to claim 39 and further comprising second valve means (311) arranged for allowing said solution to gou out from said heat-accumulating means (310, 301) .

41. Apparatus according to claim 40, wherein said heat- accumulating means (310, 301) comprises heating chamber means (306) arranged for receiving a dose of said sterilising solution.

42. Apparatus according to any one of claims 36 to 41, and further comprising conveying means (59, 61, 58, 62, 63, 64, 51, 303, 304, 305, 307, 308, 503, 504) for conveying said solution to said objects (50) .

43. Apparatus according to any one of claims 4 to 42, wherein said treating means comprises dosing means (500; 600) for dosing said sterilising solution.

44. Apparatus according to claim 43 as appended to any one of claims 32 to 42, wherein said conveying means comprises first conveying means (59, 61, 62, 63, 58, 504) for conveying said solution from a storage tank to said dosing means (500; 600) .

45. Apparatus according to claim 43, or 44, wherein said dosing means (500; 600) comprises accumulating chamber means (501; 607, 608, 609) for accumulating said solution.

46. Apparatus according to any one of claims 43 to 45, wherein said dosing means comprises propelling means (507) for propelling said solution along piping (503, 503a, 503b) .

47. Apparatus according to any one of claims 44 to 46, wherein said dosing means comprises pressure reducing means (505, 506) positioned downstream of said accumulating chamber means (501; 607, 608, 609) and arranged for reducing the pressure of said sterilising solution.

48. Dosing apparatus (500; 600) for dosing a solution, preferably a sterilising solution for sterilising objects (50) , comprising accumulating chamber means (501; 607, 608, 609) for accumulating said solution, propelling means (507) for propelling said solution along piping (504), characterised in that it comprises pressure-reducing means (505, 506) positioned downstream of said accumulating chamber means (501; 607, 608, 609) and arranged for reducing the pressure of said sterilising solution.

49. Apparatus according to claim 47, or 48, wherein said pressure-reducing means comprises pipe means (505) having a diameter that is reduced with respect to the diameter of said piping (504) .

50. Apparatus according to any one of claims 47 to 49, wherein said pressure-reducing means comprises capillary- pipe means (505) having a diameter comprised between approximately 0.3 and approximately 1 mm.

51. Apparatus according to any one of claims 47 to 51, wherein said pressure-reducing means comprises capillary- pipe means (505) having a length comprised between approximately 10 and approximately 100 cm.

52. Apparatus according to any one of claims 47 to 51, wherein said pressure-reducing means comprises valve means (506) arranged for allowing and/or stopping the flow of said solution.

53. Apparatus according to claim 52, wherein said valve means (506) has an internal volume comprised between approximately 30 and approximately 100 μl .

54. Apparatus according to any one of claims 46 to 53, wherein said propelling means comprises pushing means

(507) that supplies said solution at a pressure comprised between approximately 1 and approximately 4 bar.

55. Apparatus according to any one of claims 43 to 54, wherein said dosing means (600) comprises first disc means (601) and second disc means (602) coaxial with first disc means (601) and rotatable with respect to it.

56. Apparatus according to claim 55, wherein said first disc means (601) is provided with first hole means (603, 604) for respectively allowing the entry into and the exit from said dosing means (600) of said sterilising solution.

57. Apparatus according to claim 55, or 56, wherein said first disc means (601) is provided with second hole means (605, 606) for respectively allowing the entry into and the exit from said dosing means (600) of compressed air for propelling said sterilising solution.

58. Apparatus according to any one of claims 55 to 57, wherein said second disc means (602) is provided with slot means (607, 608, 609) arranged for receiving determined quantities of said sterilising solution.

59. Apparatus according to any one of claims 48 to 58, and further comprising heating means (300, 301, 302, 303,

310; 300, 301, 302, 306, 310) for heating said sterilising solution of said objects (50) .

60. Apparatus according to claim 59, wherein said heating means comprises resistor means (302) arranged for absorbing energy from a source to supply it to said sterilising solution.

61. Apparatus according to claim 60, wherein said heating means further comprises heat-accumulating means (310, 301) arranged for accumulating the heat released by said resistor means (302) and transferring it to said solution.

62. Apparatus according to claim 61, wherein said heat- accumulating means (310, 301) is made of a material having high thermal capacity.

63. Apparatus according to claim 61, or 62, wherein said heat-accumulating means is surrounded by layer means of insulating material (301) for eliminating heat losses to the exterior.

64. Apparatus according to any one of claims 59 to 63, and further comprising first valve means (304; 309) arranged for allowing the entry of said solution in said heat- accumulating means (310, 301) .

65. Apparatus according to claim 64, and further comprising second valve means (311) arranged for allowing the exit of said solution from said heat-accumulating means (310, 301) .

66. Apparatus according to claim 65, wherein said heat- accumulating means (310, 301) comprises heating chamber means (306) arranged for receiving a dose of said solution to be heated.

67. Apparatus according to any one of claims 48 to 66, and further comprising conveying means (59, 61, 58, 62, 63, 64, 51, 303, 304, 305, 307, 308, 503, 504) for conveying said solution to said objects (50) .

68. Apparatus according to any one of claims 43 to 47, as claim 43 is appended to claim 42, or according to claim

67, wherein said conveying means comprises second conveying means (503, 64) for conveying said solution from said dosing means to said heating means.

69. Apparatus according to claim 68, wherein said conveying means comprises third conveying means (51, 56) for conveying said solution from said heating means to said objects (50) .

70. Apparatus according to any one of claims 36 to 41, or according to claim 42 as appended to any one of claims 36 to 41, or according to claim 43, or 44, as appended to any one of claims 36 to 41, or to claim 42 as appended to any one of claims 36 to 41, or according to any one of claims 45 to 47 if claim 43, or 44 is appended to any one of claims 36 to 41, or to claim 42 as appended to any one of claims 36 to 41, or according to claim 48, or according to any one of claims 49 to 53, if claim 47 is appended to claim 43, or 44 as appended to any one of claims 36 to 41, or to claim 42 as appended to any one of claims 36 to 41, or according to claim 54 as appended to claim 46, 47, if claim 43, or 44 is appended to any one of claims 36 to 41, or to claim 42 as appended to any one of claims 36 to 41, or as appended to claim 48, or as appended to any one of claims 49 to 53, if claim 47 is appended to claim 43, or 44 as appended to any one of claims 36 to 41, or to claim 42 as appended to any one of claims 36 to 41, or according to any one of claims 55 to 58 if claim 55 is appended to claim 43, or 44 as appended to any one of claims 36 to 41, or to claim 42 as appended to any one of claims 36 to 41, or to claim 48, or to any one of claims 49 to 53, if claim 47 is appended to claim 43, or 44 as appended to any one of claims 36 to 41, or to claim 42 as appended to any one of claims 36 to 41, or according to any one of claims 59 to 66, as claim 59 is appended to claim 48, or to any one of claims 49 to 53 if claim 47 is appended to claim 43, or 44 as appended to any one of claims 36 to 41, or to claim 42 as appended to any one of claims 36 to 41, or according to any one of claims 67 to 69, as claim 67 is appended to claim 48, or to any one of claims 49 to 53 if claim 47 is appended to claim 43, or 44 as appended to any one of claims 36 to 41, or to claim 42 as appended to any one of claims 36 to 41, or to claim 54 as appended to claim 46, or 47, if claim 43, or 44 is appended to any one of claims 36 to 41, or to claim 42 as appended to any one of claims 36 to 41, or as appended to claim 48, or as appended to any one of claims 49 to 53, if claim 47 is appended to claim 43, or 44 as appended to any one of claims 36 to 41, or to claim 42 as appended to any one of claims 36 to 41, or to any one of claims 55 to 58 if claim 55 is appended to claim 43, or 44 as appended to any one of claims 36 to 41, or to claim 42 as appended to any one of claims 36 to 41, or to claim 48, or to any^¬ one of claims 49 to 53, if claim 47 is appended to claim 43, or 44 as appended to any one of claims 36 to 41, or to claim 42 as appended to any one of claims 36 to 41, or according to any one of claims 59 to 66 as claim 59 is appended to claim 48, or to any one of claims 49 to 53 if claim 47 is appended to claim 43, or 44 as appended to any one of claims 36 to 41, or to claim 42 as appended to any one of claims 36 to 41, and further comprising a plurality of rotating carousel means (5, 6, 7, 8; 101, 103, 105, 107; 108, 109, 110; 112, 113, 114) for transporting said objects along a curved path (50) .

71. Apparatus according to claim 70, and further comprising treating means for treating said objects (50) distributed on carousel means of said plurality of carousel means (5, 6, 7, 8; 101, 103, 105, 107; 108, 109, 110; 112, 113, 114) and on at least further carousel means of said plurality of carousel means (5, 6, 7, 8; 101, 103, 105, 107; 108, 109, 110; 112, 113, 114) .

72. Apparatus according to claim 71, wherein said sterilising means comprises first sterilising means positioned in a first sterilising zone (4) of said apparatus (1) located upstream of said plurality of carousel means (5, 6, 7, 8; 101, 103, 105, 107; 108, 109, 110; 112, 113, 114) arranged for sterilising an external surface of said objects (50) .

73. Apparatus according to claim 72, and further comprising star transporting means (401, 402, 403) arranged for transporting said objects (50) from said first sterilising means to said plurality of carousel means (5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ; 101 , 103 , 105 , 107 ; 108 , 109 , 110 ; 112 , 113 , 114 ) .

74. Apparatus according to any one of claims 71 to 73, wherein said sterilising means comprises treating means, arranged for treating said objects (50) with a sterilising solution.

75. Apparatus according to claim 74, wherein said sterilising means further comprises preheating means arranged for preheating said objects (50) .

76. Apparatus according to claim 75, wherein said sterilising means further comprises cooling means arranged for cooling said objects (50) .

77. Apparatus according to claim 76, wherein said sterilising means further comprises drying means arranged for drying said objects (50) .

78. Apparatus according to any one of claims 75 to 77, wherein said preheating means is positioned on first carousel means (5; 101; 108; 112) of said plurality of carousel means .

79. Apparatus according to claim 78, wherein said treating means is positioned on said first carousel means (5) of said plurality of carousel means in such a way as to interact with said objects (50) after said preheating means .

80. Apparatus according to claim 78, or 79, as claim 78 is appended to claim 76, or 77, wherein said cooling means is positioned on second carousel means (6) of said plurality of carousel means located downstream of said first carousel means (5) .

81. Apparatus according to claim 80, wherein said second carousel means (6) is provided with regulating means that enables the duration of the cooling action of said cooling means on said objects (50) to be varied.

82. Apparatus according to claim 80, or 81, and further comprising first star transporting means (404) arranged for transporting said objects (50) from said first carousel means (5) to said second carousel means (6) .

83. Apparatus according to any one of claims 80 to 82, as claim 78 is appended to claim 77, wherein said drying means is positioned on third carousel means (7) of said plurality of carousel means located downstream of said second carousel means (6) .

84. Apparatus according to any one of claims 83 and further comprising second star transporting means (405) arranged for transporting said objects (50) from said second carousel means (6) to said third carousel means (7) .

85. Apparatus according to claim 78, wherein said treating means is positioned on second carousel means (103) of said plurality of carousel means located downstream of said first carousel means (101) .

86. Apparatus according to claim 85, and further comprising first star transporting means (102) arranged for transporting said objects (50) from said first carousel means (101) to said second carousel means (103) .

87. Apparatus according to claim 85, or 86, as claim 78 is appended to claim 76, or 77, wherein said cooling means is positioned on third carousel means (105) of said plurality of carousel means located downstream of said second carousel means (103) .

88. Apparatus according to claim 87, wherein said third carousel means (105) is provided with regulating means that enables the duration of the cooling action of said cooling means on said objects (50) to be varied.

89. Apparatus according to claim 87, or 88, and further comprising second star transporting means (104) arranged for transporting said objects (50) from said second carousel means (103) to said third carousel means (105) .

90. Apparatus according to any one of claims 87 to 89, as claim 78 is appended to claim 77, wherein said drying means is positioned on fourth carousel means (107) of said plurality of carousel means located downstream of said third carousel means (105) .

91. Apparatus according to claim 90, and further comprising third star transporting means (106) arranged for transporting said objects (50) from said third carousel means (105) to said fourth carousel means (107) .

92. Apparatus according to claim 78, wherein said treating means is positioned on second carousel means (109) of said plurality of carousel means located downstream of said first carousel means (108) .

93. Apparatus according to claim 92, and further comprising first star transporting means (111) arranged for transporting said objects (50) from said first carousel means (108) to said second carousel means (109) .

94. Apparatus according to claim 92, or 93, as claim 78 is appended to claim 76, or 77, wherein said cooling means is positioned on said second carousel means (109) of said plurality of carousel means in such a way as to interact with said objects (50) after said treating means .

95. Apparatus according to claim 94, as claim 78 is appended to claim 77, wherein said drying means is positioned on third carousel means (110) of said plurality of carousel means located downstream of said second carousel means (109) .

96. Apparatus according to claim 95, and further comprising second star transporting means (116) arranged for transporting said objects (50) from said second carousel means (109) to said third carousel means (110) .

97. Apparatus according to claim 78, wherein said treating means is positioned on second carousel means (113) of said plurality of carousel means located downstream of said first carousel means (112) .

98. Apparatus according to claim 97, and further comprising first star transporting means (115) arranged for transporting said objects (50) from said first carousel means (112) to said second carousel means (113) .

99. Apparatus according to claim 97, or 98, as claim 78 is appended to claim 76, or 77, wherein said cooling means is positioned on third carousel means (114) of said plurality of carousel means located downstream of said second carousel means (113) .

100. Apparatus according to claim 99, and further comprising second star transporting means (117) arranged for transporting said objects (50) from said second carousel means (113) to said third carousel means (114) .

101. Apparatus according to claim 99, or 100, as claim 78 is appended to claim 77, wherein said drying means is positioned on said third carousel means (114) of said plurality of carousel means in such a way as to interact with said objects (50) after said cooling means.

102. Apparatus according to any one of claims 74 to 101, wherein said treating means comprises conveying means

103. Apparatus according to any one of claims 74 to 102, wherein said treating means comprises heating means (300, 301, 302, 303, 310; 300, 301, 302, 306, 310) arranged for heating a sterilising solution for sterilising said objects (50) .

104. Method for treating objects (50) comprising transporting along a curved path said objects (50) by means of a plurality of rotating carousel means (5, 6, 7, 8; 101, 103, 105, 107; 108, 109, 110; 112, 113, 114) comprising sterilising said objects during said transporting with sterilising means arranged on said plurality of carousel means (5, 6, 7, 8; 101, 103, 105, 107; 108, 109, 110; 112, 113, 114), characterised in that said transporting comprises transferring said objects between first carousel means of said plurality of carousel means (5, 6, 7, 8; 101, 103, 105, 107; 108, 109, 110; 112, 113, 114) and at least further carousel means of said plurality of carousel means (5, 6, 7, 8; 101, 103, 105, 107; 108, 109, 110; 112, 113, 114) .

105. Method according to claim 104 wherein said sterilising comprises externally sterilising said objects (50) with first sterilising means positioned in a first sterilising zone (4) located upstream of said plurality of carousel means (5, 6, 7, 8; 101, 103, 105, 107; 108, 109, 110; 112, 113, 114) .

106. Method according to claim 104, or 105, wherein said transferring comprises shifting said objects (50) from a first sterilising zone (4) of said objects (50) to first carousel means (5; 101; 108; 112) of said plurality of carousel means .

107. Method according to claim 106, wherein said externally sterilising is provided before said shifting.

108. Method according to any one of claims 104 to 107, wherein said sterilising comprises treating said objects

(50) with a sterilising solution by means of treating means for treating said objects (50) .

109. Method according to claim 108 as appended to claim 106, or 107, wherein said treating is provided after said externally sterilising.

110. Method according to claim 108, or 109, wherein said sterilising comprises preheating said objects (50) by means of preheating means for preheating said objects

(50) .

111. Method according to claim 110, wherein said preheating is provided after said externally sterilising.

112. Method according to claim 110, or 111, wherein said preheating is provided before said treating.

113. Method according to claim 111, or 112, wherein said sterilising further comprises cooling said objects (50) by means of cooling means .

114. Method according to claim 113, wherein said cooling is provided after said treating.

115. Method according to claim 113, or 114, wherein said sterilising further comprises drying said objects (50) by means of drying means .

116. Method according to claim 115, wherein said drying is provided after said cooling.

117. Method according to any one of claims 108 to 116, wherein said transferring comprises further shifting said objects from first carousel means (5) to second carousel means (6) of said plurality of carousel means.

118. Method according to claim 117, wherein said transferring said objects (50) comprises moving said objects (50) by means of star transporting means (401, 402, 403, 404, 405, 406; 401, 402, 403, 102, 104, 106; 401, 402, 403, 111, 116; 401, 402, 403, 115, 117) .

119. Method according to claim 118, wherein said moving comprises displacing said objects (50) by means of first star transporting means (401, 402, 403) .

120. Method according to claim 119, as claim 117 is appended to claim 108 as appended to any one of claims 105 to 107, or to claim 109, or to any one of claims 110 to 116 if claim 110 is appended to claim 108 as appended to any^¬ one of claims 105 to 107, wherein said displacing is simultaneous with said externally sterilising.

121. Method according to claim 119, as claim 117 is appended to claim 108 se as appended to any one of claims 105 to 107, or to claim 109, or to any one of claims 110 to 116 if claim 110 is appended to claim 108 as appended to any one of claims 105 to 107, or to claim 121, wherein said displacing precedes said transferring.

122. Method according to claim 117, or 118, as claim 117 is appended to any one of claims 108 to 116, wherein said further shifting is provided after said treating.

123. Method according to claim 119, as claim 117 is appended to any one of claims 113 to 116, wherein said further hifting is provided before said cooling.

124. Method according to any one of claims 108 to 123, wherein said transferring comprises still further shifting said objects from said second carousel means (6) to third carousel means (7) of said plurality of carousel means .

125. Method according to claim 124, as appended to claim 115, or 116, wherein said still further shifting is provided after said cooling and before said drying.

126. Method according to claim 125, and further comprising varying the duration of said cooling by acting on suitable adjusting means of said cooling means.

127. Method according to any one of claims 108 to 116, wherein said transferring comprises further shifting said objects from first carousel means (101) to second carousel means (103) of said plurality of carousel means .

128. Method according to claim 127, wherein said further shifting is provided before said treating and after said preheating.

129. Method according to claim 127, or 128, wherein said transferring comprises stiil further shifting said objects from said second carousel means (103) to third carousel means (106) of said plurality of carousel means .

130. Method according to claim 129, as claim 127 is appended to claim 115, or 116, wherein said still further shifting is provided after said treating and before said cooling.

131. Method according to claim 130, wherein said transferring comprises still shifting said objects from said third carousel means (106) to fourth carousel means (107) of said plurality of carousel means .

132. Method according to claim 131, wherein said still shifting is provided before said drying and after said cooling.

133. Method according to any one of claims 108 to 116, wherein said transferring comprises further shifting said objects from first carousel means (108) to second carousel means (109) of said plurality of carousel means .

134. Method according to claim 133, wherein said further shifting is provided before said treating and after said preheating.

135. Method according to claim 133, or 134, wherein said transferring comprises still further shifting said objects from said second carousel means (109) to third carousel means (110) of said plurality of carousel means .

136. Method according to claim 134, as claim 132 is appended to claim 115, or 116, wherein said still further shifting is provided after said cooling and before said drying.

137. Method according to any one of claims 108 to 116, wherein said transferring comprises further shifting said objects from first carousel means (112) to second carousel means (113) of said plurality of carousel means .

138. Method according to claim 137, wherein said further shifting is provided before said treating and after said preheating.

139. Method according to claim 137, or 138, wherein said transferring comprises stiil further shifting said objects from said second carousel means (113) to third carousel means (114) of said plurality of carousel means .

140. Method according to claim 139, as claim 137 is appended to claim 115, or 116, wherein said still further shifting is provided before said cooling.

141. Method according to any one of claims 108 to 140, wherein said treating comprises conveying a sterilising solution into said objects (50) by means of conveying means (59, 61, 58, 62, 63, 64, 51, 303, 304, 305, 307, 308, 503, 504) for sterilising said objects (50) .

142. Method according to any one of claims 108 to 141, wherein said treating comprises heating a sterilising solution of said objects (50) by means of heating means (300, 301, 302, 303, 310; 300, 301, 302, 306, 310) .

143. Method according to claim 142, wherein said heating comprises absorbing energy from a source by means of resistor means (302) .

144. Method according to claim 143, wherein said heating further comprises accumulating the heat transferred by said resistor means (302) in heat-accumulating means (310, 301) and transferring said heat to said sterilising solution.

145. Method for sterilising objects (50) by means of a sterilising solution, comprising conveying said solution to said objects (50) , absorbing energy by means of resistor means (302), characterised in that there is provided for accumulating heat produced by said resistor means (302) and transferring it to said solution by means of heat-accumulating means (301, 310) .

146. Method according to claim 145, and further comprising heating said sterilising solution.

147. Method according to claim 144, or 146, wherein said heating comprises vaporising said sterilising solution.

148. Method according to any one of claims 144 to 147, wherein said accumulating heat comprises insulating from the external environment said heat-accumulating means (301, 310) for eliminating heat losses to the exterior.

149. Method according to any one of claims 144 to 148 and further comprising introducing said sterilising solution in said heat-accumulating means (310, 301) by means of first valve means (304; 309) .

150. Method according to claim 149 and comprising expelling said sterilising solution from said heat-accumulating means (310, 301) by means of second valve means (311) .

151. Method according to claim 150, and further comprising making said sterilising solution flow through said heat- accumulating means (301, 310) .

152. Method according to claim 151, as claim 149 is appended to claim 147, wherein said vaporising is simultaneous with said flowing.

153. Method according to any one of claims 144 to 151, and further comprising temporarily housing a dose of said sterilising solution in heating chamber means (306) provided in said heat accumulating means (301, 310) .

154. Method according to claim 153, as appended to claim 147, or 148, or to any one of claims 149 to 151 if claim 149 is appended to claim 147, wherein said vaporising is simultaneous with said temporarily housing.

155. Method according to any one of claims 145 to 154 and further comprising conveying said solution to said objects (50) .

156. Method according to any one of claims 107 to 155, wherein said treating comprises dosing said sterilising solution by means of dosing means (500; 600) .

157. Method according to claim 156 as appended to claim 155, wherein said conveying comprises conveying said solution from a storage tank to said dosing means (500; 600) .

158. Method according to claim 155, or 156, wherein said dosing comprises collecting said sterilising solution in accumulating chamber means (501; 607, 608, 609) of said dosing means (500; 600) .

159. Method according to any one of claims 156 to 158, wherein said dosing comprises propelling said solution along piping (503, 503a, 503b) .

160. Method according to any one of claims 156 to 159, wherein said dosing comprises reducing the pressure of said sterilising solution by means of pressure-reducing means (505, 506) positioned downstream of said accumulating chamber means (501; 607, 608, 609).

161. Dosing method for dosing a solution, preferably a sterilising solution for sterilising packaging units (50), comprising collecting said solution in accumulating chamber means (501; 607, 608, 609), successively propelling said solution along piping (503, 503a, 503b) , characterised in that there is provided for reducing the pressure of said solution by means of pressure-reducing means (505, 506) positioned downstream of said accumulating chamber means (501; 607, 608, 609) .

162. Method according to claim 160, or 161, wherein said reducing comprises forcing said solution flow in pipe means (505) having a diameter that is reduced with respect to the diameter of said piping (503, 503a, 503b) .

163. Method according to any one of claims 160 to 162, wherein said reducing comprises allowing and/or stopping the flow of said solution by means of valve means (506) positioned downstream of said pipe means (505) .

164. Method according to any one of claims 156 to 163, wherein said dosing comprises rotating first disc means

(601) with respect to second disc means (602) of said dosing means (600) .

165. Method according to claim 164, wherein said dosing comprises introducing said sterilising solution in said first disc means (601) by means of first hole means

(603) of said first disc means (601) .

166. Method according to claim 165, wherein said dosing further comprises expelling said sterilising solution from said first disc means (601) by means of second hole means (604) of said first disc means (601) .

167. Method according to claim 166, wherein said dosing r comprises furtheintroducing compressed air into said first disc means (601) by means of third hole means (605) of said first disc means (601) for propelling said sterilising solution.

168. Method according to claim 167, wherein said dosing comprises further expelling compressed air from said first disc means (601) by means of fourth hole means

(606) of said first disc means (601) .

169. Method according to any one of claims 164 to 168, wherein said dosing comprises supplying determined quantities of said sterilising solution in slot means (607, 608, 609) of said second disc means (602) .

170. Method according to any one of claims 161 to 169, and further comprising heating said sterilising solution of said objects (50) by means of heating means (300, 301, 302, 303, 310; 300, 301, 302, 306, 310) of said solution.

171. Method according to claim 170, wherein said heating comprises absorbing energy from a source by means of resistor means (302) .

172. Method according to claim 171, wherein said heating further comprises accumulating the heat transferred by said resistor means (302) in heat-accumulating means (310, 301) and transferring said heat to said sterilising solution.

173. Method according to claim 171, or 172, wherein said heating comprises vaporising said sterilising solution.

174. Method according to any one of claims 171 to 173, wherein said accumulating heat comprises insulating from the external environment said heat-accumulating means (301, 310) for eliminating heat losses to the exterior.

175. Method according to any one of claims 171 to 174 and further comprising introducing said sterilising solution in said heat-accumulating means (310, 301) by means of first valve means (304; 309) .

176. Method according to claim 175 and comprising expelling said sterilising solution from said heat-accumulating means (310, 301) by means of second valve means (311) .

177. Method according to claim 176, and further comprising making said sterilising solution flow through said heat- accumulating means (301, 310) .

178. Method according to claim 177, as claim 175 is appended to claim 173, wherein said vaporising is simultaneous with said flowing.

179. Method according to any one of claims 171 to 178, and further comprising temporarily housing a dose of said sterilising solution in heating chamber means (306) provided in said heat accumulating means (301, 310) .

180. Method according to claim 179, as appended to claim 173, or to any one of claims 174 to 176 if claim 174 is appended to claim 173, wherein said vaporising is simultaneous with said temporarily housing.

181. Method according to any one of claims 161 to 180 and further comprising conveying said solution to said objects (50) .

182. Method according to claim 181, as appended to any one of claims 170 to 180, wherein said conveying comprises still further conveying said solution and wherein said still further conveying is provided after said dosing and before said heating.

183. Method according to claim 182, wherein said conveying comprises still conveying said solution to said objects (50) and wherein said still conveying is provided after said heating.

184. Method according to claim 145, or 146, or according to claim 147 as appended to claim 146, or according to claim 148 as appended to claim 145, or 146, or to claim 147 appended to claim 146, or according to any one of claims 149 to 152, if claim 149 is appended to claim 145, or 146, or to claim 147 appended to claim 146, or according to claim 153 as appended to claim 145, or 146, or to claim 147 appended to claim 146, or to any one of claims 149 to 152, if claim 149 is appended to claim 145, or 146, or to claim 147 appended to claim 146, or according to claim 154, or according to claim 155, or 156 if appended to claim 145, or 146, or to claim 147 appended to claim 146, or to any one of claims 149 to 152, if claim 149 is appended to claim 145, or 146, or to claim 147 appended to claim 146, or according to any^¬ one of claims 157 to 160 if claim 155 is appended to claim 145, or 146, or to claim 147 appended to claim 146, or to any one of claims 149 to 152, if claim 149 is appended to claim 145, or 146, or to claim 147 appended to claim 146, or according to any one of claims 161 to 163, or according to any one of claims 164 to 169 if claim 164 is appended to claim 155, or 156 if appended to claim 145, or 146, or to claim 147 appended to claim 146, or to any one of claims 149 to 152, if claim 149 is appended to claim 145, or 146, or to claim 147 appended to claim 146, or to any one of claims 157 to 160 if claim 155 is appended to claim 145, or 146, or to claim 147 appended to claim 146, or to any one of claims 149 to 152, if claim 149 is appended to claim 145, or 146, or to claim 147 appended to claim 146, or to any one of claims 161 to 163, or according to any one of claims 170 to 180 if claim 170 is appended to any one of claims 161 to 163, or to any one of claims 164 to 169 if claim 164 is appended to claim 155, or 156 if appended to claim 145, or 146, or to claim 147 appended to claim 146, or to any one of claims 149 to 152, if claim 149 is appended to claim 145, or 146, or to claim 147 appended to claim 146, or to any one of claims 157 to 160 if claim 155 is appended to claim 145, or 146, or to claim 147 appended to claim 146, or to any one of claims 149 to 152, if claim 149 is appended to claim 145, or 146, or to claim 147 appended to claim 146, or to any one of claims 161 to 163, and further comprising transporting along a curved path said objects (50) by means of a plurality of rotating carousel means (5, 6, 7, 8; 101, 103, 105, 107; 108, 109, 110; 112, 113, 114) .

185. Method according to claim 184, and further comprising treating said objects (50) during said transporting.

186. Method according to claim 185, and further comprising sterilising said objects during said transporting with sterilising means arranged on said plurality of carousel means (5, 6, 7, 8; 101, 103, 105, 107; 108, 109, 110; 112, 113, 114) .

187. Method according to claim 186, wherein said transporting comprises transferring said objects between first carousel means of said plurality of carousel means (5, 6, 7, 8; 101, 103, 105, 107; 108, 109, 110; 112, 113, 114) and at least further carousel means of said plurality of carousel means (5, 6, 7, 8; 101, 103, 105, 107; 108, 109, 110; 112, 113, 114) .

188. Method according to claim 186, or 187 wherein said sterilising comprises externally sterilising said objects (50) with first sterilising means positioned in a first sterilising zone (4) located upstream of said plurality of carousel means (5, 6, 7, 8; 101, 103, 105, 107; 108, 109, 110; 112, 113, 114) .

189. Method according to any one of claims 186 to 188, wherein said transferring comprises shifting said objects (50) from a first sterilising zone (4) of said objects (50) to first carousel means (5; 101; 108; 112) of said plurality of carousel means .

190. Method according to claim 189, wherein said externally sterilising is provided before said shifting.

191. Method according to any one of claims 186 to 190, wherein said sterilising comprises treating said objects (50) with a sterilising solution by means of treating means for treating said objects (50) .

192. Method according to claim 191 as appended to claim 189, or 190, wherein said treating is provided after said externally sterilising.

193. Method according to claim 191, or 192, wherein said sterilising comprises preheating said objects (50) by means of preheating means for preheating said objects

(50) .

194. Method according to claim 193, wherein said preheating is provided after said externally sterilising.

195. Method according to claim 193, or 194, wherein said preheating is provided before said treating.

196. Method according to claim 194, or 195, wherein said sterilising further comprises cooling said objects (50) by means of cooling means .

197. Method according to claim 196, wherein said cooling is provided after said treating.

198. Method according to claim 196, or 197, wherein said sterilising further comprises drying said objects (50) by means of drying means .

199. Method according to claim 198, wherein said drying is provided after said cooling.

200. Method according to any one of claims 191 to 199, wherein said transferring comprises further shifting said objects from first carousel means (5) to second carousel means (6) of said plurality of carousel means.

201. Method according to claim 200, wherein said transferring said objects (50) comprises moving said objects (50) by means of star transporting means (401, 402, 403, 404, 405, 406; 401, 402, 403, 102, 104, 106; 401, 402, 403, 111, 116; 401, 402, 403, 115, 117) .

202. Method according to claim 201, wherein said moving comprises displacing said objects (50) by means of first star transporting means (401, 402, 403) .

203. Method according to claim 202, as claim 200 is appended to claim 191 as appended to any one of claims 188 to

190, or to claim 192, or to any one of claims 193 to 199 if claim 193 is appended to claim 191 as appended to any^¬ one of claims 188 to 190, wherein said displacing is simultaneous with said externally sterilising.

204. Method according to claim 202, as claim 200 is appended to claim 191 se as appended to any one of claims 188 to 190, or to claim 192, or to any one of claims 193 to 196 if claim 193 is appended to claim 191 as appended to any^¬ one of claims 188 to 190, or to claim 203, wherein said displacing precedes said transferring.

205. Method according to claim 200, or 201, as claim 200 is appended to any one of claims 191 to 199, wherein said further shifting is provided after said treating.

206. Method according to claim 202, as claim 200 is appended to any one of claims 196 to 199, wherein said further shifting is provided before said cooling.

207. Method according to any one of claims 191 to 206, wherein said transferring comprises still further shifting said objects from said second carousel means

(6) to third carousel means (7) of said plurality of carousel means .

208. Method according to claim 207, as appended to claim 198, or 199, wherein said still further shifting is provided after said cooling and before said drying.

209. Method according to claim 208, and further comprising varying the duration of said cooling by acting on suitable adjusting means of said cooling means.

210. Method according to any one of claims 191 to 199, wherein said transferring comprises further shifting said objects from first carousel means (101) to second carousel means (103) of said plurality of carousel means .

211. Method according to claim 210, wherein said further shifting is provided before said treating and after said preheating.

212. Method according to claim 210, or 211, wherein said transferring comprises still further shifting said objects from said second carousel means (103) to third carousel means (106) of said plurality of carousel means .

213. Method according to claim 212, as claim 127 is appended to claim 115, or 116, wherein said still further shifting is provided after said treating and before said cooling.

214. Method according to claim 213, wherein said transferring comprises still shifting said objects from said third carousel means (106) to fourth carousel means (107) of said plurality of carousel means .

215. Method according to claim 214, wherein said still shifting is provided before said drying and after said cooling.

216. Method according to any one of claims 191 to 199, wherein said transferring comprises further shifting said objects from first carousel means (108) to second carousel means (109) of said plurality of carousel means .

217. Method according to claim 216, wherein said further shifting is provided before said treating and after said preheating.

218. Method according to claim 216, or 217, wherein said transferring comprises still further shifting said objects from said second carousel means (109) a third carousel means (110) of said plurality of carousel means .

219. Method according to claim 217, as claim 215 is appended to claim 198, or 199, wherein said still further shifting is provided after said cooling and before said drying.

220. Method according to any one of claims 191 to 199, wherein said transferring comprises further shifting said objects from first carousel means (112) to second carousel means (113) of said plurality of carousel means .

221. Method according to claim 220, wherein said further shifting is provided before said treating and after said preheating.

222. Method according to claim 220, or 221, wherein said transferring comprises still further shifting said objects from said second carousel means (113) to third carousel means (114) of said plurality of carousel means .

223. Method according to claim 222, as claim 220 is appended to claim 198, or 199, wherein said still further shifting is provided before said cooling.

224. Method according to any one of claims 184 to 223, wherein said treating comprises conveying in said objects (50) a sterilising solution for sterilising said objects (50) .

225. Apparatus (100) for treating objects (50) comprising rotating carousel means (5' ) for transporting said objects (50) along a curved path, said rotating carousel means comprising at least a treatment carousel (5' ) for treating objects (50) , and sterilising means arranged on said carousel means (5' ) along said path, characterised in that said sterilising means comprises sterilising means that operates at ambient pressure.

226. Apparatus according to claim 225, wherein said sterilising means comprises treating means, arranged for treating said objects (50) with a sterilising solution.

227. Apparatus according to claim 225, wherein said sterilising means comprises treating means arranged for treating said objects (50) with a sterilising hydrogen peroxide solution.

228. Apparatus according to any one of claims 225 to 227, and comprising further sterilising means positioned in a first sterilising zone (4) of said apparatus (100) located upstream of said carousel means (5' ) arranged for sterilising an external surface of said objects (50) .

229. Apparatus according to claim 228, and further comprising star transporting means (401, 402, 403) arranged for transporting said objects (50) from said further sterilising means to said carousel means (5' ) .

230. Apparatus according to any one of claims 225 to 229, wherein said sterilising means comprises preheating means arranged for preheating said objects (50) .

231. Apparatus according to claim 230, wherein said preheating means is positioned on said carousel means

(5') .

232. Apparatus according to claim 230, or 231, wherein said sterilising means further comprises cooling means arranged for cooling said objects (50) .

233. Apparatus according to any one of claims 230 to 232, wherein said sterilising means further comprises drying means arranged for drying said objects (50) .

234. Apparatus according to any one of claims 230 to 233, wherein said treating means is positioned on said carousel means (5' ) in such a way as to interact with said objects (50) after said preheating means.

235. Apparatus according to claim 232, or according to claim

233, or 234 as appended to claim 232, wherein said cooling means is positioned on said carousel means (5' ) in such a way as to interact with said objects (50) after said treating means .

236. Apparatus according to claim 233, or according to claim

234, or 235, as appended to claim 233, wherein said drying means is positioned on said carousel means (5' ) in such a way as to interact with said objects (50) after said cooling means .

237. Apparatus according to any one of claims 225 to 236, wherein said carousel means (5' ) is provided with regulating means that enables the duration of the action of said sterilising means on said objects (50) to be varied.

238. Apparatus according to any one of claims 225 to 237, wherein said sterilising means comprises conveying means

239. Apparatus according to any one of claims 225 to 238, wherein said sterilising means comprises heating means (300, 301, 302, 303, 310; 300, 301, 302, 306, 310) arranged for heating a sterilising solution for sterilising said objects (50) .

240. Apparatus according to claim 239, wherein said heating means comprises resistor means (302) arranged for absorbing energy from a source to supply it to said sterilising solution.

241. Apparatus according to claim 240, wherein said heating means further comprises heat-accumulating means (310, 301) arranged for accumulating the heat released by said resistor means (302) and transferring it to said solution.

242. Apparatus according to claim 241, wherein said heat- accumulating means (310, 301) is made of a material having high thermal capacity.

243. Apparatus according to claim 241, or 242, wherein said heat-accumulating means is surrounded by layer means of insulating material (301) for eliminating heat losses to the exterior.

244. Apparatus according to any one of claims 241 to 243 and further comprising first valve means (304; 309) arranged for allowing the entry of said solution in said heat- accumulating means (310, 301) .

245. Apparatus according to claim 244 and further comprising second valve means (311) arranged for allowing the exit of said solution from said heat-accumulating means (310, 301) .

246. Apparatus according to claim 246, wherein said heat- accumulating means (310, 301) comprises heating chamber means (306) arranged for receiving a dose of said sterilising solution.

247. Apparatus according to any one of claims 225 to 246, wherein said sterilising means comprises dosing means (500; 600) for dosing said solution, according to any^¬ one of claims 48 to 58.

248. Apparatus according to claim 247, and further comprising further conveying means (59, 61, 62, 63, 58, 504) for conveying said solution from a storage tank to said dosing means (500; 600) .

249. Apparatus according to claim 248 as appended to any one of claims 239 to 247, wherein said conveying means comprises still further conveying means (503, 64) for conveying said solution from said dosing means (500;

600) to said heating means.

250. Method for treating objects (50) comprising transporting along a curved path said objects (50) by means of rotating carousel means (5' ) comprising at least a carousel (5'), sterilising said objects during said transporting with sterilising means arranged on said carousel means (5' ) , characterised in that said sterilising comprises sterilising at ambient pressure.

251. Method according to claim 250, wherein said sterilising comprises treating said objects (50) with a sterilising hydrogen peroxide solution.

252. Method according to claim 250, or 251, wherein said sterilising comprises further sterilising an external surface of said objects (50) by means of sterilising means positioned in a first sterilising zone (4) of said apparatus (100) located upstream of said carousel means (5') .

253. Method according to any one of claims 250 to 252, and further comprising shifting said objects (50) from said further sterilising means to said carousel means (5' ) by means of star transporting means (401, 402, 403) .

254. Method according to any one of claims 250 to 253, wherein said sterilising comprises preheating said objects (50) .

255. Method according to claim 254, wherein said preheating is simultaneous with said transporting said objects (50) on said carousel means (5' ) .

256. Method according to any one of claims 250 to 255, wherein said sterilising further comprises cooling said objects (50) .

257. Method according to claim 256, wherein said cooling is simultaneous with said transporting said objects (50) on said carousel means (5' ) .

258. Method according to any one of claims 250 to 257, wherein said sterilising further comprises drying said objects (50) .

259. Method according to claim 258, wherein said drying is simultaneous with said transporting said objects (50) on said carousel means (5' ) .

260. Method according to claim 254, or 255, or according to claim 256, or 257 if claim 256 is appended to claim 254, or 255, or according to claim 258, or 259 if claim 258 is appended to claim 254, or 255, wherein said treating is provided after said preheating.

261. Method according to claim 256, or 257 or according to claim 258, or 259 if claim 258 is appended to claim 256, or 257, or according to claim 260 as appended to claim 256, or 257, wherein said cooling is provided after said treating.

262. Method according to claim 258, or 259, or according to claim 260, or 261 as appended to claim 258, or 259, wherein said drying is provided after said cooling.

263. Method according to any one of claims 250 to 262, wherein is provided for regulating the duration of said sterilising said objects (50) .

264. Method according to any one of claims 251 to 263, wherein said sterilising comprises conveying in said objects (50) a sterilising solution for sterilising said objects (50) .

265. Method according to any one of claims 251 to 264, wherein said sterilising comprises heating a sterilising solution for sterilising said objects (50) .

266. Method according to claim 265, wherein said heating comprises absorbing energy from a source by means of resistor means (302) .

267. Method according to claim 266, wherein said heating further comprises accumulating the heat delivered by said resistor means (302) in heat-accumulating means (310, 301) and transferring said heat to said sterilising solution.

268. Method according to any one of claims 265 to 267, wherein said heating comprises vaporising said sterilising solution.

269. Method according to claim 267, wherein said accumulating heat comprises insulating from the external environment said heat-accumulating means (301, 310) for eliminating heat losses to the exterior.

270. Method according to any one of claims 265 to 269 and further comprising introducing said sterilising solution in said heat-accumulating means (310, 301) by means of first valve means (304; 309) .

271. Method according to claim 270 and comprising expelling said sterilising solution from said heat-accumulating means (310, 301) by means of second valve means (311) .

272. Method according to claim 271, and further comprising making said sterilising solution flow through said heat- accumulating means (301, 310) .

273. Method according to claim 272, as claim 270 is appended to claim 268, wherein said vaporising is simultaneous with said flowing.

274. Method according to any one of claims 265 to 273, and further comprising temporarily housing a dose of said sterilising solution in heating chamber means (306) provided in said heat accumulating means (301, 310) .

275. Method according to claim 274, as appended to claim 268, wherein said vaporising is simultaneous with said temporarily housing.

276. Method according to any one of claims 250 to 275, wherein said treating comprises dosing said sterilising solution by means of dosing means (500; 600) .

277. Method according to claim 276, wherein said dosing comprises dosing said sterilising solution as disclosed in claims 160 to 168.

278. Method according to claim 276, or 277, and further comprising further conveying said solution from a storage tank to said dosing means (500; 600) .