WO2022214933A1

WO2022214933A1 - In-line machine for filling and capping containers

Info

Publication number: WO2022214933A1
Application number: PCT/IB2022/053102
Authority: WO
Inventors: Cesare Ronchi
Original assignee: Ronchi Mario S.P.A.
Priority date: 2021-04-06
Filing date: 2022-04-04
Publication date: 2022-10-13

Abstract

A machine for filling and capping containers comprises a filling apparatus (100) for filling containers, with a filling station (120), comprising a plurality of filling heads (121) each provided with a nozzle (122) for dispensing a filling product; and a transport plane (110) designed to transport in a longitudinal feeding direction (X-X) a plurality of containers (1) arranged in-line in the longitudinal feeding direction (X-X), from an upstream inlet (I) into a filling position in the filling station (120) and to a downstream outlet (O). The filling heads (121) are arranged in-line in the longitudinal direction (X-X) for filling a batch composed of a predefined number of containers arranged in-line in the filling station and are movable in a vertical direction (Z-Z) with respect to the transport plane (110) between a raised position, where they do not interfere with the passage of the containers (1) to be filled, and a lowered position. The machine further comprises a capping apparatus for fitting caps (2) onto containers (1) filled by the filling apparatus, arranged downstream of the filling apparatus (100) in the longitudinal direction and comprising a container transport system (230) designed to transport the filled containers (1) exiting the filling apparatus to a capping zone; and one or more cap fitting heads (351,352), each comprising means for gripping and fitting a cap (2) and arranged above the capping zone and movable in both senses of a vertical direction (Z-Z) so as to fit a cap (2) onto the mouth (1a) of a respective container (1).

Description

IN-LINE MACHINE FOR FILLING AND CAPPING CONTAINERS

DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to an in-line machine and a method for filling and capping containers, such as bottles to be filled with fluid, liquid and powder products.

It is known in the technical sector relating to the packaging of products, such as liquid, fluid or powder products, that there exists the need to package them inside containers, for example bottles, of different shapes and sizes, which are fed to packaging plants designed to carry out the various processing steps.

In this context, the packaging plants or machines generally comprise a plurality of apparatus comprising feeding apparatus - conventionally called sorting apparatus - which, starting with the containers arranged randomly in special hoppers - are able to sort and feed the containers in an ordered sequence and/or with a predefined orientation and/or position (e.g. upright position) to following filling machines in which the containers are filled with the product and then transported to capping apparatus for the fitting of a closing element, such as a cap, onto each filled container.

Downstream of the capping station there may be further machines, such as labelling machines, scales for checking the weight of the packaged product and/or automatic packaging machines.

The so-called filling apparatus are designed to introduce automatically a programmed quantity of product into single containers which are then capped and conveyed away for packaging in boxes.

It is also known that the filling apparatus generally consist of a carousel comprising a circular platform onto which the empty containers are fed, said containers being arranged at regular angular intervals so that, by imparting a rotational movement to the platform, said containers are arranged in a coaxial position underneath the dispensing heads which are rotationally fixed and connected to ducts for supplying the product to be packaged.

This configuration is limiting when there is a variation in the required volume and type of production, as well as the type and format of the container, for the so-called format-changing operations.

Moreover, since the filling products are obtained from basic formulations with, added thereto, suitable specific additives for the particular function of the finished product there exists the need to carry out complete washing of the filling apparatus whenever a product change-over must be performed. Although performing their function, these rotary filling apparatus have the drawback that the containers are moved and filled individually and that changing the filling product is a slow and difficult operation considering the mechanisms for collecting the washing fluid. A further problem consists in the fact that any change in format for the filling and the subsequent capping of containers with a different shape or size is complex in particular as regards the container filling and movement containers which must be replaced or modified.

One technical problem which is posed in this context is that of providing a machine for filling and capping containers which is versatile with regard to management of the filling and capping cycle.

A further desirable aspect is that the machine should have small dimensions, be easy and low-cost from a production and assembly point of view and be able to be easily installed at any user location, including in pre-existing plants.

A further desirable aspect is that the machine should be versatile in managing containers of varying format and/or caps of varying format and/or different filling products.

A further desirable aspect is that the machine should be able to reduce the machine downtime due to washing of the machine.

These results are obtained according to the present invention by a filling and capping apparatus according to Claim 1 and by a method for filling and capping containers according to Claim 20.

Further preferred embodiments are described in the dependent claims.

A further aspect of the present invention concerns a format-changing process for a filling and capping machine, according to Claim 23.

Further details may be obtained from the following description of non-limiting examples of embodiment of the subject of the present invention, provided with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1: shows a schematic perspective view of the machine for filling and capping containers according to the present invention;

Figure 2: shows a simplified, schematic, perspective view of a filling machine for use in a machine according to Fig. 1

Figure 3a: shows a front perspective view of a filling head of the apparatus according to Fig. 2;

Figure 3b: shows a rear perspective view of a filling head of the apparatus according to Fig. 2;

Figure 4: shows a partial, schematic, plan view of the filling apparatus of the present invention in a filling configuration;

Figure 5: shows a partial, schematic, plan view of the filling apparatus in a washing configuration;

Figures 6-9: show schematic perspective views of the filling apparatus according to Fig. 2 during different stages of the filling cycle;

Figures 10a-10b: show schematic perspective views of the filling apparatus according to Fig.1 during different stages of the washing cycle;

Figure 11: shows a schematic perspective view of the capping apparatus of the filling and capping machine according to the present invention;

Figure 12: shows a schematic perspective view of the device for picking up and positioning caps on the fitting heads;

Figures 13-15: show schematic perspective views of the steps for picking up and feeding a first cap and a second cap, respectively;

Figures 16-21: show views of the sequence for capping containers fed in series to the apparatus; and

Figures 22-25: show plan views of the device for discarding defective containers and the associated operating sequence;

Figures 26a-26c: show perspective views of the feeding wheels modified for the transport of bottles of varying format.

As shown in Fig. 1 and assuming solely for simpler description and without any limiting meaning a set of three axes, i.e. longitudinal axis X-X, parallel to a direction of feeding of the containers from upstream to downstream, transverse axis Y-Y, parallel to a widthwise direction of a transport plane, and vertical axis Z-Z, orthogonal to the first two axes and parallel to the direction of raising/lowering movement of the dispensing and capping heads, an example of embodiment of a machine for filling and capping containers 1 according to the invention comprises an apparatus 100 for filling the containers 1, comprising:

- a filling station 120, comprising a plurality of filling heads 121 each provided with a nozzle 122 for dispensing a filling product; and

- a transport plane 110 for transporting a plurality of containers 1 arranged in-line in a longitudinal feeding direction X-X, from an upstream inlet I to a filling position in the filling station 120 and to a downstream outlet O of the filling machine.

As shown, the filling heads 121 are arranged in-line in the longitudinal direction X-X for filling a batch composed of a predefined number of containers 1 arranged in-line in the filling station 120. The filling heads 121 are also movable in a vertical direction Z-Z with respect to the transport plane 110 between a raised position, where they do not interfere with the transit of the containers 1 to be filled, and a lowered position, in particular a lowered filling position, where they are coupled with the mouth 1a of a respective container 1 of the batch to be filled.

Downstream of the filling apparatus, the machine has a capping apparatus for fitting a cap 2 onto the filled containers 1 transported out from the filling apparatus. The capping apparatus comprises in particular:

- a container transport system 230 designed to transport the filled containers 1 exiting the filling apparatus to a capping zone;

- one or more cap fitting heads 351,352, each comprising means for gripping and fitting a cap 2.

The one or more fitting heads 351,352 are arranged above the capping zone and movable in both senses of the vertical direction Z-Z so as to fit a cap 2 onto the mouth 1a of a respective container 1 positioned in the capping zone by the transport system 230.

According to an advantageous aspect of the invention the number of filling heads 121 is greater than the number of cap fitting heads 351,352. In particular, the capping apparatus comprises preferably one or two cap fitting heads 351,352.

This is advantageous for keeping the machine compact, versatile and simple, with the filling operations being kept separate from the capping operations, as will become clearer below.

In the example shown, the filling apparatus 100 comprises six filling heads 121, but it will be clear that a greater number or smaller number of heads 121 may be present, depending on the desired composition of the batch of containers 1 to be filled.

The transport system 230 of the capping apparatus is in particular arranged and configured to rotationally transport a plurality of extracted filled containers 1 in-line in the longitudinal direction X-X of the transport plane 110 of the filling apparatus. In particular, the transport plane 110 feeds the batches of filled containers exiting the filling apparatus 100 to a zone 110a for accumulating the filled containers 1, from where the containers are picked up and rotationally transported along a circular trajectory to the capping zone by the transport system 230 of the capping apparatus, which comprises for example a star-wheel 230 rotating about a vertical axis and provided with a plurality of vertical-axis seats 231 for housing a respective container 1, arranged along a circumference, at a predefined angular distance from each other.

Said rotating star-wheel 230 is preferably controlled so as to stop periodically the rotational transportation of the containers 1 for a time period corresponding to capping of one or more containers positioned in the capping zone, with their mouth 1a vertically aligned with a respective cap fitting head 351,352. The star-wheel 230 is also preferably operated so as to rotationally transport the capped containers 1 from the capping zone to a downstream extraction zone.

As will become clearer below, the transport plane 110 of the filling apparatus may be kept moving forwards in the longitudinal direction X-X also during filling of a series of containers 1 arranged in the filling station, ensuring a better supply of filled containers to the accumulation zone and/or to the inlet of the filling station.

Each filling head 121 may be movable independently of the other filling heads 121 in the longitudinal direction X-X, in particular along a longitudinal guide 123 mounted on vertical support uprights 124; therefore, a position in the longitudinal direction of each filling head 121 is adjustable so as to arrange the filling heads 121 in a predefined relative position, which may in particular be a filling position such as produce a coaxial alignment of each dispensing nozzle with the mouth 1a of a respective container 1 arranged in the filling station 120. Preferably, the dispensing nozzles 122 are in this position arranged a regular distance in the longitudinal direction, corresponding to a predefined interval between the mouths 1a of a batch of containers 1 to be filled. Advantageously, this distance may correspond to or be different from a predefined distance between the cap fitting heads of the capping apparatus.

With reference still to Fig. 1 and reference also to Figs 2-9, an example of a filling apparatus 100 comprises a fixed base 101 (only schematically shown) and the transport plane 110 for transporting a plurality of containers 1 arranged in-line in the longitudinal feeding direction X-X, from an upstream inlet I, to the filling position in the filling station 120 and to a downstream outlet O of the apparatus, where a zone 110a for accumulating filled containers is formed.

For simpler description, some elements described below are shown only in some of the different views of Figs. 2-9 and/or only partially or schematically. As can be seen, the filling station 120 has a plurality of filling heads 121 which are supplied by ducts for supplying the filling product and are arranged in-line in the longitudinal direction and are movable in the vertical direction Z-Z with respect to a transport plane 110 between a raised disengaged position, where they do not interfere with the transit of the containers to be filled, and a lowered bottom end-of-travel position.

With reference to Figs. 3a and 3b, the plurality of filling heads 121 are in particular arranged in-line on a horizontal longitudinal guide 123 mounted on two vertical support uprights 124.

The longitudinal guide 123 may be displaced in the vertical direction Z-Z by means of an associated drive unit (not shown), for example comprising an electric drive which operates the uprights 124 so as to raise and lower the longitudinal guide 123 in the vertical direction. In particular, the uprights 124 may be mounted on respective endless screws or recirculating ball screws with a vertical axis, which are operated by the drive unit via an associated kinematic chain, so that the rotation in one direction or the other of an output shaft of the electric drive causes a corresponding rotation of the recirculating ball screws and therefore a displacement in one direction or the other in the vertical direction of the uprights 124 carrying the longitudinal guide 123 to a different height in the vertical direction Z-Z.

The lowered position 121, in the vertical direction, of the filling heads may therefore be advantageously adjusted to a desired height, as will become clearer below.

With particular reference to Figures 2 and 3, each filling head 121 is also preferably movable independently of the other filling heads 121 in the longitudinal direction X-X, in particular along the longitudinal guide 123.

For this purpose, in the preferred example shown, each filling head 121 is mounted on a sliding element 125 which slides along the longitudinal guide 123, upon operation of a respective drive assembly, for example comprising an actuator, in particular an electric motor 126, the shaft of which is arranged parallel to the vertical direction Z-Z and which carries a pinion 126a which meshes with a linear rack 125a fixed to the longitudinal guide 123.

Therefore, a position in the longitudinal direction of each filling head 121, in particular a relative distance between the filling heads 121, may be easily adjusted, so as to arrange the heads in a desired filling position in coaxial alignment with the mouth 1a of a respective container 1 of the batch arranged in the filling station 120 (Figs. 7-8).

The filling heads 121 are therefore for example configured and able to be controlled so as to arrange the dispensing nozzles 122 at a desired uniform distance (interval) in the longitudinal direction, corresponding to an interval between the mouths 1a of the batch of containers 1 to be filled, with which they are aligned in the filling position. Upon variation in the format of the container, the relative position of the filling heads 121 may be easily adapted, thereby facilitating greatly a change in format.

The transport plane 110 extends lengthwise parallel to the longitudinal direction X-X and widthwise parallel to the transverse direction Y-Y and may for example be realized as a conveyor belt which is operated by an associated drive with a suitable movement.

In particular, the transport plane 110 is operated so as to transport a series of containers 1 in the longitudinal direction X-X from the inlet I of the apparatus (Fig. 4) to a filling position (Fig. 5) in the filling station (Fig. 6) where a batch comprising a predefined number of containers 1 is filled, each container being arranged with its filling mouth 1a in vertical alignment with a respective mouth 122 of a filling head 121 and, once filling has been completed (Fig. 9), from the filling station towards the outlet O as far as the accumulation zone 110a so as to form an accumulation of filled containers 1 which are arranged in-line ready to be picked up by the rotating star-wheel 230 of the downstream capping station.

With reference to Figures 4-9, the following are preferably arranged at the filling station:

- a rear stop assembly, comprising a stop 151 movable between a retracted position, where it does not interfere with the transit of the containers on the transport plane 110, and a position extending inwardly in the transverse direction, where the stop is arranged above the transport plane 110 so as to separate the last end container 1 in the batch of containers to be filled from the following containers being fed; - a front stop assembly, comprising a stop 152 movable between a retracted position, where it does not interfere with the transit of the containers on the transport surface 110, and a position extending inwardly in the transverse direction, where the stop 152 is arranged above the transport plane 110 so as to stop the feeding of a downstream container 1 of the batch of containers to be filled, in a predefined filling position in the longitudinal direction X-X.

The front stop is preferably arranged in an outer position in the direction traverse to the transport plane 110 and downstream of a first filling head 121 (close to the outlet O).

The rear stop is preferably arranged in an outer position in the direction transverse to the transport plane 110 and at the rear, in the longitudinal direction, of a last filling head 121 (close to the inlet I).

Each stop 151,152 is for example in the form of a tongue movable rotationally about a vertical axis between said two positions, i.e. retracted (open) position and (closed) position extending in the transverse direction, upon operation of a respective actuator, for example an electric drive. Preferably, the rear stop is configured so as to rotate into the open position against the action of resilient means, when pushed by a container which advances in the longitudinal direction fed by the transport plane 110; the resilient means, for example in the form of one or more springs, are in particular arranged so as to push the rear stop 152 towards the extended closed position. The elasticity, during opening, of the rear stop allows any damage to be avoided when the stop comes into contact with a bottle. Preferably, the front stop 152 is initially rotated into the closed position so as to stop the advancing containers 1 and will be opened, once filling of the entire batch has been completed, so as to allow advancing of the filled bottles.

According to a preferred embodiment, it is possible to stagger the opening/closing of the front stop 151 and rear stop 152 with respect to each other, so as to obtain separation of the batches of consecutive containers fed in series to the filling station 120.

In particular, it is possible to delay the opening of the rear stop with respect to the opening of the front stop 151, following a filling cycle, in order to separate the batch of filled containers advancing towards the outlet O from the following containers which enter into the filling station 120.

The position, in the longitudinal direction X-X, of the front stop 152 and/or the rear stop 151 is preferably adjustable depending on the different formats of containers 1 to be filled; in particular each stop 151,152 may be displaceable on a longitudinal guide 153 which is fixed with respect to the transport plane, by means of a respective drive unit 152a, 151a. Advantageously, in the presence at least of the front stop 151, it is not necessary to stop the conveyor belt 110 during the filling of the containers. According to preferred embodiment, the transport plane 110 may be operated so as to advance (if necessary without ever stopping) also during filling, in the filling station, of the containers 1 which are kept in position by the front stop 151. This proves to be advantageous, for example, in order to convey the already filled containers of a batch exiting the filling station 120 towards the accumulation zone 110a and the capping apparatus, also during filling of the following batch and using the same transport plane 110 for feeding the containers to the inlet and extracting them from the outlet.

With reference to Figures 2 and 4-5, according to preferred embodiments, vertical side shoulders 111,112 are provided, respectively on the inside and on the outside in the transverse direction, said shoulders extending parallel to the longitudinal direction X-X of advancing movement of the containers 1 and being designed to delimit transversely a corridor situated above the transport plane 110, for containing and guiding the containers 1, in order to reduce the risk of the containers falling/being overturned during their advancing movement and/or during filling in the filling station 120.

In greater detail with reference to Figures 4 and 5:

- a first shoulder 111 is arranged on a first side of the transport plane 110 (conventionally assumed as being the outer side in the transverse direction) and is preferably movable in the transverse direction Y-Y between an outer position and an inner position of maximum superimposition on the transport plane;

- a second shoulder 112 is arranged on an opposite side of the transport plane 110 (conventionally assumed as being the inner side in the transverse direction) and is movable in both senses of the transverse direction Y-Y; in detail the second shoulder 112 is movable between an inner position (Fig. 4) and an outer position (Fig. 5) where it is very close to the opposite first shoulder 111.

Therefore, by adjusting the relative distance between the first outer shoulder 111 and the second inner shoulder 112, it is possible to adjust a transverse width of the transit corridor of the containers 1 on the transport plane 110, depending on the transverse dimension of the said container.

Preferably, in order to define the dimensions of the transit corridor, the two shoulders 111,112 are movable in the transverse direction symmetrically with respect to a predefined longitudinal axis x1 (Fig. 4) of alignment of the container mouths 1a. In this way, the mouth of the containers 1 may be kept always in the same transverse filling position for coaxial alignment with the respective filling head 121, which does not need to be moved transversely when there is a variation of the container 1 and/or of the transit corridor.

The transverse movement of the shoulders 111,112 may be for example performed by a plurality of actuators, in particular linear actuators 113.

The shoulders 111,112 preferably extend in the longitudinal direction X-X as far as the accumulation zone 110a, where they allow a first downstream container to be picked up by the transport system 230 of the capping apparatus.

As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, in preferred embodiments, the inner shoulder 112 may be formed by a plurality of longitudinal shoulder sections 112a, 112b, 112c, which include in particular at least one section 112b arranged inside the filling station and displaceable in the transverse direction Y-Y, independently of the other shoulder sections 112a, 112b, in particular as far as a position beyond the transport plane 110 (Fig. 5), such as to allow the displacement, in the same direction, of cups 132 for collecting the washing fluids (described more fully below) so as to bring them into a position coaxial with the filling nozzles 122 during washing of the latter.

The outer shoulder 111 may preferably be in turn formed by a plurality of longitudinal shoulder sections 111a, 111b, which include in particular at least one section 111b arranged at least partly inside the filling station and displaceable in the transverse direction Y-Y independently of the other shoulder sections 111a, in particular as far as a position further away from the transport plane 110, designed to allow the displacement of the inner shoulder section 112b of the filling station into said position beyond the transport plane for washing.

With reference to Figures 2 and 4-5, an advantageous aspect of the invention relates to an assembly 130 for collecting the washing fluids, arranged in the filling station 120 and comprising a number of cups 132 for collecting the fluids for washing the supply ducts of the filling heads 121, equal to the number of said filling heads.

The cups 132 are arranged in-line in the longitudinal direction X-X and movable in the transverse direction Y-Y with respect to the transport plane 110 between an inner position (Figs. 2 and 4), in which they do not interfere with the transit of the containers 1 on the transport plane and the movement in the vertical direction of the filling heads 121, and an outer collection position (Figs. 5, 10b), in which each cup 132 is arranged above the transport plane 110 in a position coaxial with a respective dispensing nozzle 122 of a respective filling head 121, for coupling (preferably in a sealed manner) with the said nozzle.

A respective duct 132a for collecting the washing fluids is associated with each cup 132.

As shown in Figs. 2, 8, 10a and 10b, the collection cups 132 are preferably mounted on a longitudinal support 133 on which they are longitudinally aligned in a predefined relative position. The longitudinal support 133 is movable in the transverse direction Y-Y on transverse guides 134 by means of an actuating assembly 136, in the example comprising a linear actuator.

In greater detail, the collection assembly 130 is mounted on a flange 135 which is fixed with respect to the base 101 and which carries said transverse guides 134. An actuating arm 136a of the actuator 136 extends in the transverse direction Y-Y and the actuator is arranged and configured so that, by extracting the arm 136a in the transverse direction, the longitudinal support 133 is moved from/towards the transport plane 110, simultaneously bringing the cups 132 towards the outer washing position / inner disengagement position.

Preferably, the plurality of cups 132 is arranged divided into two series of cups, i.e. upstream cups and downstream cups, and the actuating assembly, in particular the transverse arm 136a, is arranged in the longitudinal direction X-X between the series of upstream cups and the series of downstream cups. It will be clear to the person skilled in the art that other different configurations of the actuating assembly for displacing the support and the cups 132 are possible.

According to an advantageous aspect, one section 112b of the inner shoulder 112 arranged in the filling station is locked displaceably in the direction transverse to the washing cups 132 so that, by displacing the collection cups 132, the inner shoulder section 112b (usually situated between them and the transport plane 110) is displaced in a coordinated manner into an outer position (Fig. 5) in which it allows the cups 132 to be arranged above the transport plane, coaxially aligned in the vertical direction with the filling heads 121. In particular, as can be seen for example in Figs 2, 5 and 10b, the inner shoulder section 112b may be mounted on the longitudinal cup-holder support 133, preferably fixed to a side of the support in a front position, facing, during use, the transport plane and the opposite outer shoulder 111.

With this configuration, the displacement of the shoulder section 112b of the filling station may be performed by means of the actuating assembly 136 of the said cups, achieving in a simple manner the necessary coordination between the movement in the transverse direction of the shoulder 112b and that of the cups 132, for switching between a filling configuration and a configuration for washing the apparatus.

As shown in Figs. 6-9 and 10a, 10b, the travel movement of the guide 123 and therefore of the filling heads 121 in the vertical direction Z-Z may be adjusted so that in the lowered position the said heads are arranged at a desired height, which may be a filling height (Fig. 6), adjusted depending on the height of the container to be filled, where a respective dispensing nozzle 122 is coaxially coupled with a filling mouth 1a of a respective container 1, or a washing height (Fig. 9), predefined on the basis of a height in the vertical direction of the collection cups 132, such that the respective dispensing nozzle 122 is coaxially coupled with a respective cup 132 for collecting the washing fluid.

The filling heads 121 are also configured and can be controlled so as to be arranged in a predefined relative position in the longitudinal direction for washing, corresponding to a predefined relative arrangement of the washing cups with which they are vertically aligned for washing; in the preferred example, this arrangement involves two series of filling heads, i.e. upstream filling heads and downstream filling heads, with an arrangement corresponding to the series of collection cups 132.

Although it is possible to envisage moving in the longitudinal direction also the single collection cups 132, it is in fact preferable for these cups to be arranged fixed in a predefined position, in order to simplify the structure of the apparatus and exploit in a synergic manner the possibility of independently positioning the filling heads. The apparatus may also comprise a unit 500 for processing and controlling the components and the operation of the apparatus, for example configured to adjust and control one or more, preferably all the following operations: the position of the filling heads, the operation of the transport plane, the counting of the bottles in a batch (for example by means of an optical detection system), the quantity of product filled inside the bottles, the presence of bottles underneath the dispensing nozzle, the position of the bottle retaining shoulders.

Said control unit 500 may be a central control unit of the filling/capping machine or for example a sub-unit of said central unit or an independent unit connected to the central unit.

As shown in Fig. 11 and assuming solely for easier description an upstream part "M" corresponding to the inlet in the capping apparatus for the containers 1 exiting the filling apparatus and downstream part "V" corresponding to the outlet for the containers from the capping apparatus, an example of embodiment of the capping apparatus for use in the machine according to Fig. 1 comprises a container transport system comprising a star-wheel 230 rotating about a vertical axis and provided with a plurality of vertical-axis seats 231 for housing a respective container 1, arranged at a predefined angular distance from each other along a circumference. A top part 231a of each seat 231 is designed to house the neck 1b of the container 1.

The rotating star-wheel 230 is designed to receive in its housing seats 231 the filled containers 1 fed in a row in the longitudinal direction X-X by the transport plane 110 which feeds the stream of filled containers 1 exiting the filling station 120 to the zone 110a for accumulation of the containers entering the rotating star-wheel 230.

A plurality of cap fitting heads 351, 352 (in the example two heads) are arranged above the capping zone at a predefined relative distance corresponding to a distance between the mouths 1a of containers 1 arranged in adjacent seats 231 of the rotating star-wheel 230. Each fitting head 351,352 comprises means for gripping and fitting a cap 2, in particular designed for pressure or screw fitting, for example in the form of a respective chuck rotating about a vertical axis.

The rotation of the star-wheel 230, in the example shown in an anti clockwise direction of rotation, transports the containers 1 housed in the housing seats 231 from the accumulation zone to a capping zone, where the mouth 1a of a container is vertically aligned with a respective cap fitting head 351,352 and from the capping zone towards a downstream extraction system 440.

The rotation of the star-wheel 250 is periodically interrupted in order to position in the capping zone a number of containers 1 equal to the number of fitting heads 351,352 for a time necessary for fitting of the respective cap 2.

A cap feeding device 300 is arranged in a position on the inside the transport system in the transverse direction and is configured to feed a series of caps 2 arranged in a row to a pick-up position.

The cap feeding device 300 may for example comprise an inclined surface 310 extending between a cap dispenser (for example a hopper 6 with sorter device 6a, Fig. 1) and the position for picking up each cap fed in series.

A cap pick-up and positioning device 320 is designed to pick up a plurality of caps 2 from the pick-up position of the feeding device 310 and to transport each cap into a position of vertical alignment with a respective fitting head 351,352.

The cap pick-up and positioning device 320 is in particular mounted on a vertical column and comprises an annular segment support 321 provided with a plurality of cap holder seats 321a, 321b open towards the outside in the radial direction (for example with a U-shape or semi-circular form) and arranged at a predefined angular distance from each other.

The number of cap holder seats 321a, 321b (two in the example) in particular corresponds to the number of fitting heads 351 ,352 and the seats may for example have a substantially semi-circular shape.

Each seat 321a, 321b has a vertical axis, conventionally assumed as corresponding to an axis of the corresponding cap 2 housed inside it; the interaxial distance between adjacent seats 321 a, 321b corresponds to the predefined distance between the fitting heads 351,352.

In greater detail, preferably the cap-holder seats 321a, 321b are arranged along a circumferential arc and the cap-fitting heads 351,352 are arranged along concentric circumferences, preferably on a same circumference. In particular, the vertical axes of the cap-holder seats and the fitting heads 351,352 may lie along a same circumference.

In a preferred arrangement, the one or more cap fitting heads and/or the cap pick-up and positioning device are arranged in an internal position in the transverse direction Y-Y with respect to the transport plane 110, ensuring a compact structure of the machine.

As shown in Figs. 12-15, the support 321 with cap-holder seats is designed to rotate about a vertical axis, alternately, in two opposite directions of rotation, between a first pick-up position (Figs. 11,12), in which a first cap- holder seat 321a is arranged in a pick-up position by the feeder device 310 in order to receive (Fig. 13) a respective first cap 2, and a position (Fig. 5) for alignment with the fitting heads 351,352, in which each cap-holder seat is coaxially aligned in the vertical direction with a respective cap-fitting head 351,352.

The support 321 is also designed to stop in a number of further pick-up positions, in the example shown, only a second pick-up position (Fig. 14), equal to the number of cap-holder seats 321b in addition to the first seat 321a, so as to arrange each further seat 321b in the pick-up position of the feeder device 310, in which it receives a further cap 2.

In the position for alignment with the fitting heads 351,352, the support 321 with cap-holder seats 321 is arranged in the vertical direction Z-Z between the fitting heads 351,352 and the rotating star-wheel for transporting the containers.

Preferably, a curved guide 323 is arranged in a position radially on the outside of the support 321 between the pick-up position and the capping zone, so as to contain and guide the caps 2 arranged in the cap-holder seats 321 a, 321b during the rotation towards the position for alignment with the fitting heads 351,352.

With reference to Figs. 16-20, each cap fitting head 351,352 is movable in both senses of the vertical direction Z-Z between a raised position (Figs. 11- 16), where it does not interfere with the rotation of the cap pick-up and positioning device 320 and a lowered position (Fig. 20) for fitting a cap to the mouth 1a of a respective container 1 arranged in one of the seats 231 of the star-wheel 230 in the capping zone.

In greater detail the fitting heads 351,352 are movable in a manner coordinated with the cap pick-up and positioning device 320 between the raised position (Fig. 16) and a pick-up position, intermediate in the vertical direction Z-Z, in which they are arranged so as to grip a cap 2 brought by a respective cap-holder seat 321 a, 321b into the position of vertical alignment with the fitting head 351,352 (Fig. 17).

In particular, in the intermediate pick-up position, the gripping and fitting means of each head 351,352 engage with the respective cap 2 so as to grip it.

The fitting heads 351,352 are then raised again in the vertical direction (Fig. 18) in order to pick up the respective cap 2 from the cap-holder seat 221 a, 221b and release the support 221 which may rotate in the opposite direction as far as the first pick-up position (Fig. 19), freeing the capping zone.

The rotation of the wheel 230 transports along a circular trajectory the containers 1 arranged in adjacent seats 231; the wheel 230 stops so as to position a number of containers 1 equal to the number of heads 351,352 in the capping zone, with their mouths 1a spaced by an interaxial distance corresponding to the predefined distance between the fitting heads 351,352. Each fitting head 351,352 which carries a cap 2 is then arranged in vertical alignment with a respective mouth 1a of a container 1 arranged in a seat 231 of the star-wheel 231 inside the capping zone and may be lowered in the vertical direction Z-Z into the lowered position for fitting the cap 2 onto the container (Fig. 20); the fitting operation performed by the gripping and fitting means of each head 351,352 may be performed by means of screwing, in the case of rotating chucks, or for example by means of pressure, depending on the type of cap and container.

In greater detail, in a preferred embodiment, the fitting heads 351,352 may be arranged on a circumference and the containers 1 in the capping zone on a different circumference, with the vertical axes of the cap gripping and fitting means and the mouths 1a of the containers 1 aligned at the points of intersection between the two circumferences.

According to further embodiments, in particular for an apparatus with only limited performance requirements, a single cap-fitting head may be provided. The synchronized movement in the vertical direction of the fitting heads may be performed by a drive unit, preferably comprising an electronically controlled electric drive, in particular with an electronic cam. The electronic cam is in particular configured to raise/lower the fitting heads with a movement which is coordinated with the rotational movement of the cap pick-up and positioning device about its vertical axis and the rotational movement of the rotating star-wheel 230 which transports the bottles 1 into the capping zone, into coaxial alignment with respective fitting heads 351,352.

The electronically controlled electric drive of the one or more fitting heads

351.351 allows advantageously the vertical travel of the fitting heads

351.352 to be adjusted; therefore, it is possible to adjust the height of the means for fitting each cap in the intermediate pick-up position and/or the height in the lowered fitting position so as to pick up and fit caps of different heights onto containers with a different format, without modifying or replacing the fitting heads 351,352.

In the case of pressure-fitted caps it is also possible to adjust both the instantaneous and the gradual vertical loads depending on the rigidity of the containers and a load required for fitting the cap.

In the case of screw-fitting caps, the electronically controlled electric drive of the one or more fitting heads 351,352 is advantageously able to adjust the vertical travel of the cap gripping and fitting means during screwing, so as to reduce the friction caused by an excessive vertical load.

The fitting heads 351,352 are also preferably configured to adjust electronically a cap screwing torque and/or a rotation speed of the gripping and fitting means, regulating them depending on a plurality of fitting steps, for example comprising: engagement of the thread, screwing and control of the torque applied at the end of the closing operation.

It is also understood that the operation, in the vertical direction, of the fitting heads could also be performed differently, for example pneumatically. The cam may in turn be a mechanical cam.

The rotational movement of the cap pick-up and transporting device may be performed by a respective drive unit, preferably comprising an electric motor. As shown in Figs. 19 and 20, the rotating star-wheel 230 may be for example in the form of a vertical-axis wheel with a bottom annular surface 232 provided with a plurality of seats arranged at a predefined angular distance and open radially outwards and a top annular surface 233 provided with a corresponding plurality of seats aligned with the seats of the bottom surface so as to form the vertical seats 231 for housing the containers 1.

A plurality of radial plates 234 with a substantially U-shaped outer side may be arranged above each housing seat 231 so as to form a respective element for retaining and aligning the neck 1b of a container housed in the seat 231, which defines the top part 231a of each seat 231. The rotational movement of the rotating star-wheel 230 may be performed by a respective drive unit, preferably comprising an electric motor.

A respective guide 235,236 in the form of a curved segment may be arranged coaxially and radially on the outside of the star-wheel 230 in the sector situated between the accumulation zone and the zone for entry into the star-wheel 230 and the capping zone and/or between the capping zone and the extraction zone (Fig. 12) in order to guide the containers 1 and ensure the correct housing thereof in the seats 231 during rotational transportation.

As shown in Figs. 11 and 22, in the extraction zone, an extraction surface 441 extends in the longitudinal direction X-X, for extracting a stream of filled and capped containers 1. The surface 441 extends partially underneath the star-wheel 230 in the extraction zone, so that a container 1 transported by the star-wheel 230 is conveyed in the longitudinal direction by the extraction surface 441 when the housing seat 231 in which it is positioned reaches the extraction zone in a position situated above the said surface.

Preferably, the extraction surface 441 is aligned in the transverse direction Y-Y with the plane 110 for transporting the containers into the star-wheel 230.

The apparatus may also comprise a unit 500 for processing and controlling the components and the drive systems of the apparatus, for example configured to adjust coordinate and control one or more, preferably all the following operations:

- feeding of the containers by means of the transport plane 110 to the accumulation zone and/or from the accumulation zone to the capping zone by means of the rotating star-wheel 230;

- feeding of the caps 2 to the pick-up position;

- control of the cap pick-up and positioning device;

- picking up and fitting of the caps by means of the fitting heads, with optional adjustment of the vertical travel and/or the screwing/pressing torque during fitting;

- extraction of the filled containers.

Said control unit may be a central control unit of the machine or for example a sub-unit thereof, or an independent unit thereof connected to a central control unit of the machine.

With reference to Figs. 22-25, in the extraction zone, the apparatus comprises preferably a system for discarding containers 1c which are non- compliant, for example unsuitable for extraction towards downstream packaging apparatus.

The suitability of a container may for example be assessed by means of a processing and control unit 500 which is connected to an optical detection system arranged between the capping zone and the extraction zone; the detection system may for example acquire with sufficiently regular frequency images or sensorial recordings of the capped containers 1 , which are used by the processing and control unit 500 to detect for example an incorrect capping or filling level and cause discarding of the container 1c.

The container discarding system preferably comprises a block 450 rotating, in both directions, about a vertical axis and configured with an edge section which has a guide segment 451, such that the rotation of the block 450 moves the guide segment 451 between a disengaged position (Figs. 22,24) in the extraction zone, where it allows extraction of a container carried by the star-wheel 230 onto the extraction surface 441, and a discarding position (Fig. 23), where the guide segment 451 is arranged in the extraction zone closing off the extraction corridor on the extraction surface 441 so as to interfere with the container 1c and keep it in the respective seat 231 of the star-wheel 230 until it reaches a position situated above a discarding surface 442, arranged parallel to the extraction surface 441 and movable in the longitudinal direction X-X in order to pick up the non-compliant container 1c and transport into a stream of discarded containers.

As shown in Figs. 26a-26c, when there is a variation in the format of the container to be filled, it is possible to modify the rotating star-wheel 230 so as to define seats 231 d, 231b, 231c with different shapes and/or sizes suitable for housing a different container.

In greater detail it is possible to replace the entire star-wheel 230 with a different star-wheel 230a, 230b, 230c provided with suitable housing seats 231 d, 231b, 231c or replace one or more of the bottom annular surface, the top annular surface and the neck retaining plates 234 in order to cause the desired variation in the shape and size of the housing seats.

Advantageously, an interaxial distance between central axes of the top parts 231 of the housing seats (and therefore between the axes of the mouths 1a of the containers) may be kept constant so as to correspond to the predefined distance between the cap fitting heads 351,352, even where there is a variation of the star-wheel 230.

In the case of caps or containers with a different height, it is possible to adjust the vertical travel of the fitting heads 351,352.

With a variation in the format of the cap it is also possible to replace the cap- holder seats of the gripping and positioning device; in particular, it is advantageously possible to replace the entire support 321 with a different support provided with modified cap-holder seats.

The apparatus is therefore extremely versatile as regards the management of containers and/or caps of varying format in a rapid and simple manner. With the configuration described, operation of the machine according to Fig. 1 for implementing a preferred example of a filling and capping cycle may be as follows:

- after introduction of the containers 1 onto the conveyor belt 110, the outer and inner shoulders 111,112 (if present) are adjusted to a distance in a transverse direction such as to contain and guide the bottles;

- the filling heads 121 are moved in the longitudinal direction X-X, defining an interval corresponding to the interval between the mouths 1a of the bottles to be filled (Fig.6);

- the collection cups 132 are kept in an internal position in the transverse direction Y-Y where they do not interfere with the transport plane 110;

- the conveyor belt 110 is operated so as to allow the advancing movement of the containers 1, causing the opening of the rear block 151 and the entry of the containers 1 into the filling station 120;

- when the first bottle 1 reaches the front stop 152, arranged in the extended closed position, it stops and the following bottles 1 are arranged in the filling station forming the batch (Figs. 4,7) comprising a predefined number of containers to be filled simultaneously;

- the filling cycle is started, lowering the longitudinal guide 123 which brings each mouth 122 of the filling heads 121 into coupling engagement with a respective mouth 1a of a bottle 1 (Fig.8);

- the controlled filling is started, supplying the filling fluid for example from a pressurised storage tank 5 (Fig. 1) through the supply ducts to the filling heads 121, until the necessary quantity of fluid is fully introduced inside each container 1 of the batch;

- the longitudinal guide 123 is raised, bringing the heads 121 into the raised position where there is no interference with the bottles (Fig. 9); - the front stop 152 is released and the transport plane 110 is activated, restarting the feeding (Fig. 9) of the bottles 1 of the filled batch in the longitudinal direction, said bottles being conveyed towards the outlet O and the zone 110a for accumulation of the containers 1, where they are arranged in a row in the longitudinal direction X-X, one behind the other awaiting entry into the rotating star-wheel 230 of the capping apparatus;

- the capping apparatus is arranged with the support 321 of the cap pick-up and transport device 320 rotated into the first pick-up position, with the first seat 321a in the pick-up position (Figs. 11,12) and the fitting heads 351,352 in the raised position;

- a first cap 2 is picked up by means of the pick-up and transport device, being fed from the pick-up position into the first seat 321a (Fig. 3) inside which it is stably housed;

- the support 321 is rotated in the clockwise direction so as to bring the second cap-holder seat 321b into the pick-up position, where it receives from the feeder device 310 a second cap 2 (Fig. 14); the rotation of the support 321 causes a corresponding rotation of the first seat 321a which advances circumferentially towards the capping zone with the first cap 2, guided and contained by the curved guide 323;

- the support 321 is rotated in the clockwise direction so as to bring the cap- holder seats 321 a, 321b and therefore the caps 2 into the capping zone, each seat being arranged in vertical alignment with a respective fitting head 351,352 (Figs.15-16);

- the rotating star-wheel 230 is operated so as to pick up in succession at least a first container and second container 1 by means of its adjacent vertical seats 231 and transports them rotationally in an anti-clockwise direction (or direction generally opposite to the direction of rotation of the support 321) towards the capping zone (Fig. 16) where it stops with the two containers 1 arranged with their mouths 1a aligned vertically with the fitting heads 351,252;

- the following seats 231 of the start-wheel each pick up a respective container 1 from the accumulation zone 110a;

- the electronic cam causes the fitting heads 351,352 to be displaced downwards in the vertical direction into the middle position for picking up the caps 2, where the gripping and fitting means of each head are arranged engaged with a respective cap (Fig. 17); the electronic cam causes the displacement in the vertical direction of the capping heads 351,352 and therefore the caps retained by them into the raised position, freeing the seats 221a, 221b and the support 221 (Fig. 18); the support 321 of the pick-up and transport device 320 is rotated in the anti clockwise direction so as to bring the respective cap-holder seats into the first pick-up position, freeing the capping zone (Fig. 19);

- in the meantime, the continuous rotation of the star-wheel 230 brings the first and second bottles towards the capping zone (Fig. 19), so that the respective mouths 1a are in vertical alignment with the cap gripping and fitting means of the capping heads 351,352;

- the electronic cam causes the displacement in the vertical direction of the capping heads 351,352 into the lowered position for fitting the caps 2, where the gripping and fitting means of each head fit a respective cap 2 (Fig. 20), for example by means of screwing or pressure, onto the mouth 1a of the respective container;

- the capping heads 351,352 are made to return into the raised position, releasing the capped containers which continue their rotational movement being transported by the star-wheel 230 towards the extraction zone;

- in the meantime (Fig. 20), the cap-holder seats 321 a, 321b have each picked up a further cap 2 from the pick-up position and are again rotated in the clockwise direction as far as the capping zone, in vertical alignment with a respective capping head (Fig. 21);

- repetition of the cycle with picking up of the cap by the capping heads, freeing of the capping zone by the support 321, positioning of the containers 1 to be capped in the capping zone and lowering of the fitting heads with fitting of the cap onto the mouth 1a of a third and fourth container, until all the containers in the previously filled batch have been capped.

The capped containers are transported by the rotating star-wheel 230 as far as the extraction zone where they are picked up and transported downstream by the extraction conveyor belt 441. A stream of extracted containers may therefore be continuous and with the desired interval between successive containers 1 and/or desired feeding speed. This is particularly advantageous for the following downstream handling apparatus which may be supplied with the necessary parameters irrespective as to whether the containers are filled in batches of a predefined number of containers in the machine of the present invention. If the system for detecting non-compliant containers and discarding them is present, each filled container may be examined during the rotational advancing movement between the capping zone and the extraction zone and, should it be detected as being non-compliant, the discarding block is rotated into the discarding position, causing closure of the extraction surface and guiding the non-compliant container as far as the discarding surface which then transports it forwards in the longitudinal direction along the respective discarding corridor.

Once all the bottles provided have been filled, or of a change of the filling product is required, a cycle for washing the supply ducts and the filling heads 121 may be performed; a preferred example of this washing cycle may involve the following steps:

- if necessary, positioning of the filling heads in the predefined washing arrangement in the longitudinal direction X-X, corresponding to a predefined relative position of the collection cups 132 (Fig. 10a);

- if present, displacement in the transverse direction of the outer shoulder 111b of the filling station into the position situated further away from the transport plane 110 (Fig.5);

- displacement, in the transverse direction, of the longitudinal support 133 so as to bring the inner shoulder section 112b coupled therewith into the position beyond the plane 110, close to the outer shoulder 111b, and each cup 122 into a position coaxial with a respective filling mouth 122 of a filling head (Figs. 5, 10a);

- displacement, in the vertical direction, of the longitudinal guide 123, with displacement of the filling heads 121 to a desired height which brings each nozzle 122 of a head 121 into coupling engagement with a respective collection cup 132 (Fig. 10b);

- the starting of timed washing during which the washing fluid (supplied for example from the same pressurised storage tank or other supply source) is supplied to the supply ducts 121b, passes through the filling heads 121 and from these is discharged into the collection cups 132 where it is collected and evacuated by means of the ducts 132a;

- at the end of washing the longitudinal guide 123 is raised again so that the filling heads are disengaged from the cups and, being displaced in the transverse direction, the cups 132 are brought into the inner disengagement position (Fig. 1), where they do not interfere with the advancing movement of the bottles;

- the apparatus is ready for a new filling cycle with different bottles and/or a different fluid to be introduced inside them.

It is therefore clear how the machine according to the invention comprises a filling apparatus which may be easily adapted to containers, such as bottles of pharmaceutical or cosmetic products, of varying format, for example with a different vertical height and/or transverse width, but also with a length or interval between the filling mouths which is variable, allowing a change in format and if necessary rapid and simple washing.

In addition, with the filling apparatus it is possible to fill batches of containers with different filling fluids and perform rapid and leakage-free washing under pressure of the product supply parts.

The filling and capping machine according to the invention is also compact and may be easily used.

It is therefore clear how, with the capping apparatus of the machine according to the invention, it is possible to cap in a simple and efficient manner a plurality of containers fed aligned in the longitudinal direction, from the filling apparatus.

The capping apparatus is compact and versatile as regards the management of different types of containers and/or caps.

The use of a rotating container transport system and zone for accumulating the containers in a row at the entrance to the apparatus allows the capping apparatus to be easily combined downstream of the station for filling batches of containers arranged in-line.

Owing to the preferred embodiments in which the capping heads and the cap-holder seats are arranged along the same circumference, the capping apparatus may be very easily adapted to different formats of containers and caps, in particular if the mouth of the containers is kept always at a predefined distance and along a same circumference when there is a variation in format of the container.

Although described in connection with a number of embodiments and a number of preferred examples of implementation of the invention, it is understood that the scope of protection of the present patent is determined solely by the claims below.

Claims

1. Machine for filling and capping containers, comprising:

- a filling apparatus (100) for filling containers, comprising:

+ a filling station (120), comprising a plurality of filling heads (121) each provided with a nozzle (122) for dispensing a filling product;

+a transport plane (110) designed to transport in a longitudinal feeding direction (X-X) a plurality of containers (1) arranged in-line in the longitudinal feeding direction (X-X), from an upstream inlet (I) into a filling position in the filling station (120) and to a downstream outlet (O); wherein the filling heads (121) are arranged in-line in the longitudinal direction (X-X) for filling a batch composed of a predefined number of containers arranged in-line in the filling station and are movable in a vertical direction (Z-Z) with respect to the transport plane (110) between a raised position, where they do not interfere with the passage of the containers (1) to be filled, and a lowered position;

- a capping apparatus for fitting caps (2) onto containers (1) filled by the filling apparatus, arranged downstream of the filling apparatus (100) in the longitudinal direction and comprising:

+ a container transport system (230) designed to transport the filled containers (1) exiting the filling apparatus to a capping zone;

+ one or more cap fitting heads (351,352), each comprising means for gripping and fitting a cap (2), the one or more fitting heads being arranged above the capping zone and movable in both senses of a vertical direction (Z-Z) so as to fit a cap (2) onto the mouth (1a) of a respective container (1) arranged in the capping zone.

2. Machine according to Claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a number of filling heads (121) greater than the number of cap fitting heads, preferably comprising one or two cap fitting heads (351,352) for fitting a cap (2).

3. Machine according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the transport system of the capping apparatus is arranged and configured to rotationally transport a plurality of filled containers (1) from an accumulation zone (110a) for accumulating the containers exiting the filling apparatus to the capping zone.

4. Machine according to Claim 3, wherein the transport plane (110) of the filling apparatus supplies the accumulation zone (110a) with a plurality of filled containers arranged in-line in the longitudinal direction (X-X).

5. Machine according to Claim 3 or 4, wherein the system for transporting the containers of the capping apparatus comprises a star-wheel (230) rotating about a vertical axis and provided with a plurality of vertical- axis housing seats (231) for housing a respective container (1).

6. Machine according to one of Claims 3-5, wherein the container transport system (230), in particular said rotating star-wheel (230), is configured to stop periodically the rotational transportation of the containers for a time period for capping one or more containers positioned in the capping zone with their mouths (1a) vertically aligned with a respective cap fitting head (351,352), and/or to rotationally transport the capped containers from the capping zone to an extraction zone.

7. Machine according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the capping apparatus comprises:

- a plurality of fitting heads arranged above the capping zone at a predefined relative distance corresponding to a predefined distance between mouths (1a) of containers (1) arranged adjacent in the capping zone, so that the mouth (1a) of a container is vertically aligned with a respective cap fitting head (351,352); and/or

- a feeder device (300,310) for feeding caps (2), arranged and configured to feed a series of caps (2) to a pick-up position;

- a cap pick-up and positioning device (320) for picking up and positioning caps, provided with one or more cap-holder seats (321 a, 221b) which are rotationally movable about a vertical axis so as to pick up corresponding one or more caps (2) from the pick-up position of the feeder device (310) and transport each picked-up cap (2) to a position for vertical alignment with a respective fitting head (351,352), each cap fitting head (351,352) being movable in both senses of a vertical direction (Z-Z) so as to pick up a cap (2) transported by the pick-up and positioning device and fit it to the mouth (1a) of a respective container (1) arranged in the capping zone.

8. Machine according to the preceding claim, wherein the one or more cap fitting heads and/or the cap pick-up and positioning device are arranged in an internal position in the transverse direction (Y-Y) with respect to the transport plane (110).

9. Machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a drive unit for moving in the vertical direction one or more cap fitting heads (351,352), in particular configured to raise or lower the one or more fitting heads with a movement coordinated with a rotational movement of the transport system which transports the containers (1) into the capping zone, a travel stroke of each fitting head in the vertical direction (Z-Z) being preferably adjustable depending on the height of the cap (2) and/or the container (1) to be capped.

10. Machine according to the preceding claim, wherein the drive unit for moving in the vertical direction the one or more cap fitting heads (351,352) comprises an electronically controlled electric drive, preferably configured with an electronic cam.

11. Machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises an extraction surface (441) extending and movable in a longitudinal direction (X-X) for extracting a series of filled and capped containers (1) transported to an extraction zone by the system (230) for transporting the containers (1).

12. Machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a system for discarding non-compliant containers (1c), arranged in a zone for extraction of the capped containers (1).

13. Machine according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the transport plane of the filling apparatus is kept moving forwards in the longitudinal direction (X-X) during the filling of a series of containers (1) in the filling station; and/or wherein the transport plane (110) extends linearly in the longitudinal feeding direction (X-X) from the upstream inlet to the container transport system of the capping apparatus.

14. Machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the following are arranged in the filling station:

- a rear stop (151), movable between a retracted position, where it does not interfere with transit of the containers on the transport plane (110), and a position extending inwardly in the transverse direction, where the stop is arranged above the transport plane (110); and/or

- a front stop (152), movable between a retracted position, where it does not interfere with transit of the containers on the transport plane (110), and a position extending inwardly in the transverse direction, where the stop (152) is arranged above the transport plane (110) so as to stop the advancement of a downstream container (1) of a batch of containers to be filled.

15. Machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the filling apparatus comprises an assembly (130) for collecting washing fluids, comprising a number of collection cups (132) for collecting washing fluids for washing of the filling heads (121), equal to the number of said filling heads; the collection cups (132) being arranged movable in a transverse direction (Y-Y) with respect to the transport plane between an internal position, where they do not interfere with transit of the containers (1) on the transport plane and movement of the filling heads (121) in the vertical direction, and an external collection position, where each cup (132) is arranged above the transport plane (110) in a position coaxial with a respective dispensing nozzle (122) of a respective filling head (121), for coupled engagement with the said dispensing nozzle (122).

16. Machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each filling head (121) is movable independently of the other filling heads (121) in the longitudinal direction (X-X) by means of a respective drive assembly configured and controllable so as to adjust a position of the respective dispensing nozzle (122) in the longitudinal direction.

17. Machine according to the preceding claim, characterized in that each filling head (121) is mounted on a sliding element (125) which slides on a longitudinal guide (123) and/or in that the actuating assembly of each filling head comprises an electric drive, in particular an electric motor (126).

18. Machine according to the preceding claim, wherein the drive, in particular the electric motor, has a shaft which carries a pinion (126a) which meshes with a linear rack (125a) fixed to the longitudinal guide (123).

19. Machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a control unit (500) for processing and controlling the components and the operation of the machine.

20. Method for filling and capping a plurality of containers (1) by means of a filling and capping machine according to one of the preceding claims, comprising the steps of:

- positioning the filling heads (121) in a raised position with respect to the transport plane in the vertical direction (Z-Z);

- transporting on the transport plane (110) a plurality of containers (1) arranged in-line in a longitudinal feeding direction (X-X), from the upstream inlet (I) to a filling position in the filling station (120);

- moving the filling heads in the vertical direction (Z-Z) from the raised position to a lowered position with respect to the transport plane (110), bringing each dispensing nozzle (122) into coupled engagement with a respective mouth (1a) of a container (1);

- dispensing a filling fluid inside the containers (1) by means of the dispensing nozzles (122), until each container (1) is filled with a predefined quantity of fluid;

- raising the filling heads (121) in the vertical direction (Z-Z) as far as the raised position where it does not interfere with the transit of the containers (1);

- transporting the containers (1) by means of the transport plane (110) out of the filling apparatus to an accumulation zone (110a) for accumulating filled containers (1) to be capped, arranged in a row in the longitudinal direction (X-X);

- transporting a plurality of containers to be capped from the accumulation zone towards the capping zone by means of the transport system (230) which positions one or more containers (1) in the capping zone, with the mouth (1a) of the container vertically aligned with a respective cap fitting head (351,352);

- moving each cap fitting head (351,352) in a vertical direction (Z-Z) so as to fit a respective previously picked-up cap (2) onto the mouth (1a) of a respective container (1) arranged in the capping zone.

21. Filling and capping method according to the preceding claim wherein:

- the containers are rotationally transported by means of the transport system of the capping apparatus from the accumulation zone to the capping zone; and/or

- the container transport system (230) is configured to stop periodically the transportation of the containers for a time period for capping one or more containers positioned in the capping zone with their mouth (1a) vertically aligned with a respective cap fitting head (351,352); and/or

- the transport plane of the filling apparatus is kept moving forwards in the longitudinal direction (X-X) during the filling of a series of containers (1) in the filling station; and/or

- in the capping zone, the containers are arranged at a predefined relative distance which corresponds to or is different from a longitudinal distance between the containers arranged in the filling position in the filling station.

22. Format-changing process for a machine according to one of Claims 1-19, comprising one or more of the following operations: - positioning the filling heads in a different relative position in the longitudinal direction;

- adjusting a different height in the lowered position, for the movement in the vertical direction of the filling heads (121). - adjusting a different travel stroke in the vertical direction (Z-Z) of the cap fitting heads for fitting a cap (2);

- replacing a rotating star-wheel (230) of the container transport system with a different rotating star-wheel suitable for transporting containers with a different format.