Rotary machine comprising first stations and second stations rotating around a single main axis

A rotary machine for processing a preform into a container, the machine comprising:

• a wheel unit configured for rotation about a main axis;
• a plurality of first stations configured to apply a first process to the preform resulting in the container, each first station supported by the wheel unit and being rotatable around the main axis, the first stations each including a mold defining a mold cavity having the shape of the container to be obtained at the end of the first process, the mold configured to receive one of the preforms at an external entry position of the rotary machine and to release the container at an internal exit position of the rotary machine, the preforms oriented along an axis substantially parallel to the main axis at the external entry position, each mold being movably mounted for movement between a straight position where a mold axis extends parallel to the main axis and an angled position where the mold axis extends along a first station axis that is angled with respect to the main axis, the mold being in the straight position at the external entry position and being movable to the angled tilted position at the start of the first process, each first station also including a filling device configured to connect in a liquid tight manner to a neck of the preform received by the mold and to inject a liquid into the preform to shape and fill the preform into the container;
• the internal exit position at which each first station is configured to release the processed container, each filling device and each mold extending along the first station axis at the internal exit position whereby liquid is prevented from being spilled out of the container once the filling device is disconnected from the neck of the container;
• a plurality of second stations configured to apply a second process to the container, each second station supported by the wheel unit and being rotatable around the main axis;
• an internal entry position at which each second station is configured to receive a container from one of the first stations and to start applying the second process to the container;
• at least one transfer arm including a gripper element configured to seize a container, the transfer arm being configured to move the gripper element between one of the first stations located at the internal exit position and one of the second stations located at the internal entry position.

A rotary machine for processing a container comprising:

• a wheel unit configured for rotation about a main axis,
• a plurality of first stations configured to apply a first process to a container resulting in a processed container, each first station supported by the wheel unit and being rotatable around the main axis,
• a plurality of second stations configured to apply a second process to a processed container, each second station supported by the wheel and being rotatable around the main axis,
• an internal exit position at which each first station is configured to release the processed container,
• an internal entry position at which each second station is configured to receive a processed container from a first station and to start applying the second process to the processed container,
• at least one transfer arm comprising a gripper element configured to seize a processed container, the transfer arm configured to move the gripper element between one of the first stations located at the internal exit position and one of the second stations located at the internal entry position,
• wherein each second station comprises a container seat configured to hold a processed container and a capping device configured to apply a cap on the processed container held by the container seat, the container seat comprising an opening for receiving the processed container.

The rotary machine for processing a container comprising:

• a wheel unit configured for rotation about a main axis,
• a plurality of first stations configured to apply a first process to a container resulting in a processed container, each first station supported by the wheel unit and being rotatable around the main axis,
• a plurality of second stations configured to apply a second process to a processed container, each second station supported by the wheel and being rotatable around the main axis,
• an internal exit position at which each first station is configured to release the processed container,
• an internal entry position at which each second station is configured to receive a processed container from a first station and to start applying the second process to the processed container,
• at least one transfer arm comprising a gripper element configured to seize a processed container, the transfer arm configured to move the gripper element between one of the first stations located at the internal exit position and one of the second stations located at the internal entry position, and
• wherein the internal exit position and the internal entry position are offset relative to each other about the main axis, the transfer arm being movable in translation according to an axis parallel to the main axis and/or wherein the internal exit position and the internal entry position are offset relative to each other according to a radial axis substantially perpendicular to the main axis, the transfer arm being movable in translation according to an axis parallel to the radial axis.

A rotary machine for processing a preform into a container, the rotary machine comprising:

• a wheel unit configured for rotation about a main axis, the wheel unit including a first main wheel and a second main wheel, the first main wheel being configured to rotate around the main axis at a first rotation speed (W1) and the second main wheel being configured to rotate around the main axis at a second rotation speed (W2);
• a plurality of first stations supported by the first main wheel and being rotatable about the main axis, the plurality of first stations being a first number (N1) and each of the first stations configured to apply a first process to the preforms resulting in forming of the containers;
• a plurality of second stations supported by the second main wheel and being rotatable about the main axis, the plurality of second stations being a second number (N2), the second number (N2) being different from the first number (N), the second stations configured to apply a second process to a containers, each second station supported by the wheel unit and being rotatable around the main axis, wherein the first rotational speed (W1) and the second rotational speed (W2) are such that W2/W1 equals N1/N2;
• an internal exit position at which each first station is configured to release the processed container;
• an internal entry position at which each second station is configured to receive a processed container from a first station and to start applying the second process to the processed container;
• and
• at least one transfer arm comprising a gripper element configured to seize a processed container, the transfer arm configured to move the gripper element between one of the first stations located at the internal exit position and one of the second stations located at the internal entry position.