Patent Publication Number: US-10315786-B2

Title: Machine for processing containers having an improved control architecture

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of priority of European Patent Application No. 13199877.5, filed Dec. 31, 2013, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     The present invention relates to a container processing machine, designed to perform labelling operations in the context of filling and packaging of containers for pourable products, such as carbonated liquids, like sparkling water, soft drinks or beer. 
     In particular the present solution may be implemented for any type of container, such as containers or bottles made of glass, plastics, aluminum, steel and composites, and for any type of pourable product, such as carbonated or non-carbonated liquids (including still water, juices, teas, sport drinks, liquid cleaners, wine, etc), emulsions, suspensions and high viscosity liquids. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     As is known, pourable products are sold in a wide range of bottles or containers, which are sterilized, filled and capped in container processing plants, typically including a plurality of processing stations or machines, such as rinsing machines, filling machines, labelling machines and capping machines. These processing stations may include linear machines or, more frequently, rotating, or so called “carousel-type”, machines. 
     The following description will refer to rotating or carousel-type machines only, although this is in no way intended to limit the scope of the present application. 
     Labelling machines are known, which are designed to apply labels on the containers being processed. 
     In particular, sleeve labels are often used with bottles or other containers designed to contain pourable products; such labels are obtained by the subsequent steps of: cutting a web, unwound, from a supply roll, into a plurality of web portions, e.g. of a rectangular or square shape; winding each web portion in a tubular configuration so that opposite vertical edges overlap; and welding or sealing of the overlapping edges to fix the web in a sleeve form. 
     Labelling machines are known, in which each sleeve label, is formed about a cylindrical winding body (commonly known as “sleeve drum”) end subsequently transferred onto a container, by introduction of the container within the sleeve label. The sleeve label is then fixed on the container by means of a thermal retraction process. 
     This kind of labelling machine comprises a conveyor (so called carousel), which rotates about a vertical axis defining a substantially circular path, along which it is designed to: receive respective sequences of unlabelled containers and of labelling material portions from respective input wheels; manage the application of sleeve labels onto corresponding containers; and release the labelled containers onto an output wheel. 
     The carousel comprises a number of processing units which are equally spaced about the rotation axis, are mounted along the periphery of the carousel and are moved by the latter along the above-mentioned circular path. 
     Each processing unit comprises a supporting element, which is designed to support the bottom wall of a container, and a retaining element, which is designed to engage the top portion of the container to maintain it in a vertical position during the rotation of the carousel. 
     As schematically shown in  FIG. 1 a   , each supporting element  1  comprises a base  2 , fixed to a horizontal plane of a rotating frame of the carousel, and a cylindrical winding body  3 , which is coupled to the base  2  and is designed to carry a respective container  4  on a top surface thereof, and a respective sleeve label  5  on a side surface thereof. 
     Winding body  3  is movable, by mechanical cam means (not shown), between a raised position and a completely retracted position, with respect to the base  2 . 
     In the raised position (shown in  FIG. 1 a   ), winding body  3  is adapted to receive sleeve label  5  on its side surface from a label input wheel; in particular, sleeve label  5  is wound about the winding body  3 , so that opposite vertical edges thereof are overlapped to one another. 
     After welding of the overlapped edges of the sleeve label  5  by a sealing device, the movement of the winding body  3  from the raised position to the completely retracted position determines the insertion of the container  4  within the sleeve label  5  (as indicated by the arrow in  FIG. 1 b   ); the container obtained thereby is ready to be transferred onto the output wheel. 
     Although satisfactory with respect to many aspects, the Applicant has realized that this known solution also suffers from some drawbacks. 
     In particular, control of the machine requires a number of control units, designed to manage operation of the various operating elements, and the various control units need to be communicatively coupled, in order to manage processing of the containers. 
     Moreover, designing of the mechanical cam means, which cause movement of the containers  4  within the sleeve labels  5 , may be a critical aspect of the overall machine design. 
     In general, it is also known that it may prove desirable to integrate more functions within a single multi-purpose machine, in order to simplify design and layout, of the container processing plant and also improve maintenance thereof. 
     However, the above discussed solution is not altogether satisfactory in this respect; in particular, the labelling operation may impede execution of further operations, such as filling operations relating to the same containers  3 . 
     Therefore, the need is surely felt for a solution, which may improve designing of layout and control architecture of container processing machines, in particular with respect to labelling and associated processing operations. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to solve, at least in part, the problems previously highlighted and to satisfy, at least in part, the above need. 
     According to an aspect the present invention a machine for labelling containers is thus provided, as defined in the appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a better understanding of the present invention, preferred embodiments thereof will now be disclosed by way of non-limitative example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIGS. 1 a -1 b    schematically show a known solution to cause a relative displacement of a container with respect to a sleeve label in a container processing machine, in respective operating conditions; 
         FIG. 2  shows a diagrammatic plan view of a container processing machine, according to an embodiment of the present solution; 
         FIGS. 3 and 4  show schematic perspective views, at an enlarged scale, of a portion of the processing machine of  FIG. 2 , in respective operating conditions; 
         FIG. 5  shows a schematic perspective view, at an enlarged scale, of a further portion of processing machine of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIGS. 6 a -6 b    schematically show a solution to cause a relative displacement of a container with respect to a sleeve label in the processing machine of  FIG. 2 , in respective operating conditions; 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic block diagram of a control circuit of processing machine of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic top plan view of a case housing a circuit board for control circuit of  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a view analogous to that of  FIG. 2 , diagrammatically showing different operating phases associated to processing machine; 
         FIG. 10  shows plots of electrical signals associated to the operating phases of processing machine shown in  FIG. 9 ; and 
         FIG. 11  shows a schematic side view, at an enlarged scale, of a further portion of processing machine of  FIG. 2 , according to a further embodiment of the present solution. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 2  shows a machine for processing containers, of the rotating type, indicated in general with  10 , which is configured to carry out labelling operations, so as to apply sleeve labels, again denoted with  5 , (see also  FIGS. 3-5  and  FIGS. 6 a -6 b   ) on respective containers, in the example bottles, here denoted with  13 . 
     Each container  13  has a longitudinal axis A, has a bottom wall  14  substantially perpendicular to axis A, and a top neck  15  substantially coaxial with axis A. 
     Machine  10  comprises a conveying device, including a conveyor (or carousel)  17 , which is mounted to continuously rotate (in an anticlockwise direction in  FIG. 3 ) about a vertical axis B perpendicular to a horizontal plane xy (the plane of  FIG. 2 ). 
     Conveyor  17  receives a sequence of unlabelled containers  13 , from an input, wheel  18 , which cooperates with conveyor  17  at a first, transfer station  19  and is mounted to continuously rotate about a respective longitudinal axis C parallel to axis B. 
     Conveyor  17  also receives a sequence of portions, for example rectangular or square-shaped portions, of a labelling web material (for example of a plastic film) from an input drum  20 , which cooperates with conveyor  17  at a second transfer station  21  and is mounted to continuously rotate about a respective longitudinal axis D parallel to axes B and C. 
     Conveyor  17  releases a sequence of labelled containers  13  onto an output wheel  22 , which cooperates with conveyor  17  at a third transfer station  23  and is mounted to continuously rotate about a respective longitudinal axis E parallel to axes B, C and D. 
     Conveyor  17  carries a number of processing units  25 , which are equally spaced about axis B and are mounted on the periphery of conveyor  17 ; processing units  25  are displaced by the same conveyor  17  along a substantially circular path P, which extends about axis B and through transfer stations  19 ,  21  and  23 . 
     With particular reference to  FIGS. 3 to 5 , each processing unit  25  is designed to receive a respective container  13  from input wheel  18  in a vertical position, i.e. with relative axis A parallel to axes B, C, D and E, and to maintain container  13  in this position along path P from transfer station  19  up to transfer station  23 . 
     Each processing unit  25  comprises: 
     a base  30 , which is fixed onto a plane or a horizontal table of a rotating frame  31  of conveyor  17 ; 
     a substantially cylindrical winding body  32 , which is coupled to base  30 , has a vertical axis F, parallel to axes B, C, D and E, and is designed to coaxially carry bottom wall  14  of a respective container  13  on a top surface  33  and a portion of labelling material, here designated with  36 , on a side surface thereof; in particular, a receptive unlabelled container  13  is transferred from transfer station  19  to top surface  33  of winding body  32 , and labelled container  13  is transferred from the same top surface  33  of winding body  32  to transfer station  23 ; and 
     a top retaining element  38  designed to engage top neck  15  of container  13 , to contribute maintaining the same container  13  in a vertical position. 
     In particular, each winding body  32  can be rotated about vertical axis F under the control of an electric motor  39  (see in particular  FIG. 5 ), which is coupled to the base  30  of the respective processing unit  25 , under the plane of the rotating frame  31 . 
     Each winding body  32  projects from the base  30  and is designed to receive, on its side surface  34 , the portion  36  of labelling material from input dram  20 . More specifically, the portions  36  of labelling material are cut from a labelling web material by means of a cutting device  37  (schematically shown in  FIG. 2 ) and fed to input drum  20  to be transferred onto winding bodies  32 . 
     The cut portions  36  of labelling material are retained on the side surface  34  of each winding body  32  by a vacuum suction action. Indeed, side surface  34  of winding body  32  is provided with a plurality of through-holes  43 , coupled to a pneumatic suction device (of a known type, here not shown), so as to retain in place the respective portion  36  of labelling material, by suction. 
     At transfer station  21 , each winding body  32  is rotated about axis F under the control of the respective electric motor  39 , in order to perform the complete winding of the respective cut portion  36  of labelling material, coming from input drum  20 , on its side surface  34 , so as to form a substantially tubular sleeve with opposite ends overlapped. 
     Each processing unit  25  further comprises a respective sealing device  45  arranged in front of, and in a position radially internal with respect to, a respective winding body  32 ; each sealing device  45  cooperates with the cut portion  36  of labelling material wound about corresponding winding body  32  for welding relative overlapped ends so as to create a sleeve label  5 , which will then be arranged about container  13 . 
     Each sealing device  45  comprises a heating element  46 , designed to cause wielding of the overlapped ends by heating thereof. 
     In a possible embodiment, heating element  46  includes a rectilinear bar  47 , having an extension at least equal to the height of the overlapped ends to be welded of portion  36  of labelling material, and having an active functional surface, which is resistively heated and positioned in contact with the material to be welded, or sealed. Rectilinear bar  47  defines therein a cooling duct (not shown), designed to receive a cooling fluid, from tubes  48 , for example water coming from a refrigerator unit (here not shown). 
     During operation, the active functional surface of rectilinear bar  47  is supplied by means of electric wires connected thereto by a power supplying module, which provides current pulses for generating short heating pulses (on the order of a few hundreds of milliseconds) having controllable temperature and duration. Cooling through cooling duct allows to maintain rectilinear bar  47  at a substantially constant temperature, increasing thereby the efficiency of the heating and welding process. 
     Sealing device  45  further includes a first actuator element  49 , for example of the linear pneumatic type, configured so as to displace heating element  46  towards, and from, overlapped edges of respective portion  36  of labelling material, along a direction X transversal to the portion of path P. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , directions X, along which sealing devices  45  are displaced, extend radially with respect to axis B, and orthogonally to axes B-F. 
     According to a particular aspect of the present solution, each processing unit  25  further comprises a respective displacement device  50 , coupled to winding body  32 , and designed to cause a vertical displacement of sleeve label  5  along the same winding body  32  in the direction of vertical axis F. 
     In detail, displacement device  50  includes: 
     a vertical arm  51 , which is designed to slide within a guide  52 , aligned to vertical axis F and coupled to rotating frame  31 ; 
     a second actuator element  53 , for example of the linear pneumatic type, configured to displace vertical arm  51  along the guide  52 ; and 
     a displacement unit  54 , carried by the vertical arm  51 , at a free end thereof, and configured to interact with sleeve label  5  to cause displacement thereof. 
     According to a possible embodiment, displacement unit  54  includes: a gripping element  55 , for example in the form of a pliers, coupled to the vertical arm  51 ; and a ring platform  56 , arranged about the winding body  32  and coupled to the gripping element  55 . 
     As schematically shown also in  FIGS. 6 a  and 6 b   , displacement device  50  is configured to cause displacement of the displacement unit  54  from a first, “down” or retracted, position (shown in  FIG. 6 a    and in  FIG. 3 ), in which the ring platform  56  is arranged at the base  30 , towards a second, “up” or extended, position (shown in  FIG. 6 b    and in  FIG. 4 ), in which the ring platform  56  is arranged at the top surface  33  of winding body  32 . 
     Displacement of displacement unit  54  from the first to the second position causes sleeve label  5  to be carried by ring platform  56  towards container  13 , which is placed on top surface  33  of winding body  32 ; in particular, at the second position, sleeve label  5  is brought around a desired portion of container  13  (generally, this portion being not flat and cylindrical, but having an irregular outer surface). 
     In this position, sleeve label  5  is then adhered to the outer surface of container  13 , by means of a thermal shrinking process. It is noted, that a diameter of winding body  32  (and of label  5 ) is higher than the diameter of the portion of the container  13  where the same label  5  is to be applied, so as to allow the above thermal shrinking process. 
     According to a further aspect of the present solution, each processing unit  25  comprises a respective control circuit  60 , which is arranged within a case  61 , carried by rotating frame  31  of conveyor  17 , at a radially internal position with respect to winding body  32 . 
     Case  61  has a bottom portion  61   a  carrying a power supply connection  62 , designed to receive an input power supply signal V a1  from an external power supply unit, and a top portion  61   b , opposite to bottom portion  61   a  with respect to axis F and arranged at the rotating frame  31 . Top portion  61   b  carries a plurality of connectors, generally denoted with  75 , designed to couple to respective sensors and actuators, as will be disclosed in detail in the following. 
     In particular, control circuit  60  is configured to jointly control; first actuator element  49 , so as to cause displacement of heating element  46  towards, and from, the respective portion  36  of labelling material, in order to seal the overlapping edges thereof; and second actuator element  53 , so as to cause displacement of sleeve label  5  in the vertical direction towards container  13 . 
     Control circuit  60  is moreover configured to provide power supply signals to heating element  46 , in a selective and controlled manner, and moreover to communicate with an external supervising unit of labelling machine  10  (and possibly of further machines, or parts thereof, cooperating with processing machine  10  in the container processing plant), in particular including a Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) unit. 
     Accordingly, control circuit board  60  defines a unique and centralized control center for the respective processing unit  25 , designed to control whole operation thereof and particularly (as will be discussed later on) timing and sequence of the various operating phases of sealing device  45  and of displacement device  50 . 
     In more detail, and as schematically shown in  FIG. 7 , control circuit  60  includes the following modules, which are conveniently all integrated in a same printed circuit board  60 ′ within case  61 : 
     a control module  63 , provided with a processing element (such as a microprocessor, a microcontroller, a DSP—Digital Signal Processor, or similar digital processing element); 
     a first driving module  64 , configured to drive the first actuator element  49  in order to cause displacement of heating element  46  of sealing device  45  towards, and from, the respective portion  36  of labelling material; for example, first driving module  64  provides a first driving signal EV 1  to a first electrovalve (not shown), coupled to first actuator element  49 ; 
     a second driving module  65 , configured to drive the second actuator element  53  in order to cause displacement of vertical arm  51  of displacement device  50  along the guide  52 ; for example, second driving module  65  provides a second driving signal EV 2  to a second electrovalve (not shown), coupled to second actuator element  53 ; 
     a third driving module  66 , configured to activate the vacuum suction action of the pneumatic suction device coupled to winding body  32 , so as to retain in place the portion  36  of labelling material, wound about the same winding body  32 ; for example, third driving module  66  provides a third driving signal EV 3  no a third electrovalve (not shown), coupled to the pneumatic suction device; 
     a power supply module  67 , configured to provide output power supply signals V out  to the heating element  47  of the respective sealing device  45 , generated starting from the input power supply signal V a1 , so as to cause heating thereof during the sealing, or welding, operation; and 
     an interface module  68 , configured to receive suitable control signals, indicated with S c , from supervising unit, here denoted with  70 , of processing machine  10 . 
     Control module  63  receives feedback signals from, a number of sensors coupled to processing unit  25 , and in particular: 
     a first feedback signal S 1  from a first position sensor  71  (schematically shown in  FIG. 5 ), coupled to heating element  46 ; the first feedback signal S 1  is indicative of displacement of the heating element  46  towards, and from, the respective portion  36  of labelling material; 
     a second feedback signal S 2  from a second position sensor  72  (schematically shown in  FIG. 5 ), coupled to displacement device  50 ; the second feedback signal S 2  is indicative of displacement of displacement unit  54  to the first position (“down position”); 
     a third feedback signal S 3  from a third position sensor  73  (schematically shown in  FIG. 5 ), coupled to displacement device  50 ; the third feedback signal S 3  is indicative of displacement of displacement unit  54  to the second position (“up position”); and 
     a fourth feedback signal S 4  from a fourth position sensor (not shown), of the encoder type, coupled to the rotating frame  31  of conveyor  17 ; the fourth feedback signal S 4  is indicative of a rotation angle of conveyor around axis B. 
     As also shown in  FIG. 8 , top portion  61   b  of case  61  carries a number of connectors  75 , for inputting and outputting input and output signals managed by the control circuit  60 , and in particular: 
     first, second, third and fourth input, connectors  76   a - 76   d , designed, to receive feedback signals S 1 -S 4  from the above defined position sensors; 
     first, second, third and fourth output connectors  77   a - 77   d , designed so provide driving signals EV 1 -EV 3  and the generated output power supply signals V out ; and 
     a communication connector  78 , designed to receive control signals S c  from supervising unit  70 , e.g. via a data communication bus. 
     Top portion  61   b  of case  61  may also carry a status LED  79  (Light Emitting Diode), operable by control module  63  to show an operating status of processing unit  25 . 
     In a manner not shown, case  61  may also define internal passages for cooling and vacuum fluids, as required during the operating phases of the labelling process. 
     During operation, control module  63 , based on feedback signals S 1 -S 4  received from position sensors and based on control signals S c  received from supervising unit  70  is able to control the whole labelling operation, including a number of operating phases, which are defined by a suitable timing and pattern of the generated driving signals EV 1 -EV 3  and of the generated, output power supply signals V out . 
     According to a possible embodiment, which is schematically represented in  FIGS. 9 and 10 , the labelling operation on each container  13  is implemented through a sequence of operating phases, each executed at a corresponding rotation angle of conveyor  17  (and consequently of the respective processing unit  25 ) about axis B, starting from arrival of the container  13  to be processed at first transfer station  19  (as shown in FIG.  9 ); each operating phase is defined by corresponding values of feedback signals S 1 -S 4  and of driving signals EV 1 -EV 3 . 
     In detail, in a possible embodiment, the labelling operation may include the following operating phases: 
     a first operating phase, denoted with Ph 1  in  FIG. 9 , carried out starting from an angle α 1 , before container  13  reaches input drum  20 , during which control module  63  activates the vacuum suction action at the winding body  32 ; during this first operating phase, the portion  36  of labelling material received from input drum  20  is wound around winding body  32 ; 
     a second operating phase, denoted with Ph 2 , carried out starting from an angle α 2 , at which control module  63  causes displacement of heating element  46  towards the portion  36  of labelling material wound about winding body  32 ; 
     a third operating phase, denoted with Ph 3 , carried out starting from an angle α 3 , at which control module  63  deactivates the vacuum suction action at the winding body  32  and activates the welding action by supplying output power supply signals V out  to the heating element  46 , thus causing welding of the overlapped edges of the portion  36  of labelling material and formation of sleeve label  5 ; 
     a fourth operating phase, carried out at a rotation angle higher than angle α 3 , denoted with Ph 4 , at which control module  63  stops the welding action and activates cooling through the heating element  46 , by causing cooling fluid to flow through cooling duct of rectilinear bar  47  of the same heating element; 
     a fifth operating phase, denoted with Ph 5 , carried out starting from an angle α 4 , at which control module  63  causes displacement of heating element  46  backwards with respect to the sleeve label  5 ; 
     a sixth operating phase, denoted with Ph 6 , carried out starting from an angle α 5 , at which control module  63  causes again displacement of heating element  46  towards sleeve label  5  and also deactivates the cooling action; 
     a seventh operating phase, denoted with Ph 7 , carried oat at a rotation angle higher than angle α 5 , at which control module  63  activates again the welding action by supplying power supply signals V out  to the heating element  46 ; 
     an eight operating phase, denoted with Ph 8 , carried out at a rotation angle higher than the respective rotation angle of the seventh operating phase, at which control module  63  stops the welding action and activates cooling through the heating element  46 ; 
     a ninth operating phase, denoted with Ph 9 , carried out starting from an angle α 6 , at which control module  63  causes displacement of heating element  46  backwards with respect to the sleeve label  5  and moreover stops cooling through the heating element  46 ; 
     a tenth operating phase, denoted with Ph 10 , carried out starting from an angle α 7 , at which control module  63  activates second actuator element  53  in order to cause displacement of displacement device  50  along the guide  52  and to lift displacement unit  54  from the retracted to the raised position, thereby carrying the sleeve label  5  towards the container  13 ; and 
     an eleventh operating phase, denoted with Ph 11 , carried out starting from an angle α 8  (after the thermal shrinking action to adhere the sleeve label  5  to the container  13  has been performed), at which control module  63  activates second actuator element  53  in order to cause displacement of displacement device  50  and bring back displacement unit  54  to the retracted position. 
     As shown in  FIG. 10 , in the discussed example, driving signals EV 1 -EV 3  are brought by the control module  63  either to a high or to a low value, based on the control action to be performed; feedback signals S 1 -S 3  have corresponding values, which again may be of a high or a low value. 
     According to a possible embodiment, which is based on the solution disclosed in detail in WO 2011/179272 A1, filed by the present Applicant (to which reference is made herein), power supply modules  67  of heating elements  46  in the processing units  25  of machine  10  receive appropriate power supply signals from a converting circuit, which is single for the whole machine  10  (and thus provides power to all power supply modules  67 ). 
     Converting circuit comprises a three-phase insulating converter, having three primary windings, each connected to a respective phase of a three-phase power supply network of the electric system of the processing plant, providing for example a voltage having a maximum peak value of 400 V, and at least one secondary winding. The three-phase insulating converter has a power sufficient to supply all heating elements  47  of machine  10  active at the same time during welding operations. 
     Converting circuit provides suitably converted DC voltages to power supply modules  67  and is arranged at a distance, externally to the rotating part of machine  10 , for example in a main transformer room or control box thereof. 
     Each power supply module  67  forms a high efficiency resonant converter, capable of supplying the respective heating element  46  with a quasi-sinusoidal current at a high frequency (much higher than that of the power supply network), for example of 200 kHz, and an appropriate peak power, for example in the range between 2.5 and 3 kW. 
     Power supply module  67  comprises a resonant, power circuit including a bridge inverter and a LC network, including a resonance capacitor and a resonance inductor, forming the primary winding of an output transformer, which provides output power supply voltage V out . A resistive feedback sensor provides a measure of the current (and indirectly of the power) absorbed by heating element  46 , as a feedback towards control module  63 , in order to maintain the power level constant, even upon variation of the operating conditions, for example due to a deterioration of the same heating element  46 . 
     According to a particular embodiment of the present solution, which is shown in  FIG. 11 , machine  10  may be configured to jointly perform, in a combined and integrated manner, both labelling and filling operations on containers  13 , during their travel along path P. 
     In particular, in this embodiment, top retaining element  38  of each processing unit  25  defines a filling device  30  for filling containers  13  with a pourable product. 
     Filling device  80  basically comprises a support block  83  secured to the rotating frame  31  of conveyor  17 , and terminating, towards the container  13 , with a hollow body  84 , in the example shown having a tubular configuration; filling device  80  further comprises a filling head  35  engaging hollow body  84  in a fluid-tight manner and adapted to cooperate with the top neck  15  of the container  13  to perform the filling operation. 
     In particular, each filling head  85  defines a filling mouth  86  and has a lower end facing the top neck  15  of the container and provided with a gasket (not shown). 
     Each filling head  85  is supported by the support block  83  in a rotatable manner about the relative axis, which is coaxial to the longitudinal axis A of the container  13  (and to vertical axis F of winding body  32 ); each filling head  85  is also supported by the support block  83  in a displaceable manner along the relative axis between a rest position (not shown), in which its lower end is spaced from the top neck  15  of the container  13 , and a filling position (shown in  FIG. 11 ), in which the gasket of its lower end is in contact with the top neck  15  of the container  13 . In this filling position, the filling mouth  86  communicates with the inside of the container  13 , in a fluid-tight manner with respect to the outside environment. 
     Displacement of filling head  85  may be controlled via an associated electrical actuator. 
     When filling head  35  is placed in the filling position, rotation of the winding body  32  about axis F is transmitted, through the container  13 , to the same filling head  85 , which is also driven to rotate about the axis F, so performing a guiding and supporting action on top neck  15  of the same container  13 . 
     Each filling head  35  defines a central conduit  37 , a first annular conduit  88  extending around the central conduit  87 , and a second annular conduit  89  formed between the side wall of the filling head  85  and the outer side wall of the annular conduit  88 . 
     Support block  83  of each filling device  80  internally defines at least three different fluid circuits, only schematically shown in  FIG. 11 :
         a product circuit  90  for connecting, through an ON/OFF valve (of a known type, here not shown), the annular conduit  88  to a tank (not shown) containing the pourable product;   a pressurization circuit  91  for connecting, through an ON/OFF valve  92 , the central conduit  87  to a chamber  93  filled with a pressurization fluid, e.g. carbon dioxide; and   a decompression circuit  95  for connecting, through an ON/OFF valve  96 , the annular conduit  88  to a chamber  97 , in turn connected to a discharge device (not shown).       

     According an aspect of the discussed solution, during operation, each container  13  is rotated about its axis F, by activating electric motor  39  coupled to winding body  32 , while the container  13  is filled with the pourable product by the filling device  80 . 
     Thanks to this additional rotation of the container  13  about its axis A during the revolution movement of the same container  13  about vertical axis B (due to rotation of the carousel), the following effects may be achieved:
         the centrifugal force caused by the combined rotations generates an additional pressure on the pourable product in the container, which entraps the carbon dioxide into the product; and   the pourable product enters into the container  13  along the lateral wall thereof, instead, of centrally.       

     Both these effects allow to obtain a significant reduction in the formation of foam at the end of the filling operation. 
     During operation of the combined filling and labelling machine  10 , advantageously, labelling and filling operations may be performed substantially at a same time, thanks to the fact that containers  13  are supported, at the top surface  33  of the respective winding bodies  32 , and thus may engage the respective filling device  80  during the whole operating phases (accordingly, filling operations are not impeded). 
     Operating phases are controlled via the respective control circuits  60  of processing units  25 , based on the control signals S c  received from the supervisor unit  70 . 
     In detail, after a container  13  is received on the top surface  33  of the winding body  32  of the respective processing unit  25  at the input transfer station  18 , the same container  13  is centered with respect to the filling device  80  by moving the filling head  85  from the rest position to the filling position. In particular, the gasket of the lower end of the filling head  85  contacts the top neck  15  of the container  13 , which reaches a position coaxial with the filling head  85 . Axis A of container  13  is coaxial wish the vertical axis of the filling head  85 . 
     At this point, valve  92  of pressurization circuit  91  is opened (the valve of product circuit  90  and valve  96  of decompression circuit  95  are in a closed condition) and is maintained in that condition up to the moment in which pressure in the container  13  reaches a given first value V 1 , for instance about 1.5 bar, adapted to make the container  13  sufficiently rigid for labelling. Then, the valve  92  is closed. 
     In the meantime, the processing unit  25  reaches second transfer station  21 , where the portion  36  of labelling material is supplied to the winding body  32  from input drum  20 ; in order to allow winding of portion  36  about the winding body  32 , the latter is rotated about its axis F by activating electric motor  39 . In particular, in this phase, rotary motion is also transmitted to the container  13  and from the latter to the filling head  85 , which is in contact with the top neck  15  of the same container  13  and is supported in an idle condition by support block  83 . 
     Once the formed sleeve label  5  has been applied on container  13  (by means of the labeling phases previously discussed in detail), a further pressurization step is carried out by opening valve  92  of pressurization circuit  91 , which is maintained in the open condition up to the moment in which pressure in the container  13  reaches a given second value V 2 , for instance about 6 bar, higher than first value V 1  and defining the requested condition for the filling operation with carbonated liquid. Then, the valve  92  is again closed. 
     By opening the valve of product, circuit  93 , the actual filling of the container  13  with the product can be started. This step ends when the product reaches the desired level in the container  13 . 
     During this step, electric motor  39  is again activated, to rotate the container  13  about its axis A. Therefore, the container  13  is subjected to a revolution motion about axis B and a rotary motion about axis A, achieving the effects previously discussed. 
     The next step is the decompression of the container  13 , which is achieved by connecting the same container  13  with decompression circuit  95 . At this point, the filling head  85  can be moved back to the rest position. 
     In the case in which the pourable product delivered to the container  13  is a non-carbonated liquid, the second pressurization step is not performed. 
     The advantages of the above discussed solution are clear from the foregoing discussion. 
     In particular, the centralized control architecture of the labelling operations by control module  63  of processing unit  25  improves efficiency of machine  10 , also providing easier maintenance and testing capabilities. 
     Indeed, all labelling operations are managed locally by the intelligence localised in each processing unit  25  (in the respective control, module  63 ), thus taking up a minimum of resources of supervising unit  70  of machine  10 . The same localised management of the operations also makes each processing unit  25  testable on its own and allows to identify failures and malfunctioning in a much easier way. 
     Moreover, electrically-controlled displacement device  50  allows to eliminate the mechanical cam for causing relative displacement of sleeve label  5  and container  12 , in order to place the formed sleeve label  5  around the same container  12 . 
     Displacement device  50  also allows the container  13  to be held by top retaining element  36  during ail the processing operations. This in turn contributes to provide filling operations combined with labelling operations within the same machine  10  and within a same rotating path of the respective carousel. 
     This combined solution proves to be advantageous in terms of savings of costs, space occupation and generally improves overall efficiency of processing machine  10 . 
     Moreover, the use of a single converting circuit for all sealing devices  45  of processing units  25 , arranged at a distance with respect to the rotating part, of machine  10 , allows to reduce the size and the weight of the rotating part of the same machine  10 . Power supply modules  67 , coupled to sealing devices  45 , allow to subdivide the conversion of energy between various sealing devices  45 . 
     Clearly, changes may be made to the solution disclosed and illustrated herein, without, however, departing from the scope of the present, invention, as defined in the appended claims. 
     For example, control circuit  60  of processing unit  25  may also be configured to control further elements concurring in the labelling and, possibly, the filling operations. 
     In particular, in the combined labelling and filling solution, control module  63  of each processing unit  25  may advantageously manage also the filling operations performed by the filling device  80 , in particular the sequence and timing of the various operating phases of the same filling operations. Accordingly, labelling and filling operations may be jointly managed, by a single control module  63 . 
     A single power supply module  67  may be configured, to supply sealing devices  45  of two or more processing units  25 , e.g. having two or more output, stages under the control of a single control module  63  (the number of power supply modules  67  being lower than the number of sealing devices  45 ). In a further variant, a single power supply module  67 , having a single output stage, may be controlled by the respective control module  63  so as to alternatively supply (in distinct time intervals) two or more sealing devices  45 , which are not active at the same time for performing the welding process. Output converter of power supply module  67  is for this purpose connected electrically to heating elements  47  of such sealing devices  45  (in this case, the above sealing devices  45  are positioned at an angular distance corresponding to at least the time required for the completion of a welding process).