Machine and method for packaging pourable food products

Abstract

To provide a packaging method for packaging a pourable product in at least one container, capable of improving flexibility of a packaging machine used for carrying out this method, with regard to types of products to be packaged.SOLUTION: The present invention pertains to a packaging method for packaging a pourable product in at least one container (B), and capable of improving flexibility of a packaging machine (1) configured to carry out this method, with regard to the types of products to be packaged, and also pertains to the machine (1) configured to carry out this method.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a packaging method for packaging pourable products in at least one container, which allows a packaging machine configured to carry out the method to achieve increased flexibility in terms of the type of product to be packaged, and to a machine configured to carry out the method. [Background technology]

[0002] In the general field of packaging machines for packaging pourable products into containers, the machine comprises a conveyor supporting a plurality of containers and a plurality of filling devices, each configured to fill the container with the product by a filling process. The filling process can be of several types. For example, in the case of non-carbonated products, the filling process can be, for example, a non-contact filling process, which can be considered, for example, as a first type of filling process. According to this first type, the container does not come into contact with the filling device when the product is fed into the container. For example, in the case of carbonated products, the filling process can be, for example, a contact filling process, which can be considered, for example, as a second type. According to this second type, the container comes into contact with the filling device when the product is fed into the container. For example, in the case of hot-filled products, the filling process can be, for example, a hot-fill process, which can be considered, for example, as a third type. According to this third type, the product is fed into the container in a heated state in order to achieve pasteurization of the container with this same product.

[0003] Generally, the type of filling process will depend on the type of product to be packaged.

[0004] Typically, the filling machines are all configured to fill their respective containers by the same type of filling process for all of the filling machines, and therefore the filling machines are configured for the same type of product. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The present description relates to a packaging method for packaging pourable products in at least one container, which allows for increased flexibility of the packaging machine used to carry out the method with regard to the type of product to be packaged. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A packaging method according to this specification or any of the accompanying method claims achieves the objective of improving machine flexibility.

[0007] Furthermore, the present disclosure relates to a packaging machine configured to carry out the method according to the present disclosure.

[0008] A packaging machine according to any of the accompanying machine claims is adapted to carry out a method according to any of the accompanying method claims.

[0009] Features of the methods and machines according to this disclosure will become apparent from the following non-limiting descriptions of exemplary embodiments of each of the methods and machines according to this disclosure.

[0010] The following brief description of the drawings and the detailed description relate to possible exemplary embodiments of the packaging method according to the present invention. In the following, the term "method" is intended to refer to said exemplary embodiments of the method.

[0011] The following brief description of the drawings and the detailed description relate to possible exemplary embodiments of a packaging machine according to the present disclosure. In the following, the term "machine" is intended to refer to said exemplary embodiments of the machine.

[0012] The machine is configured to carry out the method. The method is specifically configured to be carried out by a machine.

[0013] The following detailed description refers to the accompanying drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1] FIG. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a top view of the machine. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a filling station of the machine. [Figure 4] 1 is a detailed view of a second filling station of the machine with at least one container in a lowered position where the at least one container is not in contact with the second filling station. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a detailed view of the second filling station with at least one container in a raised position with the at least one container in contact with the second filling station. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a view of a second filling station with a first one of the at least one container in a lowered position and a second one of the at least one container in a raised position. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a detailed view of at least one protrusion integral with at least one lifting element of the second station and at least one groove integral with a holding unit of the conveyor of the machine, with the first container and the second container in a lowered position. [Figure 8] 1 is a detailed view of a capping station of the machine, with the transfer element of the capping station in a first position relative to the loading and pick-up sub-stations of the capping station; [Figure 9] 1 is a detailed view of a capping station of the machine, with the transfer element of the capping station in a second position relative to the loading and pick-up sub-stations of the capping station; [Figure 10] 1 is a detailed view of the capping station of the machine, with the transfer element of the capping station in a third position relative to the loading and pick-up sub-stations of the capping station; [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the machine showing further possible features of the machine. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] The machine is designated 1 in Figures 1 and 2. The machine is for packaging pourable products into at least one container B.

[0016] The pourable product may be, for example, a pourable food product. The pourable food product may be, for example, a carbonated product or a non-carbonated product, which may be referred to as a still product, or a hot-fill product, which has to be delivered hot into at least one container B.

[0017] The pourable food can be water or any other type of beverage.

[0018] Container B can be any kind of container, for example a bottle.

[0019] The machine comprises a first filling station 3. The first filling station 3 is configured to fill at least one container B by a first type of filling process.

[0020] The first filling station 3 comprises at least a filling device 31 configured to supply product into at least one container B according to a filling process of a first type.

[0021] A first type of filling process may for example be a non-contact filling process (also called a contactless filling process) in which the at least one container B does not come into contact with the at least one filling device 31 when the product is delivered to the at least one container B. A non-contact filling process may for example be used when the product is a non-carbonated product or a non-sparkling product.

[0022] A first type of filling process can for example be a hot filling process in which the product is hot when it is fed into the at least one container B. This can for example be for pasteurizing the at least one container B with this same product.

[0023] A first type of filling process may for example be a contact filling process in which at least one container B contacts at least one filling device 31 as the product is delivered to the at least one container B. A contact filling process may for example be used when the product is a carbonated product.

[0024] The first filling station 3 is arranged at a first angular position about an axis X. The axis X is defined by the machine 1. The axis is only shown in FIG. 2. The axis X is perpendicular to the plane of FIG. 2.

[0025] The machine comprises a second filling station 4. The second filling station 4 is configured to fill at least one container B by a second type of filling process. The second type can be, for example, a contact filling process. In any case, the second type is different from the first type.

[0026] It should be noted that it is not possible to completely distinguish between the overall classification of non-contact filling processes and the overall classification of hot filling processes.

[0027] It should be noted that it is not possible to completely distinguish between the overall classification of contact filling processes and the overall classification of hot filling processes.

[0028] Both the first type and the second type may belong to the overall classification of contact filling processes, where the first type and the second type differ at least with respect to the characteristics or parameters of the filling process.

[0029] For example, the first type may be a catalytic hot-fill process and the second type may also be a catalytic hot-fill process, but not a hot-fill process.

[0030] For example, the first type may be a non-contact filling process and the second type may be a contact filling process.

[0031] Generally, the first type of filling process differs from the second type of filling process with respect to said at least one characteristic or parameter of the filling process.

[0032] Generally, the type of filling process will depend on the type of product to be packaged.

[0033] The second filling station 4 is arranged at a second angular position about said axis X. The second angular position is different from the first angular position.

[0034] The machine 1 comprises a control unit 5, which communicates with the filling stations 3 and 4. The control unit 5 is configured to perform a pre-selection stage, in which one of the filling stations 3 and 4 is automatically selected depending on an input I from a user. In general, the input I depends on the type of filling process and therefore on the type of product to be packaged. The control unit 5 is only shown diagrammatically in Figure 2.

[0035] The first and second angular positions can be seen in FIGS.

[0036] In the following, by way of example, the second filling station 4 is considered to be the selected station.

[0037] The at least one filling device 31 of the first station 3 may, for example, comprise a respective first filling device 31 a and a respective second filling device 31 b. The at least one filling device 41 of the second station 4 may, for example, comprise a respective first filling device 41 a and a respective second filling device 41 b.

[0038] In this case, the at least one container B should be considered to include a first container B1 and a second container B2. Each of the first container B1 and the second container B2 can be any type of container, such as a bottle.

[0039] Each of the first filling devices 31a and second filling devices 31b of the first station 3 is configured to supply product to the first container B1 and second container B2, respectively, according to a first type of filling process.

[0040] Each of the first filling devices 41a and each of the second filling devices 41b of the second station 4 is configured to supply product to the first container B1 and the second container B2, respectively, according to a second type of filling process.

[0041] The machine 1 comprises an upper frame 7. The upper frame 7 is shown in Figures 1 to 6.

[0042] The machine 1 comprises a lower frame 8. The lower frame 8 is shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3.

[0043] The first station 3 is fixed in said first angular position by an upper frame 7 .

[0044] The second station 4 is fixed in a second angular position by an upper frame 7 .

[0045] The machine 1 comprises a conveyor 2. The conveyor is shown in Figures 1 and 2.

[0046] The upper frame 7 is arranged at a higher height in relation to the axis X compared to the conveyor 2 .

[0047] The lower frame 8 is arranged at a lower height relative to the axis X compared to the conveyor 2 .

[0048] The conveyor 2 is configured to perform a transport phase in which at least one container B is successively placed at each of stations 3 and 4 by a stepped rotational movement of the conveyor 2 at least about axis X relative to stations 3 and 4.

[0049] The machine 1 is configured to perform a filling step during the transporting step in response to the selection step. In the filling step, at least one container B is filled with a pourable product. The filling step is performed by the selected station 4. The filling step is performed when at least one container B is located at the selected station 4.

[0050] In this way, by changing the input I of the control unit 5, the flexibility of the machine 1 with regard to the type of product to be supplied to the at least one container B is improved, thanks to which switching between the first type of filling process and the second type of filling process can be carried out very quickly.

[0051] Furthermore, the productivity of the machine 1 is increased due to the fact that each of the filling stations 3 and 4 comprises two or more filling devices.

[0052] The upper frame 7, which defines the first angular position of the first station 3 and the second angular position of the second station 4, allows the first station 3 and the second station 4 to be positioned in the correct position for performing the filling step without interfering with the movement of the conveyor 2. In this way, the compactness of the machine 1 is improved. In this way, the mechanical complexity of the machine 1 is also improved, since the machine 1 does not require a complex system that allows the stations 3 and 4 to adapt to the movement of the conveyor 2 for performing the filling step.

[0053] The machine 1 is configured such that the filling stage comprises a delivery stage in which product is supplied by at least one filling device 41 of a selected station 4 into at least one container B.

[0054] More specifically, in the delivery phase, the product is supplied to a first container B1 by a first filling device 41a of each of the selected stations 4, and the product is supplied to a second container B2 by a second filling device 41b of each of the selected stations 4.

[0055] The delivery of product to the first container B1 and the delivery of product to the second container B2 are preferably performed simultaneously or at least partially simultaneously.

[0056] The machine 1 comprises a lifting device 6. The lifting device is shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5.

[0057] The machine 1 is configured such that the filling stage comprises a lifting stage before the delivery stage, in which at least one container B is lifted by a lifting device 6 until it contacts at least one filling device 41 of a selected station 4.

[0058] 3 shows at least one container B at a selected station 4 before the lifting phase, in which the at least one container B has selected a lowered position relative to at least one filling device 41 of the selected station 4. More specifically, in the lifting phase, a first container B1 is lifted by the lifting device 6 until it comes into contact with a first filling device 41a of each of the selected stations 4. More specifically, in the lifting phase, a second container B2 is lifted by the lifting device 6 until it comes into contact with a second filling device 41b of each of the selected stations 4.

[0059] Figure 4 shows the first container B1 and the second container B2 when they are at the selected station 4 and before the lifting step, respectively in a lowered position relative to the first filling device 41a and the second filling device 41b of the selected station 4. Figure 5 shows the first container B1 and the second container B2 when they are at the selected station 4 and after the lifting step, respectively in a raised position in contact with the first filling device 41a and the second filling device 41b of the selected station 4.

[0060] Figure 6 shows a situation where the first container B1 is in a lowered position and the second container B2 is in a raised position. It is possible that the situation in Figure 6 may not occur during the method.

[0061] However, the lifting of the first container B1 and the lifting of the second container B2 are preferably performed simultaneously or at least partially simultaneously.

[0062] The lifting device 6 is fixed in said second angular position by the lower frame 8. This allows the lifting device 6 to lift at least one container B without interfering with the movement of the conveyor 2, which leads to a simplification of the mechanical complexity of the machine 1, since the machine 1 does not require a complex system for avoiding interference between the lifting device 6 and the conveyor 2 while at the same time allowing the lifting step to be performed by the lifting device 6.

[0063] The conveyor 2 comprises a star element 21, which is shown in Figure 2. The star element 21 is coaxial with said axis X, which can be considered as the axis of the star element 21. The conveyor comprises a holding unit 22, which is mounted radially outside the star element 21. The radially outward arrangement of the holding unit 22 is shown in Figure 2.

[0064] The holding unit 22 is configured to perform a holding stage, in which at least one container B is held by the holding unit 22 radially outside the star-shaped member 2.

[0065] The machine 1 is configured such that the transporting and filling steps are carried out during said holding steps, so that the arrangement of the at least one container B in the first station 3 corresponds to the arrangement of the holding unit 22 in the first station 3, and the arrangement of the at least one container B in the second station 4 corresponds to the arrangement of the at least one container B in the second station 4.

[0066] The lifting device 6 comprises at least one lifting element 61. The lifting device 6 is configured such that the lifting phase is performed by a movement of the holding unit 22 relative to the star 21, which movement comprises at least a translational component along a direction parallel to said axis X. The lifting device 6 is configured such that the movement of the holding unit 22 is generated by the at least one lifting element 61.

[0067] In particular, the at least one lifting element 61 comprises a first lifting element 61 a and a second lifting element 61 b. The first lifting element 61 a contributes to generating the movement of the holding unit 22 on the side of the first container B1. The second lifting element 61 b ​​contributes to generating the movement of the holding unit 22 on the side of the second container B2.

[0068] The first lift element 61a and the second lift element 61b are shown in FIGS.

[0069] The lifting device 6 is configured such that said movement is produced by a lifting action exerted by at least one lifting element 61 on the holding unit 22 .

[0070] The holding unit 22 and the at least one lifting element 61 comprise at least one protrusion 611 and at least one groove 221. The at least one protrusion 611 is integral with the at least one lifting element 61a and the at least one groove 221 is integral with the holding unit 22, or vice versa.

[0071] The lifting action is caused by the insertion position of the at least one protrusion 611 in the at least one groove 221 .

[0072] The machine 1 is configured such that the arrangement of the holding units 22 in the second station 4 corresponds to said insertion position of the at least one protrusion 611 in the at least one groove 221 .

[0073] In this way, the lifting device 61 can be used to lift at least one container B when the second filling station 4 is the selected station 4, while the holding unit 2 can be positioned at the second station 4 without interfering with the lifting device 61 when the second station 4 is not the selected station. Thus, switching from a first type of filling process to a second type of filling process can be extremely simple, since no complex mechanical interventions on the machine 1 are required.

[0074] In particular, the at least one protrusion 611 comprises a first protrusion 611a and a second protrusion 611b.

[0075] The first protrusion 611a and the second protrusion 611b are shown in FIG.

[0076] In particular, the at least one groove 221 comprises a first groove 221a and a second groove 221b.

[0077] The first groove 221a and the second groove 221b are shown in FIG.

[0078] The first protrusion 611a is integral with the first lifting element 61a and the first groove 221a is integral with the holding unit 22, or vice versa.

[0079] The second protrusion 611b is integral with the second lifting element 61b and the second groove 221b is integral with the holding unit 22, or vice versa.

[0080] The lifting action is caused by the insertion position of the first protrusion 611a in the first groove 221a and the second protrusion 611b in the second groove 221b.

[0081] The machine 1 is configured such that the positioning of the holding unit 22 in the second station 4 corresponds to the insertion position of the first protrusion 611a in the first groove 221a and the insertion position of the second protrusion 611b in the second groove 221b.

[0082] The machine 1 comprises a capping station 9. The capping station 9 is shown in Figures 1, 8, 9 and 10.

[0083] The capping station 9 is configured to perform a capping step, which is performed after the filling step. In the capping step, at least one container B is covered with at least one lid C. The capping station 9 is positioned at a third angular position around the axis X. The third angular position is different from the first angular position and the second angular position.

[0084] The conveyor 2 is configured such that at least one container B is positioned at the capping station 9 after the filling step by said stepwise movement.

[0085] The at least one lid C includes a first lid C1 that is placed on the first container B1 and a second lid C2 that is placed on the second container B2.

[0086] The capping station 9 includes a fork-shaped transfer element 91. The transfer element 91 includes a first arm 911a and a second arm 911b.

[0087] The capping station 91 includes a pickup substation 92. The capping station 91 is configured such that the capping stage includes a pickup stage. The pickup stage is performed at the pickup substation 92. In the pickup stage, the transfer element 91 picks up at least the first lid C1 and the second lid C2 by the first arm 911 and the second arm 911b, respectively.

[0088] The pickup substation 92 comprises a dispenser 921 configured to dispense at least a first lid C1 and a second lid C2.

[0089] In the pick-up phase, the transfer element 91 removes at least the first lid C1 and the second lid C2 from the dispenser 921 by means of the first arm 911 and the second arm 911b, respectively.

[0090] The capping station 9 includes an attachment substation 93. The capping station 9 is configured such that the capping stage includes an attachment stage. The attachment stage is performed by the attachment substation 93. The attachment substation includes a first capping head 931a and a second capping head 931b. In the attachment stage, a first lid C1 is attached to a first container B1 by the first capping head 931a. In the attachment stage, a second lid C2 is attached to a second container B2 by the second capping head 931b.

[0091] The capping station 9 is configured such that the capping stage comprises a transfer stage. In the transfer stage, the transfer element 91 transfers at least the first lid C1 and the second lid C2 from the pick-up substation 92 to the mounting substation 93 by displacement of the transfer element 91. The fork-like element 91 enables the first lid C1 and the second lid C2 to be picked up in such a way that the first container B1 and the second container B2 can be simultaneously or at least partially simultaneously capped. In this way, the productivity of the machine 1 further comprising the capping station 9 is increased.

[0092] The capping station 9 is configured such that the transfer element 91 sequentially picks up at least the second lid C2 and the first lid C1. In Fig. 8, the transfer element 91 is in the pickup substation 92 and has not yet picked up either the first lid C1 or the second lid C2. In Fig. 10, the transfer element 91 is in the mounting substation 93. In Fig. 9, the transfer element 91 has picked up the second lid C2 but has not yet picked up the first lid C1.

[0093] The capping station 9 is configured such that the transfer element 91 picks up the first lid C1 while the transfer element 91 is in the process of displacement from the pickup substation 92 to the mounting substation 93. The situation in Figure 9 can be considered as a situation in which the transfer element 91 is attempting to further remove the first lid C1 from the dispenser 921 during said displacement.

[0094] In this way, the dispenser can dispense one lid at a time, thus reducing the mechanical complexity of the capping station 9 and therefore the machine 1.

[0095] The transport element 91 can be, for example, Y-shaped, which allows the displacement of the transport element to be rotational and thus saves space.

[0096] The machine can be equipped with an additional capping station 9', which can increase the productivity of the machine. This option is shown in Figure 11.

[0097] The further capping station 9' may have one or more of the features of the capping station 9, or all of the features of the capping station 9.

[0098] The machine 1 can be configured such that the rotation of the transfer elements of the capping station 9 and the rotation of the transfer elements of the further capping station 9' are opposite to each other. In this way, the space required by the machine 1 to define a path from the input, at which the machine 1 receives the at least one container B, to the output, at which the machine releases the at least one container B, can be reduced.

[0099] The method includes the steps described above.

[0100] However, it will be apparent that modifications can be made to the machine 1 and the method without departing from the scope of protection defined in the appended claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0101] 1 machine 2 Conveyor 3 First filling station 4 Second filling station 5. Control Unit 6 Lifting device 7 Upper frame 8 Lower Frame 9 Capping Station 9' Additional Capping Station 21 Star-shaped member 22 Holding unit 31, 41 Filling equipment 31a, 41a First filling device 31b, 41b Second filling device 61 lift elements 61a First lift element 61b Second lift element 91 Transport Elements 92 Pickup Substation 93 Mounting Substation 221 Groove 221a First Groove 221b Second Groove 611 Protrusion 611a First protrusion 611b Second protrusion 911a First Arm 911b Second Arm 921 Distributor 931a First Capping Head 931b Second Capping Head B container B1 First container B2 Second container C Lid C1 First lid C2 Second lid X axis

Claims

1. A packaging machine (1) for packaging pourable products into at least one container (B), comprising: a first filling station (3) configured to fill said at least one container (B) by a first type of filling process, said first filling station (3) being positioned at a first angular position about an axis (X) defined by said machine (1); a second filling station (4) configured to fill said at least one container (B) by a second type of filling process, said second type of filling process being different from the first type, said second filling station (4) being positioned at a second angular position around said axis (X), said second type being a contact filling process, said second angular position being different from said first angular position; a control unit (5) connected to the first filling station (3) and the second filling station (4) and configured to perform a pre-selection step of automatically selecting one of the first filling station (3) and the second filling station (4) in response to an input (I) from a user; a conveyor (2) configured to perform a transporting step of placing said at least one container (B) successively at each of said first filling station (3) and said second filling station (4) by a stepped rotational movement relative to said first filling station (3) and said second filling station (4) about at least said axis (X); Equipped with a filling step is configured to be performed during the transporting step in response to the pre-selection step, in which at least one container (B) is filled with a pourable product, the filling step being performed by the selected first filling station (3) or the selected second filling station (4) when the at least one container (B) is positioned at the selected first filling station (3) or the selected second filling station (4); each of the first filling station (3) and the second filling station (4) comprises a respective at least one filling device (31; 41) for supplying a product according to a respective type of filling process, and the machine is configured such that the filling step includes a delivery step in which a product is supplied to a container (B) by at least one filling device (31; 41) of the selected first filling station or the selected second filling station, the machine (1) is configured to include a lifting device (6), and the filling stage includes, before the delivery stage, a lifting stage in which at least one container (B) is lifted by the lifting device (6) until it contacts the at least one filling device (41) of the selected first filling station (3) or the selected second filling station (4); The machine comprises: an upper frame (7) arranged at a higher height relative to the conveyor (2) with respect to the axis (X); a lower frame (8) arranged at a lower height relative to the conveyor (2) with respect to the axis (X); Equipped with the first filling station (3) is fixed in the first angular position by the upper frame (7); the second filling station and the lifting device (6) are fixed in the second angular position by the upper frame (7) and the lower frame (8), respectively; the conveyor (2) comprises a star-shaped member (21) coaxial with the axis (X) and a holding unit (22) mounted radially outside the star-shaped member (21), the holding unit (22) being configured to perform a holding step in which the at least one container (B) is held radially outside the star-shaped member (2) by the holding unit; the machine (1) is configured to perform the transporting and filling steps during the holding step such that the positioning of the at least one container (B) at each of the first and second filling stations (3, 4) corresponds to the positioning of the holding unit (22) at the same first and second filling stations (3, 4); The lifting device (6) comprises at least one lifting element (61) and is configured to perform the lifting stage by causing the at least one lifting element (61) to cause a movement of the holding unit (22) relative to the star-shaped member (21), the movement comprising at least a translational component along a direction parallel to the axis (X).

2. the lifting device (6) is configured to cause the movement by a lifting action exerted by the at least one lifting element (61) on the holding unit (22), the lifting action being caused by an insertion position of at least one protrusion (611) in at least one groove (221), the at least one protrusion (611) being integral with the at least one lifting element (61) and the at least one groove (221) being integral with the holding unit (22); 2. The machine (1) according to claim 1, wherein the machine (1) is configured such that the positioning of the holding unit (22) in the second filling station (4) corresponds to the insertion position.

3. The machine (1) comprises a capping station (9) configured to perform a capping step of applying at least one lid to at least one container (B) after the filling step, the capping station (9) being positioned at a third angular position around the axis (X), the third angular position being different from the first and second angular positions; the conveyor (2) is configured such that the at least one container (B) is positioned at the capping station (9) after the filling stage by the stepped rotational movement, The at least one container (B) comprises a first container (B1) and a second container (B2), 3. The machine (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the at least one lid (C) comprises a first lid (C1) fitted over the first container (B1) and a second lid (C2) fitted over the second container (B2).

4. The capping station (9) a Y-shaped transfer element (91) with two arms (911a, 911b); a pickup substation (92); a mounting substation (93); Equipped with the capping station (9) is configured such that the capping stage comprises a pick-up stage in which the transfer element (91) picks up at least two of the lids (C1, C2) by means of the two arms (911a, 911b) in the pick-up sub-station (92), the capping station (9) is configured such that the capping stage includes an attachment stage in which at least the first lid (C1) and the second lid (C2) are attached to at least the first container (B1) and the second container (B2), respectively, in the attachment sub-station (93); 4. The machine (1) according to claim 3, wherein the capping station (9) is configured such that the capping stage comprises a transfer stage in which the transfer element (91) transfers at least the first lid (C1) and the second lid (C2) from the pickup substation (92) to the mounting substation (93) by displacement of the transfer element (91).

5. 5. The machine (1) according to claim 4, wherein the capping station (9) is configured such that the transfer element (91) picks up at least the second lid (C2) and the first lid (C1) in turn, and picks up at least the first lid (C1) during the displacement of the transfer element (91).

6. A machine (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a further capping station (9').

7. A packaging method for packaging a pourable product in at least one container (B), comprising: providing a first filling station (3) configured to fill said at least one container (B) by a first type of filling process, said first filling station (3) being positioned at a first angular position about an axis (X); providing a second filling station (4) configured to fill said at least one container (B) by a second type of filling process, said second filling station (4) being positioned at a second angular position about said axis (X), said second type being a contact filling process different from the first type, said second angular position being different from said first angular position; a pre-selection step of automatically selecting one of the first filling station (3) and the second filling station (4) in response to an input (I) from a user; a transport step of positioning at least one container (B) successively at each of said first filling station (3) and said second filling station (4); a filling step of filling said at least one container (B) with a pourable product during said transport step in response to said preselection step; It contains The filling step is carried out by the selected first filling station (3) or the selected second filling station (4) when at least one container (B) is positioned at the selected first filling station (3) or the selected second filling station (4), each of the first filling station (3) and the second filling station (4) comprises a respective at least one filling device (31; 41) for supplying a product according to a respective type of filling process, the filling step comprising a delivery step of supplying a product into the at least one container (B) by the at least one filling device (41) of the selected second filling station; the filling step comprises, before the delivery step, a lifting step of lifting said at least one container (B) by a lifting device (6) until said at least one container (B) contacts at least one filling device (41) of said selected first filling station (3) or said selected second filling station (4); a holding stage in which said at least one container (B) is held by a holding unit (22) mounted radially outside a conveying star (21) coaxial with said axis (X), the transporting and filling steps are carried out during the holding step such that the positioning of the at least one container (B) at each of the first and second filling stations (3, 4) corresponds to the positioning of the holding unit (22) at the same first and second filling stations (3, 4); The method, wherein the lifting step is performed by at least one lifting element (61) causing a movement of the holding unit (22) relative to the conveying star (21), the movement comprising at least a translational component along a direction parallel to the axis (X).

8. providing a capping station (9) positioned at a third angular position around the axis (X) different from the first and second angular positions, and at which the at least one container (B) is positioned during the transporting step and after the filling step; a capping step in which at least one lid (C) is applied to the at least one container (B) in the capping station after the filling step; Equipped with The at least one container (B) comprises a first container (B1) and a second container (B2), 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the at least one lid (C) comprises a first lid (C1) that is placed on the first container (B1) following a capping step, and a second lid (C2) that is placed on the second container (B2) following a capping step.

9. The capping step (9) comprises: a pick-up stage in which a Y-shaped transfer element (91) picks up at least the first lid (C1) and the second lid (C2) by means of a first arm (911a) and a second arm (911b) of the transfer element (91) at a pick-up substation (92), respectively; an attachment step in which at least the first lid (C1) and the second lid (C2) are attached to at least the first container (B1) and the second container (B2), respectively, in an attachment substation (93); a transfer step in which a transfer element (91) transfers at least the first lid (C1) and the second lid (C2) from the pick-up substation (92) to a mounting substation (93) by displacement of the transfer element (91); The method of claim 8 , comprising:

10. 10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the transfer element (91) picks up at least the second lid (C2) and the first lid (C2) in sequence and picks up at least the first lid (C1) during the displacement of the transfer element (91).

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