FR2459177A1 - Filler for cream or yoghourt containers - has containers in batches on plates fed on conveyor with filling and closing stations - Google Patents

Abstract

The conveyor (1) transports containers on base plates (3) carrying the containers in batches. The packer (7) has a storage magazine for the plates stored horizontally for vertical displacement. The plates are transferred from the conveyor at the ends which are supported on the base. The empty returned plates go through a washing station (11) before re-use. The containers are filled through a tube with a vent to allow air to escape. The material is supplied through a filling cylinder emptied by a piston.

Description

 The invention relates to a packaging machine, in particular fluent food products such as creams, yogurts, etc.

 Known machines for packaging creams, yogurts or the like, comprise a cell conveyor intended to receive pots or other containers and which allows the transport of these pots from a filling station to stations where these pots are closed, then labeled. However, the cells having shapes complementary to those of the containers, the conveyor of such a machine can only be used for packaging in containers of a determined type. This drawback is all the more annoying as the types of containers are more and more numerous and varied.

 The invention overcomes this drawback.

The machine according to the invention comprises processing stations with a determined number N of containers, where partial packaging operations are carried out, and it is characterized in that it comprises a set of plates removably mounted on the conveyor and each of which can receive N containers of a determined type so that if the machine is to be transformed to package into containers of a different type, it suffices to change the plates.

The constitution of the conveyor is therefore not an obstacle to packaging in containers of various types. It is moreover possible, as is provided in a preferred embodiment, to have this machine include a device for automatically storing and distributing plates intended to receive receptacles of different types,
The plates are either metallic, for example aluminum, duralumin, stainless steel, etc., or a lighter material such as a reinforced plastic, in particular by glass fibers. In the case where the plates are deformable, being of large dimensions and made of a plastic material, it is preferable for each of them to include a frame cooperating with the conveyor and receiving non-deformable linings with receptacle receiving cells. fittings are metallic to limit the heating that occurs when welding the lids of the pots.

Other characteristics of the invention will appear with the description of some of its embodiments, this being made with reference to the accompanying drawings, on which
Figure 1 shows schematically a machine according to the invention;
Figure 2 shows a variant of the machine shown in Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a schematic plan view of the machine shown in Figure 2;
Figure 4 shows a plate;
Figure 5 is a sectional view, on a larger scale than that of Figure 4, of a plate with welding electrodes;
Figure 6 schematically shows a conveyor and plates;
Figure 7 is an end view of a horizontal conveyor and a vertical conveyor with a plate;
FIG. 8 shows a device for washing pots;
Figure 9 shows a device for dispensing a metered amount of a fluent product such as milk or yogurt;
Figure 10 is a section along line 10-10 of Figure 9;
Figure 11 shows on a larger scale the piston of the device shown in Figure 9;
Figure 12 is a diagram of a product distribution station;
Figure 13 is a side view of the station shown in Figure 12 but in another condition;
FIG. 14 shows a device for storing and distributing plates; and
Figure 15 shows an automatic tool change device.

 The machine shown in FIG. 1 comprises two horizontal conveyors, one upper 1 and the other lower 2 circulating in opposite directions and transporting plates whose role and construction will be described later in relation to FIG. 4. Au- above the conveyor 1 are arranged, in the direction -symbolized by the arrow f- of circulation of the plates 3, a station 4 for introducing metered quantities of yogurt into a determined number of pots, a station 5 where a cover is sterilized, for example by ultraviolet radiation and is then placed on a pot or group of pots and is maintained there, for example by welding points, a station 6 where the sealing of the cover on the corresponding pot is completed, a station 7 where the filling date of the pot is written on the cover, a station 8 where a lid is placed on each pot, a station 9 for labeling the lids of the filled pots, a station 10 where the pots are evacuated in the lateral direction, a plate washing station 11 es, a device 12 in which the plates 3 are stored horizontally and can move vertically (FIG. 14), and an equipment 13 for introducing empty pots into the cells of the plates.

Above the lower conveyor 2 are arranged, on the one hand a station 14 for washing the pots and, on the other hand, a station 15 for sterilizing the empty pots by ultraviolet irradiation.

 We see that in this embodiment all the operations which must be carried out under maximum conditions of cleanliness are in locations located on a determined side 16 of the machine, on the left in the figure, while the washing station 11, the device 12 and the equipment 13, for which the requirements in terms of cleanliness are less severe are found on another side of the machine, in the zone 17, on the right in FIG. 1.

 In the variant shown in Figure 2, the machine comprises two distribution devices 4a and 4b which are located above the lower conveyor and not, as in the case of Figure 1, above the upper conveyor.

In the two embodiments, the two conveyors 1 and 2 transport the plates in opposite directions and the passage from one to the other is carried out at each end by conveyors 1a and 2a with vertical displacement, the conveyor the upright the plates of the lower conveyor 2 towards the upper conveyor 1 and vice versa the conveyor 2a descending the plates of the upper conveyor 1 towards the lower conveyor 2
The emptying station 11 of the pots comprises in the example a piston or jack 18 (FIG. 2) located immediately under the upper conveyor 1 for pushing up the filled pots located in the cells of the plates and, above of the conveyor 1, a flap 19 makes it possible to push the pots raised by the jack 18 towards a conveyor belt 20 (FIG. 3) moving transversely relative to the plates.

The machine comprises, on one side of the horizontal conveyors, an area 21 for storage and adjustment of the distribution and dating means as well as an area in which the station 8 is supplied with covers and the station 9 with labels. ,
On the same side is a control console 23. On the other side of the horizontal conveyors is a zone 24 in which are stocked tools for the various stations as well as a means 25 for bringing empty pots to the equipment 13,
As a variant, no lower conveyor 2 or vertical conveyors 1a and 2a are provided, the transfer of the plates taking place in the same plane and the washing 14 and sterilization stations 15 being on the side of the machine.

 The plates 3 (Figures 4 and 5) have a generally rectangular shape with two large parallel sides 30 and 31 and two short sides 32 and 33 into each of which opens a notch, respectively 34 and 35, extending in end zones 50a and 51, elongated parallel to the long side and intended to receive bars or cleats of the conveyors. The forces undergone by the plates 3 being exerted mainly around the notches, the periphery of the latter is reinforced, either by giving these plates an extra thickness in these zones, or by providing reinforcement plates 34a, 35a surrounding the notches 34 and 35 on one side, or on both sides, of the plate 3.

Each plate 3 is formed, on the one hand, by a frame 3a of plastic material, in particular plastic material reinforced with glass fibers, or metal fibers and, on the other hand, by metal fittings 36, 37, etc. each of which has openings, for example four in number, 381, 382, 383 and 384, for the reception of the jars 40 with collar 41, the shape and dimensions of these openings being such (FIG. 5) that the bodies of the jars 40 can pass through the linings without leaving passage to the flanges 41 which can thus rest on the upper face of the linings around said openings.

 Metal fittings 36, 37, etc. are thicker than the frame 3a and are therefore more rigid; they therefore keep their flatness, even if the frame bends due to its length or due to applied forces, for example when welding the lids. In addition, these linings make it possible to limit the heating of the frame during this welding operation.

The frame 3a has a side skirt with sides 42 and 43 extending down the long sides 30 and 31. The edge of its central opening 44 is below the plane of this frame adjacent to the sides 30 and 31.

 So that the linings 36, 37 can be introduced into the opening 44, longitudinal edges 45 and 46 of these linings are added to form a groove, respectively 47 and 48 (Figure 5), which is wider than the thickness of the frame 3a in the vicinity of the opening 44 to allow the linings to slide in the vertical direction relative to the frame.

Each lining has flanges 49 and 50 above the grooves 47 and 48.

The horizontal movement of the plates 3 takes place transversely to their long sides 30 and 31? Each horizontal conveyor 1 or 2 comprises two parallel bands or chains 52 and 53 (FIG. 6) moving in synchronism and carrying tabs 54 and 55 arranged in such a way that two corresponding tabs define a direction perpendicular to that of the bands. The stopper 54 is intended to penetrate into the notch 35 in the vicinity of its curved bottom 35b, while, in a similar manner, the tabs 55 penetrate into the notches 34 in the vicinity of their curved bottom 34b.

Each of the vertical conveyors 1a and 2a (FIG. 5) comprises two vertical bands or chains 56, 57 separated by a distance greater than that separating the bands or chains 52, 53 and having inward pallets 58 (FIG. 7) on which rest the ends of the plates.

 To ensure the transfer from a vertical conveyor to a horizontal conveyor or vice versa, there are provided arms 59, 60 coming to take the plates under their ends 50 and 51 in the space left free between the lugs 54 or 55 and the pallets 58 .

The conveyor belts or chains are moved step by step.

It is also possible to provide a single conveyor carrying out a circuit such as a chain conveyor with swings.

 In the device 13, the empty pots are located in chargers (not shown) made of metal or plastic, preferably recoverable and allowing their storage in store.

The pots are distributed for example using suction cups which are also not shown) extracting the pots and introducing them into the openings 38 of the metal fittings 36, 37,
At the station 14 for washing the pots there are devices 14a (FIG. 8) each of which makes it possible to circulate, inside a pot 66, streams of fluid at low pressure, such as water, humid air. saturated, saturated steam or water spray, in a thin layer and at high speed to collect the dust that has accumulated on the internal surface 65 of the pot 66. These devices also allow drying to be carried out , after washing the internal surfaces of the pots using a warm air flow at a temperature between 60 and 750C at low pressure and at high speed.

The device 14a comprises a male form 67 intended to be introduced into the pot 66 and whose shape and dimensions are complementary to the latter, leaving, when it is put in place for cleaning and / or drying, an interval 68 of substantially constant width between its outer faces 67 and the inner face 65 of the pot.

 The form 67 has at its upper part a rim 69 whose lower face 70 has an annular groove 71 housing an O-ring 72 intended to bear on the collar 73 of the pot 66 and prevent the leakage of cleaning and drying fluids.

 A channel 74, connected in the upper part to an inlet tube 76, allows the cleaning or drying fluid to be brought to the central lower part 75 of the pot.

Radial channels 78 of this shape have an inlet at the flange 73 or slightly above the latter and have an outlet connected to a vertical tube 77 located in the upper part along the axis 66a of the pot.

 The effort suffered by the pots during their cleaning can be harmful to them, due to the high speed of the cleaning fluid. This is why it is useful to maintain their outer surface 701 by a matrix 81. With this matrix can be associated cooling means (not shown) so that the walls do not reach a prohibitive temperature when the cleaning or drying fluid is hot.

 The sterilization of the pots, after cleaning, is carried out using the apparatus 15 which comprises high power ultraviolet radiation emitting tubes (not shown).

 At station 4 (or 4a or 4b) for filling the pots there are devices 41 in number equal to that of the openings in each plate 3 (Figures 9, 10 and 11) each of which is in one piece and includes a metering and distribution member. 85, an actuator 86 for actuating this member and retractable stops 87, 88 and 89 allowing the quantity of product distributed by said member to be chosen.

 The member 85 comprises a piston 90 (FIG. 11) integral with a vertical rod 91 on which the piston 92 of the jack 86 is mounted and which extends above the jack 86 so that its upper end 93 can come into contact contact with one of the retractable stops 87, 88, 89 to limit the stroke of the piston 90.

The member 85 comprises a cylindrical chamber 94 for receiving the product which is extended upwards by another cylindrical cleaning chamber 95 of larger cross section and connecting to said chamber 94 via a frustoconical part 96.

The chamber 94 has, at the bottom, an outer rim 97, for fixing, below this chamber, suction and distribution means 98 which comprise a suction nozzle 99 and a distribution nozzle 100 communicating with the part chamber 94 located under the piston 90 by means of valves, respectively 991 and 1001.

In the chamber 95 open at diametrically opposite locations (FIG. 10) 101 and 102, at least two parallel tubes, respectively 103 and 104 allowing, when the piston 90 is in this chamber 95, to introduce into said chamber a cleaning fluid tangentially to said piston.

The axes of these pipes 103 and 104 are not in the same horizontal plane to allow cleaning of different parts of the piston.

 The chamber 95 is separated from the chamber 105 of the jack 86 by a circular plate 106 crossed with sealing by the rod 91. Similarly, at its upper part, the chamber 105 is closed by a circular plate 107 also crossed with sealing by the rod 91. Above the plate 107 is a cylindrical wall 108 coaxial with the rod 91 and supporting the retractable stops 87, 88 and 89 which are at different heights.

 The cylindrical chamber 105 is connected in its upper part to a tube 109 and in its lower part to a tube 110 through which compressed air is supplied or discharged. This compressed air is sterile because it comes into contact with the rod 91, which is introduced into the chamber 94 for receiving and distributing food products. Likewise, the air contained in the cylinder 108 and the air with which the tubes 103 and 104 are in communication is sterile.

The piston 90 (FIG. 11 comprises a metal core 110a with a cylindrical central part 111 and an upper part 112 and a lower part 113 coaxial and of smaller diameter. The upper part 112 is separated from the central part 111 by an annular shoulder 13a likewise, an annular shoulder 114 separates the central part 111 from the lower part 113. The diameter of the central part 111 is slightly less than the inside diameter of the chamber 94 of the member 85.

 Seals 115 and 116 surround the upper 112 and lower 113 parts and rest on the shoulders 113a and 114. In the example, these seals are identical and are arranged symmetrically with respect to the mean horizontal plane lla of the part central 111.

 Each seal (for example that of reference 115) has a lip 117a with an external surface 117 intended to come into contact with the internal face of the cylindrical chamber 94 and which, before assembly, has a diameter slightly greater than the internal diameter of this chamber . The surface 117 is connected to the face of the seal which is glued to the shoulder 113a by means of a concave surface 118, the bottom 119 of which is on a circle of diameter smaller than that of the external surface of the central part. 111. The cylindrical internal face 113b of the seal is bonded to the cylindrical external face of the part 112 of the body 110a.

The bonding of the seal on the piston body is favorable for correct cleaning of the piston because the product to be dispensed cannot penetrate into the space separating the seal from the piston body.

The lip 117a is separated from the upper face 120 coplanar with the upper face 121 of the body 110 by means of a notch 122, the opening of which faces upwards. The outer edge 124 of the face 120 is a circle of diameter smaller than that of the outer surface of the central part 111 of the body 110. In section, this edge 124 is the top of a beak limited, on the one hand, by the face 120 and, on the other hand, by the notch 122,
The operation of the device 4 shown in Figure 9 is as follows
To introduce a determined volume of product such as yogurt into the chamber 94, the valve 1001 is closed, while the valve 991 is open and the nozzle 99 plunges into a tank (not shown) where the product is located. The piston 90 which was initially in the low position, as shown in solid lines in FIG. 9, is raised by means of the jack 86, the stroke of the rod 91 being limited by one of the stops 87, 88 or 89 so that the piston 90 remains in chamber 94 without entering cleaning chamber 95.

 Of course, the volume of product sucked depends on the stop 87, 88 or 89 which is put in place.

 The product is distributed in the containers by closing the valve 991, by opening the valve 1001 and by actuating the jack 86 in the opposite direction, that is to say to lower the piston 90.

After dispensing, the three stops 87, 88, 89 are retracted so as to allow the piston 90 to rise completely and penetrate into the cleaning chamber 95 by abutting against a boss 106a of the disc 106. In this position, shown in lines interrupted in FIG. 9, the seal 115 is at the same level as the opening 102 for communication with the pipe 104 and the lower seal 116 is at the same level as the opening 101 for communication with the pipe 103. The cleaning is obtained by introducing a fluid into the chamber 95 through said pipes 104 and 103. The cleaning fluid being introduced tangentially to the piston 90 in the annular space 95a separating the piston from the internal face of the chamber 95, its movement around the piston is vortex and turbulent.

The notches 122 having their open opening, directed upwards or downwards, the product which may have deposited in these notches is easily removed; the shape of said notches, with oblique edges, in particular that of the notch of the lower seal, the opening of which is directed downwards and outwards is also favorable for cleaning, allowing easy access to the fluid.

 The cleaning fluid also acts on the internal faces of the walls of the chamber 94 and exits through the valve 100.

In the event of overpressure of the product, the lip of the seal is applied against the internal face of the chamber 94,
As a variant, a set of openings is provided at the same level as the opening 101 and a second set of openings at the same level as the opening 102.

 In a variant also, in place of the stops 87 to 89, the device comprises a sliding vertical rod which crosses the opening of the disc 107 and its lower end constitutes a stop, of variable position, for the upper face of the piston 92,1a rod 91 then having no part above this piston 92.

 Finally, as a variant, the seals 115 and 116 form a single piece obtained by overmolding on the metal core 110, the shape of which is then that limited by the dashed line 200 in FIG. 11.

 At station 4 there is, under the conveyor, a tank 130 (Figures 12 and 13), the upper edge 136 of which comes into contact with the plate 3i when the latter is at said station, and lifts it up to approach the pots of the nozzles of output 100a, 100b from devices 41 42 t etc. filling, this plate 130 being secured to a cylinder not shown.

 To the tank 130 are connected pipes 131 and 132 (FIG. 13) for introducing and evacuating cleaning fluid from the external parts of the outlet nozzles of the devices 41 '42' etc. The bottom 133 of this tank has in its middle part a ramp 134 for spraying liquid, also for the external cleaning of the devices 41 '42 1 etc.

These devices are integral with a support 201 forming part of the frame of the matrix, which has in the lower part a seal 135 intended to cooperate with the upper edge 136 of the tank 130.

 After filling the pots and evacuating the plate 3, the tank 130 is again raised so that its upper edge cooperates with the seal 135, and the interior and exterior cleaning of the filling devices is carried out. This cleaning is followed by drying either by hot air at a temperature between 60 and 750C, or by steam.

 Station 6 includes a number of devices for welding the lids on the pots equal to the number N of openings in each plate. Each of these welding devices comprises above the plate 3 an annular electrode 140 (FIG. 5) and below the plate an annular counter electrode 141. The counter electrode 141 is movable vertically while the electrode 140 is motionless. It is the displacement of the counter-electrode 141 which makes it possible to apply the cover against the electrode 140.

 The electrodes and the counter-electrodes are secured to supports (not shown) comprising slides for the easy introduction and ejection of these electrodes to allow, at the same time as blocking and unblocking means for easy and rapid maneuvering, the also easy and quick change of such tools in case of modification of the shape of the pots treated by the machine.

 At station 11, the plates are washed using a pressurized cleaning liquid and are then dried with compressed air before storage.

 In the device 12, the plates are stored vertically. To this end, this device comprises vertical chains 150 (FIG. 14) provided with catches 151 on which the plates rest.

In the example, three chains 150, 153 and 154 are provided, constituting two conveyors 155 and 156 respectively operating in opposite directions. When one of these conveyors extracts a plate 3 from the horizontal conveyor 1 for storage, the other conveyor 156 distributes a plate which is then conveyed, by the conveyor 1 to the station 13 for loading the plate into empty pots.

As shown in FIG. 1, the number of vertical conveyors of the device 12 can be greater than two and each of these conveyors can move the plates in both directions, i.e. from the bottom up, and from the top down.

In one embodiment, the operation of the machine is fully automatic.

 It is also possible to make the machine in such a way that tool changes (plates, electrodes and counter-electrodes, etc.) as well as the selection of stops 87, 88, 89 can be carried out remotely from a control panel.

To allow such automation, each tool which is specific to a type of container and must therefore be changed when the machine must allow packaging in containers of another type - for example the electrodes and counterelectrodes, the chargers and ejectors for pots, optionally the distribution device is stored on a shelf of a group of shelves 200 to 206 (FIG. 15) and is brought from this shelf to a housing 208 for the tool or the tail of the tool, by virtue of a vertical conveyor 209 with two stages 210 and 211 of the goods lift type and with means of jacks (not shown) or with a conveyor belt with rollers, or chains. A tool changer assembly of this type, which is known in it itself, allows the transfer of a tool from a shelf to a stage, for example that of reference 211, from the conveyor 209 then, after the stage 211 has been disposed opposite the housing 208 towards the latter housing and, conversely, the transfer of the tools from the housings 208 first ve rs the other stage 210 of the conveyor 209 then to the corresponding shelf,
In one embodiment, the machine is enclosed in a closed casing in which a sterile atmosphere prevails, the air being sterilized or "decontaminated" using nitrogen peroxide, ozone vapor or any other means.

 Although in the example described the machine is intended for packaging in plastic pots, the invention is not limited to this case; it allows the packaging in containers of any other material, for example metal or glass. These operations can also be programmed in advance as in a numerically controlled machine tool.

The machine allows the packaging not only of homogeneous fluent products but also of inhomogeneous fluent products like pasta, powdered products, etc.

Claims (27)

RE7ENDICATIONS  1.- Packaging machine, in particular for fluent food products such as creams, yogurts or the like, comprising a conveyor allowing containers to be filled to be filled in front of treatment stations where partial conditioning operations are carried out for a determined number N of containers, characterized in that it comprises a set of plates removably mounted on the conveyor, each of which can receive N containers of a determined type.  2.- Machine according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a device for storing and distributing plates.  3.- Machine according to claim 2, characterized in that in said device the plates are stored in a horizontal position and move vertically 4.- Machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises at least two superimposed conveyors with horizontal displacement ensuring displacements in opposite directions and two conveyors with vertical displacement to ensure the transfer of the plates between the corresponding ends superimposed conveyors. 5.- Machine according to claim 4, characterized in that certain packaging stations are above the upper horizontal conveyor and others above the lower horizontal conveyor.  6. Machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at a station the plates are moved towards the devices located at this station,  7.- Machine according to claim 6, characterized in that at the dispensing station is a tray which, during dispensing, is below the plate and after evacuation of the plate covers the ends of the dispensing devices to allow external cleaning of these devices and the evacuation of cleaning fluids.  8.- Machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each plate comprises a frame receiving rigid linings with cells or receptacle receiving openings. 9. Machine according to claim 8, characterized in that the frame is made of a material chosen from the following group of plastic, reinforced plastic, aluminum and stainless steel. 10.- Machine according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the cell seals are movable over a limited distance in a vertical direction relative to the corresponding frame. 11.- Machine according to claim 10, characterized in that each lining has at its periphery a groove in which is introduced an internal edge of the frame of width less than the width of said groove. 12.- Machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each plate has at two opposite ends s notches intended to receive the conveyor cleats.  13.- Machine according to claim 12, characterized in that the notches are elongated and the ends of the plates which comprise them are devoid of receptacle receiving means to allow the manipulation, in particular the conveying, of these plates by these ends.  14.- Device for dispensing a determined volume of fluid product, in particular for a packaging machine according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a chamber for receiving the product, a wall of which is constituted by a piston secured to a rod displaceable according to a limited stroke, characterized in that the stroke is limited by stop means of variable positions to allow to confer at least two different values to the volume of product to be dispensed. 15.- Device according to claim 14, characterized in that the stop means comprise at least two retractable stops adapted to cooperate with the end of the rod.  16. A piston device for the distribution of fluid food product, in particular for a machine according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the fluid product receiving chamber being extended, opposite to the dispensing end, by a cleaning chamber of upper section, the cleaning chamber has a cleaning fluid inlet opening facing the edge of the piston when the latter is in said chamber. 17.- Device according to claim 16, characterized in that the piston comprises a body at the periphery of which is bonded or overmolded a lip seal to seal in the receiving chamber, the lip being separated from the rest of the seal by a notch or groove whose opening is cleared to allow direct access to the cleaning fluid,  18.- Device according to claim 17, characterized in that it comprises two book seals, one in the upper part and the other in the lower part of the piston. 19.- Device according to claim 18, characterized in that the cleaning chamber has at least two openings for introducing the cleaning fluid, one at the upper seal, the other at the lower seal when the piston is in this room  20.- Device according to claim 16, characterized in that the cleaning fluid is introduced tangentially into the cleaning chamber of circular section to create a turbulent swirling movement around the piston.  21.- Device according to claim 14 or 15, characterized in that the piston is integral with a rod on which is mounted another piston forming part of a cylinder controlling the movement of the rod. 22.- container washing device, in particular for a packaging machine according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that it comprises a shape intended to be introduced into each container so that its external surface is at short distance from the internal surface of the container, and means for introducing a cleaning and / or drying fluid, preferably at high speed and at low pressure, in the interval separating the shape of the internal face of the container.  23.- Device according to claim 22, characterized in that the cleaning and / or drying fluid is introduced through the bottom of the container, and is discharged in the upper part.  24.- Device according to claim 22 or 23, characterized in that it comprises a member for holding the external surface of the container during cleaning.  25.- Device according to any one of claims 22 to 24, characterized in that the drying fluid is water vapor or air at a temperature between 60 and 750C.  26.- Device according to claims 24 and 25, characterized in that the holding member are associated with means for cooling the containers. 27.- Packaging machine, in particular for fluent food products such as creams, yogurts or the like, comprising processing stations where partial packaging operations are carried out, characterized in that at each station there is a set of tools allowing packaging in containers of various types and means for automatically replacing a tool in the operating position with another tool from said set.