Abstract: An automatic plant for preparing paints includes an automatic stock configured to contain a plurality of closed containers with different formats, an automatic process line comprising a plurality of operating stations, robotic unit movable between the various stations of the automatic process line to pick up each container in an inlet station and transfer it in succession from each station to the next station, the robotic unit having an adjustable gripping member configured for gripping containers with at least two different sizes, and a control unit configured to receive paint orders including information relating to the format of the containers and the color of the paint requested by the buyer.

Abstract: A method in a fraction collector for accurate positioning of a dispensing device with respect to wells of a micro plate in which prior to the dispensing a sensing device is moved over the micro plate the sensing device being able to detect the number of walls between the wells in the rows and columns of the micro plate.

Abstract: A machine for filling cups with foodstuff has metering stations having metering modules provided with filling nozzles, respectively, for introducing product flows into horizontally supplied cups. A programmable control unit cooperates with the metering modules in such a way that in a filling process, by means of controlled tilting and/or lifting actions of the filling nozzles, variable filling structures are generated from the product flows in the cups.

Abstract: A method in a fraction collector for accurate positioning of a dispensing device with respect to wells of a micro plate in which prior to the dispensing a sensing device is moved over the micro plate the sensing device being able to detect the number of walls between the wells in the rows and columns of the micro plate.

Abstract: A drive device comprises an air cylinder 123 for causing an operating member for a packaging operation to perform a reciprocating motion, a sensor 132 for detecting the cycle velocity or time of the air cylinder 123, a control valve 222 for controlling the pressure or flow rate of the fluid to be supplied to the air cylinder 123, and an a sequencer 201 for setting a reference value SV corresponding to the cycle velocity or time of the air cylinder 123, receiving a value PV detected by the sensor 132 as an input, calculating a valve opening degree so as to reduce the deviation of the detected value PV from the reference value SV to zero and setting the opening degree of the control valve 222 based on the calculated valve opening degree.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for filling containers with liquid of the type having a tubular filling lance operatively connected to a source of liquid and being vertically moveable between raised positions above said containers and lowered positions, when coaxially aligned with a filling hole in one of said containers, extending through said filling hole into said container for filling thereof. The apparatus comprises a conveyor assembly on which two or more containers with randomly disposed filling holes may be moved to a filling station generally below the filling lance. A carriage assembly is provided by which the filling lance may be moved in X, Y, Z coordinates, first to a raised position coaxially aligned with a selected one of the container filling holes and then to a lowered position into a selected container.

Abstract: A fluid filling system has a filling unit which is repositionable with respect to a filling station. The filling unit includes a filling head and a dispensing switch. The filling station has a filling position at which a container may be placed for filling with fluid. A container fill sensor is provided at the filling position so that it may detect the degree to which a container is filled. A movable switching member is also provided on the filling station, and it communicates with the container fill sensor and moves to different positions in accordance with the degree to which a container at the filling position is filled. The filling unit is repositionable with respect to the filling station so that the filling unit may be situated adjacent the filling station with its filling head situated over the filling position, or may be moved to allow the filling unit to rest at other locations. When the filling unit is resting adjacent the filling station with its filling head situated over the filling position (i.

Abstract: A valve assembly for filling containers with metered quantities of materials includes a valve body having a chamber therein, the valve body having open-top and bottom ends with substantially smooth interior sidewalls defining the chamber. A valve element for opening and closing the openable bottom end of the valve body is disposed in the chamber adjacent to the openable bottom end. An actuator device, including a pair of air cylinders, provides for relative movement between a lower portion of the valve body in which the openable bottom end is disposed and the valve element in order to open and close the openable bottom end. A concentric sleeve is telescopically connected to the bottom portion of the main valve body, and is reciprocably movable in response to actuation of the air cylinders to open and close the valve.

Abstract: An apparatus for filling containers has a frame carrying a plurality of sprockets and an endless conveyor chain on the frame having between two of the sprockets a straight treatment stretch. A succession of holders secured to the chain are each formed with a transverse row of seats adapted to hold respective containers. Respective machines carried on the frame and spaced apart along the stretch clean, fill, and cap containers in the seats. A drive connected to one of the sprockets advances the chain and moves the containers in steps in the seats past the machines. A metering wheel journaled in the frame meshes near one of the machines with the chain such that as the chain is advanced the wheel is synchronously rotated. A movable sensor element synchronously movable with the wheel can orbit on rotation of the wheel past a fixed sensor element carried on the frame to generate an output.

Abstract: An apparatus for metering a plurality of different liquid or pasty masses to a receiving container including: first support for supporting containers for the masses in fixed positions; a fixedly disposed annular frame bearing a number of dispensing nozzles controllable by a fixedly disposed control device and each individually connectable to said containers via respective conduits; a second support controllable by the control device for supporting a receiving container such that this receiving container is displaceable in an annular path corresponding with the annular form of the frame and can be placed temporarily beneath a chosen dispensing nozzle for receiving mass dispensed by this dispensing nozzle; a weighing device on which a receiving container can be placed, which weighing device can supply weight signals to the control device; wherein the weighing device is disposed fixedly and supports the second support.

Abstract: An apparatus for filling containers has a frame carrying a plurality of sprockets and an endless conveyor chain on the frame having between two of the sprockets a straight treatment stretch. A succession of holders secured to the chain are each formed with a transverse row of seats adapted to hold respective containers. Respective machines carried on the frame and spaced apart along the stretch clean, fill, and cap containers in the seats. A drive connected to one of the sprockets advances the chain and moves the containers in steps in the seats past the machines. A metering wheel journaled in the frame meshes near one of the machines with the chain such that as the chain is advanced the wheel is synchronously rotated. A movable sensor element synchronously movable with the wheel can orbit on rotation of the wheel past a fixed sensor element carried on the frame to generate an output.

Abstract: An actuator mechanism is provided for a device for automatically filling cans with a carbonated beverage. The filling apparatus is of a type wherein a valve is raised and lowered for the purpose of introduction of pressurized gas into each successive container and wherein raising and lowering is accomplished by rotation of a shaft having an end with operates to raise a valve member. The opposite end of the shaft has a lever arm extending therefrom which is depressed for the purpose for rotating the shaft. The invention provides an improved actuator mechanism supported on the apparatus and which has an extendible and retractable piston member actuated by a pneumatic cylinder for depressing the lever arm. The piston member supports a lever arm-engaging block having a surface for engaging the lever arm which block is convexly, arcuately contoured and has a width substantially equal to the length of the lever arm.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for conveying a plurality of containers to a filling station for supplying the containers with paints or coatings. The conveyor is periodically driven to the filling station by a rotary actuator including a plurality of air motors which drive a pinion which in turn is connected to the drive shaft of the conveyor for moving the conveyor in one direction to the filling station. The conveyor drive shaft operates a cam which controls a valve in an air supply line for actuating a diverter valve which controls the supply of air to the rotary actuator. The conveyor is stopped when the cam closes the valve, this occurring when the containers reach the filling station.

Abstract: An apparatus for filling a plurality of containers with a predetermined amount of a particulate or granular material. The apparatus comprises a hopper for holding a supply of material. The hopper has an upper end, a lower end and at least one tapered side wall. A plurality of discharge nozzle assemblies extend downwardly from the lower end of the hopper. A transport assembly is provided for uniformly transporting each of the containers directly under a corresponding one of the discharge nozzle assemblies. A frame supports the hopper above the transport assembly. Each of the discharge nozzle assemblies has an auger mounted thereabove for assisting the delivery of material to the same. Each of the discharge nozzle assemblies also includes a valve which is adapted to open and close the open bottom end of a corresponding discharge nozzle assembly in order to control the flow of material from the nozzle.

Abstract: The present invention is a vending machine with the ability to accept multiple purchase requests per money transaction. As the vending machine dispensing receptacle is of limited size, a weight sensor determines if an article in the multiple dispensing sequence has been taken by the user, allowing for the subsequent article in the sequence to be dispensed. Additional features include error messages displayed to the user as well as an alarm to alert the user if an article has not been removed in some predetermined time.

Abstract: A liquid metering-filling apparatus is provided which includes a container transport conveyor intermittently drivable so as to halt containers one by one at a filling station. A filling nozzle is disposed above a path of transport of containers at the filling station. A metering cylinder houses a piston and has an outlet in communication with the filling nozzle. An inlet check valve is provided at an inlet of the metering cylinder. An outlet check valve is provided at any one of the outlet of the metering cylinder and inside of the filling nozzle. The liquid metering-filling apparatus also includes a driver for causing the piston to perform a cycle of stroking movement every time the conveyor is driven by one pitch. A photoelectric sensor is provided at the filling station for detecting any one of the presence and absence of a container of the plurality of containers at the filling station.

Abstract: Apparatus for dispensing a liquid preferably paint into a container including a weight scale for receiving the container at a dispensing station where the paint is dispensed into the container through a valve and an associated control system including a microprocessor which controls the amount of liquid introduced into the container as determined by the scale. A pusher is provided for moving a container on to the scale, and operatively connected to the pusher is a drip shield to be moved by the pusher to overlie a container during movement from the supply area to the scale.

Abstract: Apparatus for supplying a plurality of containers with liquid. The apparatus performs the steps of introducing into a first container a first percentage of a predetermined final amount and subsequently introducing in steps additional liquid until said predetermined amount is reached, introducing into a second container a percentage of said predetermined amount greater than the initial percentage introduced into said first container and then introducing additional liquid into said second container in steps until said predetermined amount is reached, and continously introducing into a third container an amount of liquid within a tolerance of said predetermined amount, and wherein the amounts of liquid introduced into the container are measured and determined by weight. A microprocessor connected in circuit with a scale is used to control a valve through which the liquid is introduced into the container.

Abstract: A method of supplying a plurality of containers with liquid including the steps of introducing into a first container a first percentage of a predetermined final amount and subsequently introducing in steps additional liquid until said predetermined amount is reached, introducing into a second container a percentage of said predetermined amount greater than the initial percentage introduced into said first container and then introducing additional liquid into said second container in steps until said predetermined amount is reached, and continuously introducing into a third container an amount of liquid within a tolerance of said predetermined amount, and wherein the amounts of liquid introduced into the container are measured and determined by weight. A microprocessor connected in circuit with a scale is used to control a valve through which the liquid is introduced into the container.

Abstract: A device for providing a measured portion of food product on demand in which a portioned metering head has an inlet to receive the food product under pressure and an outlet to discharge the food product onto the food-receiving medium. There is a disk in the housing which has a disk passageway connecting the inlet and outlet passageways of the metering head. Within the disk passageway is a piston which can slide from one end to the other. By rotating the disk, the food product pushes against the piston causing it to push the food product previously within the disk passageway out into the outlet passageway of the metering head. The cycle repeats with the disk rotating 180.degree., once again positioning the piston adjacent to the inlet passageway. A photoelectric eye signals a control mechanism and connected air cylinder to rotate the disk each time a food-receiving medium is disposed under the metering head.

Abstract: An automated paint-batching system for producing paint cans of any size and color. The system includes a plurality of paint-batching cells, with each cell having a machine comprised of either one or two dispensing stations. When two dispensing stations are used, the two dispensing stations are: A first tint-station, where a small volumetric dispensing of the base, water-base or oil base, of the paint is dispensed, in order to wet the bottom of the can, at which first station, thereafter, is dispensed all of the liquid colorants making up the formula of the paint can, at which the remainder of the base of the formula of the paint is dispensed, and a second base-dispensing station. Each of the first and second stations of the paint-batching machine of the invention has operatively associated therewith a weighing platform upon which rests the paint can during the dispensing at the respective station used in quality-control weighing of each dispensing.

Abstract: This disclosure illustrates and describes an electronic program control for controlling the filling operation for cartons supplied by one turret mechanism having a plurality of equally spaced mandrels to a compartmented conveyor which carries the cartons in pairs beneath a pair of filler nozzles. The electronic program control includes the switches, AND gates, shift registers and flip flops required to assure that, in the event a carton is missing for any reason from a conveyor compartment, the appropriate filler nozzle will not be actuated.

Abstract: A positive displacement rotary receptacle filling machine employs a receptacle detecting mechanism which detects the presence or absence of a receptacle in the file being fed to the machine at a point ahead of the filling position of such a receptacle and effects a presetting of the valve operating mechanism of such a machine at a point correspondingly ahead of the initial filling position, utilizing a settable trip shoe separate from the settable valve operating mechanisms of the machine for this purpose. The arrangement described results in a significant extension of the filling arc of the machine, making possible a corresponding significant increase in its speed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a compound (22) in each of the cell spaces of a multicell battery case (10). The compound comprises a bituminous material delivered to a plurality of the cell spaces concurrently through a plurality of nozzles (25) of a dispensing head (24). The battery case (10) is accurately positioned against a back stop (45) and a forward stop (36). A sensor (49) determines the accurate alignment of the battery case (10) in the fill position and cooperates with a controller (81) for controlling operation of the automatic dispenser (23). In the dispensing operation, the nozzles (25) are moved along a first plurality of cells. The nozzles are then retracted and moved lengthwise of the case to be aligned with a second group of cells. The nozzles are then moved along the case cells while dispensing compound to the second group of cells.

Abstract: An apparatus for cyclically dosing bulk goods for filling sequentially advanced receptacles has a dosing auger; an electric disc rotor motor connected to the auger to rotate the same and arranged to be electrically braked; a blocking device having an actuated state in which it prevents rotation of the auger and an idle state in which it permits rotation thereof; and a control device for setting the blocking device in the actuated state for blocking rotation of the auger after being brought at least approximately to a standstill by electric braking and thereafter maintaining the blocking device in the actuated state until the beginning of a successive dosing cycle.