Abstract: An automatic exchange device for format dependent cellular panels used in container-filling machines for filling containers with foodstuffs, flavorings or other liquid to pastiform products, the machines being arranged to pick-up and transport the containers whereby cellular panels are arranged adjacent to each other on a through-conveyor or periodically circulating conveyor and are corrected to the conveyor. A replacement mechanism for the cellular panels. The exchange of panels is effected with the assistance of a manipulator, which automatically detaches the connection with the assistance of a motor driven screw tool and also reattaches the connection after the exchange. After releasing the connection, the manipulator picks up the cellular panel by means of suction cups and removes it via the use of an elevator into a magazine, which, for example, is comprised of a drum with radially arranged partitions.

Abstract: Gripper devices transfer covers from a magazine onto filled packing containers guided along a substantially horizontal transport trajectory. The gripper devices are on a supporting shaft which is driven via a rod system 18 by a grooved cam plate and a roller lever interacting therewith. By shortening the effective lever arm of the roller lever with the use of an adjusting unit coming into operation when the cover mounting device is blocked, the articulation point of the rod system in an elongated slot of the roller lever is altered in such a way that the stroke movement of the rod system and thus of the supporting shaft and of the suction elements or gripping devices becomes shorter, i.e. a short stroke occurs, thus ensuring that no further covers are extracted from the magazine and placed on the packing container.

Abstract: The invention relates to an arrangement for dosingly filling of fluent or pasty filling material into a container. The arrangement has a housing in which a control element is rotatably mounted. A feed and outlet passage for the filling material is alternately unblocked and a reciprocating dosing piston is provided in the housing. For purposes of achieving a compact and simple construction and a simple assembly, as well as for achieving a good cleaning, the housing is hermetically sealed on all of its sides and the control element is in the form of a rotational cylinder operatively mounted in the region of the feed and outlet passages for the filling material. The dosing cylinder is coaxially mounted with respect to the rotational cylinder and is provided with a piston rod so that the dosing piston is slidably movable within the housing.

Abstract: A capping machine has a housing defining a capping station, a conveyor for transporting a longitudinally extending row of vessels through the station, and a magazine holding a supply of caps above the capping station. A gripper shaft extends along a transverse shaft axis in the station beneath the supply and carries at least one gripper that can cling to the caps in the magazine, typically by magnetic or pneumatic action. A rod fixed on and extending radially from the shaft can slide in a crosshead pivotal on the housing. A vertical guide on the housing vertically reciprocally receives the shaft. A drive connected between the shaft and the housing vertically displaces the shaft along the slot between upper and lower positions.

Abstract: An improved machine for dosing, filling and packaging of a doughy or pasty food substance. The machine sequentially includes a trough, screw conveyor, guide channel, dosing station and forming channel. The forming channel widens in a funnel-like or obelisk-like fashion in the flow direction of the food substance which is being transported therethrough. At least a part of the guide channel is covered with a layer of friction-reducing material.

Abstract: Facilities are associated with the discharge end of an article stacker, suitable for use in container-filling applications, so that the articles are discharged from the stacker in discrete groups of N articles each. A system of horizontally extending projections are provided on a pair of cylindrical blocking members that act as escapement devices at the bottom of the stacker. The successive projections on the cylindrical blocking members are cyclically moved into engagement with the lower ends of peripheral rims on the N lowermost articles in the stack, after which the N engaged articles are successively discharged from the bottom of the stacker. During the engagement and discharge of the N lowermost articles, the stacked articles overlying the lowermost N articles are inhibited from downward movement in the stacker. After the discharge of the lowermost N articles, the next N articles in the stack are moved downwardly into operative position for discharge after a predetermined interval.

Abstract: A housing has a compartment subdivided by a pair of sleeve valves into an input compartment to which is continuously fed a stream of viscous hardenable material and an output compartment arranged adjacent a transport device which step-wise advances a succession of containers. Each of these sleeve valves has a central piston and has a valve port that can be directed either into the input compartment or the output compartment. Thus one of the sleeves is turned with its port toward the input compartment and its piston is retracted to draw into the sleeve a predetermined quantity of the viscous mass. Thereupon the sleeve is rotated through 180.degree. and this portion is discharged into the output compartment and thence into one of the containers.