Abstract: A loading mechanism is disclosed for loading bottles (14) onto a turret (12) and includes a screw (22), a linear conveyor (24), a pair of star wheels (26 and 28), and a drive. The assembly is characterized by a groove in the screw (22) having a cross section with a narrow throat (30) for engaging a neck (16) of the bottle (14) and a larger portion (32) above the throat (30) for establishing a space about the neck (16) of the bottle (14) spaced therein by the narrow throat (30). A pair of opposing lips (34) are spaced apart to define the throat (30) and a pair of spaced side walls (36) extend into the screw (22) from the lips (34) to a bottom wall (38), which remain out of contact with the neck (16) of the bottles (14).

Abstract: A filling machine assembly (20) for filling a beverage container (24), such as a bottle or can, with a liquid beverage, such as beer or soft drinks. The filling machine (20) includes a support housing (40) having an inner fluid chamber (46) for supplying the liquid to be discharged into the container (24). A valve housing (48) is mounted to the bottom (16) of the support housing (40) for controlling the discharge of the liquid and a control device (52) is disposed adjacent to the top (14) of the support housing (40). A vent tube (54) is actuated upward and downward via the control device (52) and extends into the valve housing (48). The filling machine (20) is characterized by the control device (52) including at least one magnet (66) moveable between a first position and a second position for moving the vent tube (54) a predetermined stroke between a filling position and a non-use position.

Abstract: A filling machine assembly (10) for filling a beverage container (12), such as a bottle or can, with a beverage, such as carbonated drinks, juices, or water. The filling machine (10) includes a support housing (14) for supplying the beverage to be discharged into the container (12). A valve housing (22) is mounted to the bottom of the support housing (14) for controlling the discharge of the beverage and a control device (24) is mounted to the top of the support housing (14). A vent tube (30) has a first end disposed within the control device (24) and a second end extending into the valve housing (22). An actuation device (54) moves the vent tube (30) a predetermined stroke between a filling position and a non-use position. The filling machine (10) is characterized by the control device (24) including an adjustment mechanism (80) having a stop block (82) for repositioning the filling position upon movement of the adjustment mechanism (80) thereby adjusting the position of the predetermined stroke.

Abstract: A filling valve assembly for filling a container (11) with a fluid material and comprising a valve body (16) having an outer wall (18) defining an inner chamber (20). A vent tube (30) extends upwardly through the chamber (20) for ventilating the container (11) when the container (11) is filled with the fluid material and defining at least one fluid passageway (38) disposed between the outer wall (18) and the vent tube (30) for allowing the fluid material to discharge from the chamber (20) and into the container (11). A first screen (62) is disposed across said fluid passageway (38) and the assembly is characterized by a second screen (64) disposed across the passageway (38) in spaced relationship to and below the first screen (62) whereby the capillary action of both screens (62) and (64) accumulate to more precisely fill successive containers (11) to equal volumes.

Abstract: A filling valve assembly for filling a beverage container with a liquid beverage. The valve assembly includes a valve body having an outer wall and a vent tube for ventilating the container when the container is filled with the liquid. Fluid passageways are defined between the outer wall and the vent tube for allowing the liquid to discharge into the container. A notch is formed within the outer wall and a screen is disposed across the fluid passageway with an outer diameter extending into the notch. The valve assembly is characterized by the notch being a truncated cone extending axially in the direction of the fluid passageway to define an angled surface for facilitating disposition of the screen into the notch and within the fluid passageway. The assembly is also characterized by the screen having a chemically etched surface creating a plurality of square holes within the screen for preventing unnecessary dripping of fluid material into the container.

Abstract: A filling machine assembly (10) for filling a beverage container (12), such as a bottle or can, with a beverage such as carbonated drinks, juice or water. The filling machine (10) includes a support housing (14) for supplying the beverage to be discharged into the container (12). A valve housing (22) is mounted to the bottom of the support housing (14) for controlling the discharge of the beverage and a control device (24) is mounted to the top of the support housing (14). The control device (24) has outer walls (26) defining a working chamber (28) having a top and a bottom. A vent tube (30) has a first end disposed within the working chamber (28) of the control device (24) and a second end extending into the valve housing (22). A piston (38) is secured to the first end of the vent tube (30) within the working chamber (28) for moving the vent tube (30) a predetermined stroke between a filling position and a non-use position.

Abstract: A container filling assembly (10) including a carousel (12) having an in-feed station (20) and an exit station (30) for supplying empty containers (22) and exiting filled containers (22). A number valve stations (34) are supported by the carousel (12) for filling the containers (22). An enclosure (42) is associated with each valve station (34) for enclosing the container (22) on the valve station (34). The enclosure (42) has an elongated endless wall (44) with an upper periphery (46) for sealing engagement about at the valve station (34). An actuation device (48) moves the enclosure (42) vertically between a sealed position with the valve station (34) and an open position spaced vertically from the valve station (34). A bottom (50) is disposed within the endless wall (44) to create a sealed chamber (70) when the endless wall (44) is in the sealed position.

Abstract: A filling machine assembly (10) for filling a beverage container (12), such as a bottle or can, with a beverage, such as a carbonated drink, juice or water. The filling machine (10) includes a support housing (14) having an inner fluid chamber (20) for supplying the beverage to be discharged into the container (12). A valve housing (22) is mounted to the bottom of the support housing (14) for controlling the discharge of the beverage and a control device (24) is mounted to the top of the support housing (14). A vent tube (26) is actuated upward and downward via the control device (24) and extends into the valve housing (22). A support tube (34) extends between the control device (24) and the valve housing (22) and has a bore (36) surrounding the vent tube (26). An actuation device (42) moves the vent tube (26) within the bore (36) relative to the support tube (34) a predetermined stroke between a filling position and a non-use position.

Abstract: The method and apparatus of this invention include first and second sets of louvers which extend through the conveying surface for creating downstream and upstream force vectors of air which serve the dual function of creating a low pressure area under unstable, lightweight, upright containers to hold them in an upright position while simultaneously enveloping the side walls of the containers in vertical columns of air which moves along a substantially vertical force vector to further assist in holding them in an upright position as they move from an upstream location to a downstream location along the surface of an air conveyor. This is accomplished by the use of lance and coined louvers arranged in a predetermined pattern to provide both upstream and downstream force vectors of air as well as substantially vertical force vectors of air. Alternatively, an array of trapezoidal louvers can be used in conjunction with an interspersed array of vertical openings in a deck plate to provide the same dual function.

Abstract: A circular filling machine 10 rotates a plurality of filling units 20 through a plurality of actuator stations 30 and 32. The filling machine 10 is characterized by an adjustment valve, including a seal 38 and a positioning member 40, for determining the quantity of the material 14 to be filled into the chamber 34. The seal 38 is biased downwardly against the positioning member 40 by a spring 50 to hold the seal 38against the inside of the chamber 34 in the closed position. The seal 38 may be moved vertically out of engagement with the positioning member 40 to an open position by a cam 62 and cam follower 64 to allow cleaning material 37 to flush the entire chamber 34. In addition, the vertical operating level of the seal 38 and positioning member 40 may be adjusted vertically in unison to adjust the level to which the chamber 34 may be filled to accommodate containers 11 of various different volumes.

Abstract: A beverage filling machine (10) for conserving beverage at the end of a production run of the type comprising at least one filling assembly (20) for filling a beverage container (22) and a supply tank (12) for supplying beverage (32) to the filling assembly (20). The machine (10) is characterized by the supply tank (12) including a an endless wall (42) movable between an open position disposed above a ledge (38) disposed vertically above said bottom (28) for allowing beverage (32) to level completely across the tank (12) and a closed position in sealing engagement with the ledge for dividing said tank (12) into an isolated volume (34) and a useable volume (36) for removing beverage (32) from said isolated volume (34) and allowing beverage (32) to level only in said useable volume (36). An actuator (46) moves the endless wall (42) vertically between the open and closed positions.

Abstract: A flange 52 extends upwardly about a filling passage 50 and a flexible tubular valve member 54 having a bead 56 in tension about and in sealing engagement with the flange and extending through an inlet cavity 48 to an annular ring 58 presenting an upwardly facing conical seat 60 for sealing engagement with a poppet valve 62. A helical spring 64 is disposed about the tubular valve member 54 and engages the annular ring 58 to urge the annular ring 58 into engagement with the periphery 46 of the valve seat in the filling position. A mast 66 is connected to the poppet valve 62 and extends upwardly through the chamber 34 for moving the mast 66 vertically between the chamber 34 charging position, as shown in FIG. 4, and the container 11 filling position, as shown in FIG. 5.

Abstract: A filling apparatus (10) for filling beverage containers (C) with carbonated liquid beverage (B) includes a rotating filling table (16) in which is supported a central tank (26). Beverage containers (C) are sequentially brought into registry with the filling table (16) where they undergo successive phases of vacuum, counter pressure, fill/vent, and snifting before they are released to a separate capping operation. A liquid supply (14) feeds liquid beverage (B) to the bottom of the central tank (26) and a CO2 supply (32) feeds pressurized CO2 into the top of the central tank (26). A plurality of valve housings (44) are spaced in generally equal radial and equal circumferential increments about the periphery of the filling table (16) and are associated with a beverage container (C) being filled. Liquid (36), gas (38) and vent (40) conduits extend between the central tank (26) and each valve housing (44).