Abstract: An apparatus for filling cups has a conveyor for displacing the cups in a horizontal transport direction stepwise along a horizontal transport path and at least two dosing units spaced in the transport direction from each other above the path and each including a supply of a fluent material and valve and pump means for ejecting doses of the material. A manifold includes a pair of intake conduits each extending generally in the horizontal transport direction and each connected to a respective one of the dosing units for receiving the material doses therefrom and a distributor body between the dosing units, formed with a pair of grooves each connected to a respective one of the tubes, and forming a pair of outlet passages open vertically downward toward the path so that material fed generally horizontally from the dosing units to the body issues downward from the body.

Abstract: A conveyor for a container-handling machine has an endless transport element having a straight upper stretch and a row of equispaced laterally directed coupling formations, a row of substantially identical cell plates each having a coupling element fitting with respective ones of the coupling formations, and respective stationary guide elements extending along the transport element and holding the coupling elements in engagement with the respective coupling formations. The transport element includes a pair of parallel endless chains each provided with the coupling formations. The cell plates are each formed with a pair of coupling elements engageable with the formations of the respective chains.

Abstract: A filling machine for pasty or viscous products, especially fruit products and particularly a multirow filling machine for producing assortments of the packaged product, has for each row at least one metering or dosing station in which the metering piston is displaceable in a cylinder formed directly in the metering housing and adjacent a valve cylinder in which the valve member is provided. The valve member and piston are guided directly on the wall of the respective cylinders in this housing while the respective piston rods and stem extend upwardly through easily replaceable seals accessible from an observation space above the housing.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for the testing of containers, preferably in a filling closing machine for comestible products in plastic cups or the like. The container is received in a vacuum bell or chamber which is equipped with a suction cup at the end of a suction pipe above the cover so that, when the chamber is evacuated, the cover can bulge to block the suction cup and a pressure differential developed between the suction pipe and the chamber signalling an effective seal. In the case of an ineffective seal, damage to the cover or the like, the pressure difference does not develop and the defective package can be sorted out.

Abstract: Cups or lids for packaging foodstuffs and the like in a sterile environment are sterilized in the packaging machine by passing them through a sterilizing chamber to be contacted first by the hydrogen peroxide and then by hot air. The packaging elements are initially moved apart rapidly and are than brought toward one another without contact, periodically in the sterilizing chamber to improve the contact of the sterilizing and drying fluid with the surfaces.

Abstract: The problems of excess flow of a liquid to be dispensed in a metering device, especially for a sterilizing liquid for packings and packaging materials, is solved by pumping the liquid from a supply vessel below the housing of the metering device into the latter and maintaining a bath of the liquid in the latter by overflow back to the supply vessel. A control slider lifts a quantity of the liquid from the bath to an overflow channel from which it flows to a metering chamber and then passes through an upwardly inclined duct to the atomizing and blowing device applying the liquid spray to the packaging materials.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process and an apparatus for monitoring the hermeticity of filled containers closed by sealed-on or welded-on covers, or the like. The air or gas cushion present between the cover and the material with which the container is filled, is heated, and the change caused in the position of the cover, by the resulting increase in the volume of air or gas, is monitored, after which the containers which have been indicated as having missing or faulty covers, are removed.

Abstract: According to the method of the invention the packing means, for example yoghurt containers, are introduced into a sterilizing chamber, which is sealed. The interior of the chamber is then evacuated and then pressurized steam is intoduced into it. This leads to a temperature rise and consequently to a sterilization of the packing means. The steam is only introduced for a brief period, e.g. for 5 seconds. The sterilizing chamber is then evacuated again and steam and condensate are removed. Cold sterile air is then blown into the chamber, which leads to a fast cooling of the packing means.