Abstract: A rotary filling machine includes a rotatable fill plate with fill openings defined therein, a plurality of circumferentially spaced drop buckets mounted above the fill plate and configured to rotate with the fill plate, and a rotating mounting plate mounted on top of the fill plate and disposed below the drop buckets. Each drop bucket includes an inner radial wall, an outer radial wall, a first sidewall, and a second sidewall surrounding a volume bounded by top and bottom openings. A coupler for each drop bucket includes a first connector, such as a socket, extending from an outer surface of the inner radial wall and a mating connector, such as a post, extending upwardly from the mounting ring. A plurality of ridges or protrusions are formed on a side surface of at least one of the walls to reduce the planar surface area available for adhesion to materials being dispensed.

Abstract: A rotary filling machine for filling containers with bridgeable dry materials includes a turret supporting a plurality of circumferentially spaced drop buckets and a plurality of funnel assemblies located under the drop buckets. A stationary slide plate is located vertically between the funnel assemblies and the drop buckets. The slide plate is configured such that flow paths from the bottoms of the drop buckets to the inlet openings of the funnel assemblies increase progressively in at least a portion of a circumferential extent of the slide plate. Drop buckets are located above the slide plate and rotate with the turret. Each drop bucket is provided with one or more partitions that hinder the “snow-plowing of particles” along the edge of the associated fill opening in the machine's fill plate rather than the sweeping of those particles into the fill opening.

Abstract: A rotary filling machine for filling containers with bridgeable dry materials includes a turret supporting a plurality of circumferentially spaced drop buckets and a plurality of funnel assemblies located under the drop buckets. A stationary slide plate is located vertically between the funnel assemblies and the drop buckets. The slide plate is configured such that flow paths from the bottoms of the drop buckets to the inlet openings of the funnel assemblies increase progressively in at least a portion of a circumferential extent of the slide plate. Drop buckets are located above the slide plate and rotate with the turret. Each drop bucket is provided with one or more partitions that hinder the “snow-plowing of particles” along the edge of the associated fill opening in the machine’s fill plate rather than the sweeping of those particles into the fill opening.

Abstract: A rotary filling machine includes a rotatable fill plate with fill openings defined therein, a plurality of circumferentially spaced drop buckets mounted above the fill plate and configured to rotate with the fill plate, and a rotating mounting plate mounted on top of the fill plate and disposed below the drop buckets. Each drop bucket includes an inner radial wall, an outer radial wall, a first sidewall, and a second sidewall surrounding a volume bounded by top and bottom openings. A coupler for each drop bucket includes a first connector, such as a socket, extending from an outer surface of the inner radial wall and a mating connector, such as a post, extending upwardly from the mounting ring. A plurality of ridges or protrusions are formed on a side surface of at least one of the walls to reduce the planar surface area available for adhesion to materials being dispensed.

Abstract: A rotary filling machine for filling containers with bridgeable dry materials includes a turret supporting a plurality of circumferentially spaced drop buckets and a plurality of funnel assemblies located under the drop buckets. A stationary slide plate is located vertically between the funnel assemblies and the drop buckets. When viewed in a direction of turret rotation, the slide plate has an upstream end, a downstream end, and inner and outer edges. A portion of the slide plate is tapered progressively in diameter toward its downstream end such that flow paths from the bottoms of the drop buckets to the inlet openings of the funnel assemblies increase progressively in diameter with the taper of the slide plate. Also provided is a funnel assembly and drop buckets provided with one more partitions that hinder the “snow-plowing of particles” along the edge of the associated fill opening in machine's fill plate rather than the sweeping of those particles into the fill opening.

Abstract: A rotary filling machine for filling containers with bridgeable dry materials includes a turret supporting a plurality of circumferentially spaced drop buckets and a plurality of funnel assemblies located under the drop buckets. A stationary slide plate is located vertically between the funnel assemblies and the drop buckets. When viewed in a direction of turret rotation, the slide plate has an upstream end, a downstream end, and inner and outer edges. A portion of the slide plate is tapered progressively in diameter toward its downstream end such that flow paths from the bottoms of the drop buckets to the inlet openings of the funnel assemblies increase progressively in diameter with the taper of the slide plate. Also provided is a funnel assembly that dilates bridgeable materials before dispensing those materials into a container.

Abstract: A rotary filling machine for filling containers with bridgeable dry materials includes a turret supporting a plurality of circumferentially spaced drop buckets and a plurality of funnel assemblies located under the drop buckets. A stationary slide plate is located vertically between the funnel assemblies and the drop buckets. When viewed in a direction of turret rotation, the slide plate has an upstream end, a downstream end, and inner and outer edges. A portion of the slide plate is tapered progressively in diameter toward its downstream end such that flow paths from the bottoms of the drop buckets to the inlet openings of the funnel assemblies increase progressively in diameter with the taper of the slide plate. Also provided is a funnel assembly that dilates bridgeable materials before dispensing those materials into a container.

Abstract: A rotary cup filler has a cup holder plate that permits cup holders to be retained in place by inserting them into open-ended receptacles from the side of the cup holder plate rather than being inserted into openings in the bottom cup holder plate from beneath. In one configuration, the cup holder plate has a central hub and plurality of arms that extend arcuately from the central hub to form the receptacles therebetween. The arms may engage opposed sides of a circumferential groove in the associated cup holder.

Abstract: A rotary cup filler has a cup holder plate that permits cup holders to be retained in place by inserting them into open-ended receptacles from the side of the cup holder plate rather than being inserted into openings in the bottom cup holder plate from beneath. In one configuration, the cup holder plate has a central hub and plurality of arms that extend arcuately from the central hub to form the receptacles therebetween. The arms may engage opposed sides of a circumferential groove in the associated cup holder.