Abstract: A filling unit (1) comprises: a plate (12) for resting a container to be filled; a housing (2) facing the plate (12) to receive container's mouth; a dispenser (3) which opens onto the housing (2) to dispense liquid substance towards the container. The plate (12) is movable towards or, vice versa, away from the dispenser (3). The housing (2) comprises a bottom wall (24), fitted with a first annular gasket (21), and an annular body (6), movable relative to the bottom wall (24) and fitted with a second annular gasket (22). With a container (90) of a first type positioned on the plate (12), the plate (12) is moved towards the dispenser (3) to bring container's mouth (91) into contact with the first annular gasket (21). With a container (95) of a second type positioned on the plate (12), the annular body (6) is moved towards the plate (12) to bring the second annular gasket (22) into contact with container's mouth (96).

Abstract: A filling unit (1) for filling containers (90) of a first type, such as bottles, and for filling containers (95) of a second type, such as cans, with a liquid substance (99). The filling unit (1) comprises a dispenser (3), which in use faces towards a mouth of the container to be filled so as to dispense the liquid substance (99) through a dispensing opening (30) towards an internal volume of the container, and a valve (4) which is controllable for allowing and preventing the liquid substance (99) to be dispensed from the dispenser (3). The filling unit (1) further comprises a level sensor (51) for detecting a filled level of the liquid substance (99) in the container, a volume meter (52) for measuring a volume of the liquid substance (99) fed to the dispenser (3), and a control system for controlling the valve (4).

Abstract: A fill valve assembly for use in association with a filler device including: a vent tube; a valve housing; a valve sleeve; and a quick start seal member, wherein: (1) the vent tube is positioned at least partially within the valve housing and the valve sleeve, (2) the valve housing is in communication with the filler device, (3) the valve sleeve is positioned at least partially within the valve housing, (4) the quick start seal member is positioned within the valve housing; and (5) the fill valve assembly is configured for precluding filling start lag during normal operation of the filler device.

Abstract: An apparatus for the automated filling of cartridges of e-vapor devices may include a filling drum configured to receive at least one cartridge of an e-vapor device. The apparatus may additionally include a needle assembly including at least one hypodermic needle. The needle assembly is configured to transition between a lowered state and a raised state. The lowered state is where the hypodermic needle is moved down into the cartridge, while the raised state is where the hypodermic needle is lifted up and away from the cartridge. The apparatus may further include a pump assembly configured to pump a pre-vapor formulation into the cartridge when the needle assembly is in the lowered state. The pump assembly may include a variable amplitude cam system configured to adjust an amount of the pre-vapor formulation for pumping to the cartridge without changing start and stop times for the pumping.

Abstract: In a container-filling machine, a filling element includes a housing, a sealing tulip, and a bellows. The housing has a housing section and an orifice. The sealing tulip moves relative to the housing section along an axis between a raised and a lowered position. The bellows surrounds the axis. The bellows' two ends connect tightly to the housing and the tulip respectively. As a result, the bellows seals a transition between the tulip and the housing.

Abstract: An apparatus for the automated filling of cartridges of e-vapor devices may include a filling drum configured to receive at least one cartridge of an e-vapor device. The apparatus may additionally include a needle assembly including at least one hypodermic needle. The needle assembly is configured to transition between a lowered state and a raised state. The lowered state is where the hypodermic needle is moved down into the cartridge, while the raised state is where the hypodermic needle is lifted up and away from the cartridge. The apparatus may further include a pump assembly configured to pump a pre-vapor formulation into the cartridge when the needle assembly is in the lowered state. The pump assembly may include a variable amplitude cam system configured to adjust an amount of the pre-vapor formulation for pumping to the cartridge without changing start and stop times for the pumping.

Abstract: A piston pump for dispensing fluid from a reservoir, an improved vacuum relief arrangement in which a passageway for flow of air from the atmosphere into the reservoir is provided at least in part through a piston-forming element of the piston pump.

Abstract: A water dispenser includes a main body and a water container. The main body has a receiving space and a connecting socket. The water container includes a container body and a water dispenser connector. The container body has a receiving chamber for storing a liquid. The water dispenser connector is connected to the container body and located at a bottom portion of the container body. When the water container is mounted in the receiving space of the main body, with the water dispenser connector connected to the connecting socket of the main body, the liquid in the receiving chamber of the container body can flow through the water dispenser connecter to the connecting socket of the main body. Once the water container is detached from the main body, the water dispenser connector stops the liquid from flowing out of the receiving chamber of the container body.

Abstract: A cartridge dispenser generally includes an actuator, cartridge carrier, a removable cartridge, a dispenser head, and a cartridge piston. A sensor is configured to sense data and provide feedback data for controlling the actuator. The dispenser head is a multi-piece assembly allowing removal of an outlet flow tube for maintenance purposes. The tube may be a resilient tube and pinch valves are provided for fluid flow control from the dispenser.

Abstract: The invention discloses a valve including a valve body with a valve inlet and a valve outlet. The valve body is joined to a bellows between the valve inlet and the valve outlet, the bellows having an annular side wall formed in a concertina formation with inner and outer corners wherein the side wall has a non-constant thickness along its length, the side wall being thicker at the outer corners and thinner at the inner corners. The bellows further has an annular mounting base for attachment to the valve body. The valve body has an annular flange from which extends an upstanding collar, wherein the mounting base is clamped between the valve body and the collar. The mounting base has a width being wider than a gap formed between the valve body and the collar so that the mounting base is compressed when clamped between the valve body and the collar.

Abstract: A valve includes a body, a plug and a diaphragm defining an aperture and a seat. The diaphragm is substantially movable in response to a force applied to the seat by the plug. The valve can be cycled between an open state in which the plug is free of the seat, a closed state in which the plug is seated against the seat, and a third state in which the plug is seated against the seat and substantially deflects the diaphragm.

Abstract: A device for filling containers includes an arrangement (7) for feeding filling material to at least one dosing system (5) forming a flow path (27) containing a dosing valve (29) that can be opened at least for the duration of the dosing processes to distribute the dosing amounts of the filling material via at least one filling line (9) into relevant containers. The dosing system (5) has an element (31, 33, 43) disposed in the flow path (27) downstream of the dosing valve (29) for selectively producing a suction effect in the flow path (27). A control mechanism (39) activates the element (31, 33, 43) producing the suction effect. Dosing processes are completed by closing the dosing valve (29).

Abstract: A dispensing system for an appliance has a main tank for holding a fluid. The main tank controls the temperature of the fluid. A dispenser outlet fluidly is connected to the tank by a dispenser fluid line. An auxiliary tank holds a volume of the fluid. A flow control device selectively moves the fluid held in the auxiliary tank to the main tank then through the dispenser fluid line to the dispenser outlet and selectively removes the fluid remaining in the dispenser fluid line after dispensing.

Abstract: A die for dispensing a fluid onto a substrate, wherein the die has an movable lip adjacent a fixed lip to form a die opening therebetween. An actuator is mechanically connected to the movable lip and is operable to automatically move the movable lip with respect to the fixed lip in association with a fluid dispensing process, thereby changing a volume of the die opening. The adjustable die is often a slot die and is used with a fluid dispensing valve having an upstream valve ball. The actuator can be an electromechanical actuator such as a piezoelectric actuator or a fluid operated actuator.

Abstract: A dispenser for flowable materials has a dispensing head with a chamber having inlet and discharge openings of a predetermined volume, a closure to open and close the inlet, a body which can be positioned in the chamber, for occupying a portion of its volume, a supply of flowable material to the inlet, and, the body being moveable so that at least a portion of the body is withdrawn from the chamber to increase the effective volume of the chamber and cause material in the discharge opening to be sucked back into the chamber.

Abstract: Apparatus for volumetric dosing of viscous products comprising a dispensing outlet connected to apparatus for substantially vertically moving the outlet, a supply conduit, a valve for the supply conduit, a dispensing valve and a dosing chamber. The dispensing outlet constituting the lower end of the dosing chamber. Preferably the apparatus comprises a suck back feature for sucking back product to prevent after dripping.

Abstract: A dosing device for filling liquid into containers comprises a filler body and a metering device. The metering device communicates with the interior of a rotary valve through an end cover of the valve housing, the valve including a valve seat and a check valve closure member spring-biased towards the seat. The valve includes first, second and third rotary ports and first and second fixed ports. Downstream of the second fixed port is an anti-drip suction-producing device of a piston-and-cylinder form whereof the stroke of the piston is adjustable. Upstream of the first fixed port is a throttling valve lowerable into an operative position downstream of inlet holes from a liquid-containing tank.

Abstract: A valve unit to be used in a packing machine of the type which manufactures filled and sealed non-returnable packages for dairy products such as milk, yogurt and the like from prefabricated blanks. The packages are filled one at a time by a metering pump and the liquid is fed from the pump to the package via the valve unit. The valve unit includes a check valve and a flexible nozzle which co-operate so as to prevent any after-dripping between pumping strokes. This is achieved in that the check valve with the help of a piston component, after the completed pumping stroke, creates a vacuum in the liquid filled valve unit. This vacuum affects the flexible nozzle so that it closes rapidly and effectively.

Abstract: A liquid-dosing apparatus has a lower tube centered on an axis and having a lower end provided with a nozzle, an upper tube telescoping coaxially with the lower tube and defining therewith an axial passage extending upward from the nozzle, A supply for feeding the liquid to the passage in the upper tube, and a drive that vertically reciprocates one of the tubes axially relative to the other. Respective upper and lower annular bladders in the tubes can be pressurized to block the passage in the respective tube therewith and depressurized to unblock the passage in the respective tube. A controller connected to the drive and pressurizing system alternately pressurizes and depressurizes the bladders synchronously with vertical reciprocation of the one tube. These bladders are annular, hollow, and have inner peripheries that lie flush in the passage when the bladders are depressurized. In addition to the nozzle, tubes, and bladders are all of the same flow section and shape, whereby the passage is axially uniform.

Abstract: Apparatus for dispensing paint or other liquids having a rotational valve actuable between a dispensing position and a suction position and a piston and cylinder assembly in flow coupling relation to the valve, and having a base plate for rotationally positioning the piston and cylinder assembly between the dispensing position and the suction position, including an inclined plane for imparting a predetermined suction movement of the piston during the rotational positioning.

Abstract: A dispensing valve assembly for accurate volumetric dispensation of delicate fluids is disclosed, suitable for use with a fluid dispensing system. The valve has a poppet that is movable within a chamber. A bias spring or external operator urges the poppet towards the top of the chamber, so that a circumferential elastomeric seal engages with the chamber wall. Pressure of fluid to be dispensed entering the top of the chamber forces the poppet towards the bottom of the chamber, disengaging the seal from the chamber wall and allowing fluid to pass around the seal and then out of the chamber through an outlet opening at the bottom of the chamber. Downward travel of the poppet is stopped when the bottom of the poppet contacts the bottom of the chamber. Release of fluid pressure allows the poppet to be forced towards the top of the chamber once again, engaging the seal with a chamber wall.

Abstract: A valve assembly has a spring-biased discharge valve seated for closing the discharge whereafter product is sucked back from a discharge nozzle during a continued movement of the valve in the direction of closing. Parts of the valve may be relatively adjusted for regulating the amount of suck-back flow of product from the nozzle.

Abstract: The invention provides a filling assembly for dispensing quantities of liquid into containers wherein there is a dispensing head which registers with the top of the container to be filled, the container is raised to lift the discharge head, the liquid is dispensed into the container and the subsequent lowering of the discharge head when the container has been filled creates a partial vacuum effect in discharge passages through which the liquid is dispensed to prevent dripping or flowing of residual liquid into the container.

Abstract: In a non-drip valve for a fluid flow line having a vacuum unit comprising supply chamber, a discharge chamber and a vacuum chamber connected to the discharge chamber to withdraw fluid therefrom when the forward flow is arrested, an improved control valve controlling the flow of fluid from a source to the supply chamber comprising a ball element operable between alternate positions, one of which admits fluid from the source of supply to the supply chamber and blocks the flow of fluid from the supply chamber to a return line, and the other of which blocks flow of fluids from the supply source to the supply chamber and simultaneously affords flow of fluid from the supply chamber to the return line, the position of said ball element being controlled by the armature of a solenoid.

Abstract: A pump assembly for an atomizing piston pump comprises a first piston slidably located in a first cylinder to define a first variable volume space and a second piston of smaller piston area than the first slidably located in a second cylinder to define a second variable volume space. The two volume spaces are in communication and there is a fluid flow passage through the first piston. A first valve is provided for opening and closing the passage and first biasing means urges the valve into a position closing the passage. Second biasing means urges the second piston towards a position corresponding to the minimum volume of the second volume space. The valve opens in the direction of fluid flow through the passage and fixed means are provided for opening the valve only after a predetermined amount of movement of the first piston.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for dispensing small quantities of viscous materials in a reliable and accurately repeatable manner are described. A deformable tube which couples material in a reservoir to a discharge port is pinched by a valve at the same time the reservoir is pressurized. The material is dispensed in correspondence with the amount of reduction of the tube volume by the pinch valve. A simultaneous depressurizing of the material in the reservoir and the opening of the pinch valve enables a suck-back for a crisp cut-off of the material.

Abstract: This invention relates to a positive displacement adjustable volume pumping and dispensing system used to supply measured amounts of viscous material. The system includes a pneumatically or hydraulically driven submersible adjustable volume piston-type pump, and a combination two-section pinch-off aspirator valve that is connected to the pump. The pinch-off section of the valve is used to dispense the metered amount of fluid to the aspirator section of the valve and the aspirator section of the valve prevents drip from the nozzle after the material is dispensed as well as aids in advancing the material to a dispensing nozzle.

Abstract: An axially compliant injection nozzle for plastic molding machines incorporating a valve actuated by differential motion between the mold and the conditioning chamber comprises a tappet engaged on the stem of that valve and entrapping a valve spring between the valve seat and the tappet. The nozzle has a sliding fit with a bore in the tappet head and is biased away from the latter by a secondary spring. The action of the secondary spring aids in maintaining good sealing contact between the nozzle and the sprue bushing and during the injection period despite variations in the lock-up force between the nozzle and the sprue, and retains such contact subsequent to injection so as to prevent plastic drip due to backflow.