Abstract: A method of filling dry vegetable soup packets in a packet filling plant using a filling machine and an apparatus therefor, and a method of filling bags with either liquids or solids in a filling plant and an apparatus therefor. The abstract of the disclosure is submitted herewith as required by 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b). As stated in 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b): A brief abstract of the technical disclosure in the specification must commence on a separate sheet, preferably following the claims, under the heading “Abstract of the Disclosure.” The purpose of the abstract is to enable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and gist of the technical disclosure. The abstract shall not be used for interpreting the scope of the claims. Therefore, any statements made relating to the abstract are not intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.

Abstract: Filler devices having an enclosure sub-assembly are provided herein. Filler devices may include at least one of a reservoir and at least one working valve for dispensing the product into a container. Enclosure sub-assemblies may include an enclosure frame, an enclosure member, at least one hinge, and at least one magnetic latch assembly, wherein the at least one magnetic latch assembly comprises a body having a magnet associated therewith, and wherein the at least one magnetic latch assembly is fixedly secured to one of the enclosure frame or the enclosure member upon displacement of the enclosure member from a closed position to an open position, and releasably, magnetically secured to the other of the enclosure frame or the enclosure member upon displacement of the enclosure member from a closed position to an open position.

Abstract: A container filling device is provided for filling a container with desired headspace. The container filling device includes a siphon and a funnel having a bottom region configured to engage a container. The siphon extends through an opening in the bottom region and a sidewall such that a first end of the siphon has a first elevation and a second end of the siphon has a lower elevation than the first elevation. The bottom region is provided with an opening for the outflow of liquid from the receiving area into the container. Excess liquid flowing into the container beyond a desired headspace escapes from the container through the siphon. A liquid filler system can be provided with a frame, a plumbing system, and an alignment system for engaging and disengaging the container filling device with the container.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for introducing filling material (21) into capsules (22), comprising a filling device (25) for feeding filling material (21) to the capsules (22), a capsule holder (30) with at least one row of seats (31) in which the capsules (22) that are to be filled are arranged, a station arrangement with several stations arranged one after another, wherein the station arrangement comprises at least one filling station (5) and a synchronously operating drive, and a movement device which, at the capsule-filling station (5), executes a relative movement between the filling device (25) and the capsule holder (30), wherein the filling device (25) adopts, relative to the capsule holder (30), at least a first filling position for filling a first capsule and a second filling position for filling a second capsule.

Abstract: In an apparatus for filling a blister band with products, two or more work units are carried by relative carriages and have hoppers fed with different kinds of products. The products are then supplied to discharge conduits leading to the blisters of the band. Strips are fastened to lower ends of the discharge conduits and match with the upper surface of the blister band. The carriages are operated in a to-and-fro motion, so as to center, the lower ends of the discharge conduits with respect to the blisters, and to maintain this centering for a prefixed time. The holes remain coaxial to the lower ends of the conduits, situated above, to allow passage of one product from each discharge conduit to a blister.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling dispensing of a desiccant material into an interior region of an elongated spacer frame member. The appropriate desiccant dispensing nozzle is automatically selected and/or the distance between the desiccant dispensing nozzle and the elongated spacer frame member is automatically determined based on a property of the spacer frame member, such as the width of the spacer frame member.

Abstract: A multi-well microfiltration apparatus and method are provided and feature a manual touch-off system for transferring pendent drops hanging from discharge-conduits of a discharge-conduit array to respective receiving wells or receiving holes of a corresponding receiving array, with minimum or no cross-contamination between the discharge conduits, or the receiving wells or receiving holes. The manual touch-off is achieved by manually shifting a carriage that supports one of the arrays, into a position whereat pendent drops of fluid hanging from the distal ends of the discharge conduits contact the inner sidewalls of the corresponding receiving wells or receiving holes of the receiving array.

Abstract: A device for injecting a product towards a predetermined site of objects continuously moving along a given path while being spaced apart from one another by a specific step. The device (10) includes a series of injectors (26) borne by a mobile support (28) while being spaced apart on the support by a pitch corresponding to that of the objects, and the support (28) is driven in a reciprocating movement such that, during a forward phase of the movement, the injectors (26) move each opposite the predetermined site of one of the objects, and in the time interval of the reciprocating movement of the support is equal to the time interval between the passage of two consecutive objects in front of a common fixed point, multiplied by the number of injectors on the support.

Abstract: An apparatus for successively subjecting objects to a processing, comprising a transporting device for transporting the objects; a feed device for feeding the objects for processing to the transporting device; at least one processing device for processing the objects transported by the transporting device; and a discharge device for discharging the objects from the transporting device, wherein the transporting device is adapted to transport the objects for processing with a uniform linear movement and wherein the processing device is adapted to perform the processing on the objects during the uniform movement.

Abstract: A device for filling and suction of filter plates in a microtitration plate format which is comprised of a simultaneously working multipipette, two stacking elements, a plate transfer car with a suction station, four lifting drives, and an electric plate holder. The plates emanating from the dispensing stacking elements are filled by the pipettes or the pipette automatic machine and can be deposited on the suction station afterwards with the aid of the plate holder and the lifter. The plates are then lifted together with the weight such that the plate is sufficiently pressed hard on the seal in the suction station. As a result, a corresponding low pressure can be generated in the vacuum station.

Abstract: A filling apparatus of irregular-formed vessels having an intermittent swinging table (111) disposed above a continuous rotation table (5) and having a plurality of filling nozzles (121) at a same pitch as the vessel holding pitch, filling means for pushing out the liquid from the filling nozzles (121), vertical moving means for vertically moving the filling nozzles (121), a continuously rotating outside hollow shaft (119) to which the continuous rotation table (5) is mounted, a hollow shaft (116) disposed concentrically with the outside hollow shaft (119) for reciprocally rotating the intermittent swinging table (111).

Abstract: The machine provides for metering liquid pharmaceutical products into bottom shells, and has: a bottom part rotating about a respective vertical axis; a number of first vertical through holes formed in the bottom part; a piston movable reciprocatingly along a respective first hole; a bottom-shell belt meshing with a portion of the bottom part; a rotary top part defined by a vessel containing the pharmaceutical product; a rotary central part coaxial and angularly integral with the bottom part and the top part; a second hole, for each first hole, formed radially along the central part; and a valve housed in each of the second holes. Two separate channels are formed in the valve; and the valve rotates between a first angular position in which a first channel hydraulically connects the inside of the vessel to a metering chamber defined along the first hole, and a second angular position in which a second channel hydraulically connects the chamber to the inside of the bottom shell.

Abstract: A container following system for use with a particulate product measuring and dispensing machine having a discharge opening for allowing measured quantities of particulate product to drop therefrom into a moving container. The container following system comprises a following pocket disposed below the discharge opening of the particulate product measuring and dispensing machine and above a conveyor for moving containers to be filled. The following pocket comprises a reciprocating body having a generally vertical aperture through which particulate product drops from the discharge opening before landing in the container to be filled.

Abstract: The dispenser comprises a plurality of delivery stations (20a-20b, 30) for the constituent substances of the drink, a delivery station (40) for empty cups, a location (10) for release of the drink to the user, and an automatic control unit which automatically controls the succession of operations involved in emitting the substances and cups. A cup handling device (60) is provided, comprising a gripping member (61) for gripping a cup (8), and means for moving said gripping member (61) in such a manner as to bring it, by a succession of movements, to the exit points of the delivery stations (20a-20b, 30, 40, 50); said handling device (60) is controlled by the automatic control unit in such a manner as to firstly bring the gripping member (61) to the station (40), then bring the gripped cup under the exit points of the other delivery stations (20a-20b, 30, 50), and finally bring the cup carrying the drink into the location (10) for its release to the user.

Abstract: A set-up table or conveyor system for bottle handling machines with inlet and outlet star wheels and corresponding guide rails for the bottles. The drive mechanisms for the individual star wheels are located below and at a distance from the star wheels. The drive mechanisms and the associated drive shafts are covered by hoods or covers that can extend to the bottle transport level.

Abstract: A machine for filling fluid product into containers delivered in a row by a conveyor has a filling station with a walking nozzle bank. Containers are processed batchwise through the filling station, the nozzle bank including elongated gripper plates that are moved laterally to engage the containers while the nozzles are inserted therein. Once a batch of containers has been received in the filling station and engaged by the gripper plates, the container batch is allowed to move in the conveying direction together with the nozzle bank as the containers are being filled. Movement of the containers is controlled without the need for feed screws.

Abstract: An apparatus for filling containers with a liquid which includes a plurality of independent tanks positioned successively along a track that supports a series of containers. Each tank includes a weir for dispensing a liquid into the containers. The tanks are selectively fed with the liquid depending on the volume needed in the container. As a result, the volume of liquid dispensed into each container can be more accurately controlled. Funnels are provided for directing the liquid dispensed by the weirs into the open tops of the containers. The funnels are oriented vertically and close to the chain drive, even with the containers inclined, in order to lessen the loads placed on the chain drive for the funnels and thereby increase the mechanism's useful life. In addition, the funnels are passed through a cleaning assembly during a return segment to alleviate the need to shut down the machine to clean the funnels and thereby maximize the efficiency of the operation.

Abstract: A machine for metering pharmaceutical products into containers, each presenting, at least one given portion, a seat for a pharmaceutical product in the form of small-size particles; a conveyor being provided to convey the containers in a given direction through an operating station; a metering unit being provided for feeding the product into the containers by means of at least one dispenser; the dispenser presenting a number of nozzles for receiving the product from a hopper of the dispenser and subsequently feeding the product into the seat and a dispensing device for regulating flow of the product through the nozzles.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to apparatus for delivering a predetermined portion of product to a plurality of containers. The apparatus includes a driven endless conveyor having a plurality "of" horizontal flat plates pivotally connected to one another. Fences extend along the length of each of the opposite sides of the endless conveyor adjacent the upper surface portion of each plate to confine product upon the upper surfaces of the plates as the conveyor is driven. Each of the plates has an opening extending therethrough. A cup having an open top portion, an open bottom portion, and a predetermined volume therein is disposed in the opening of each of the plates with the open top portion of the cup in register with the opening in the plate. Means are provided for closing the bottom portion of the cups. Means are provided along the path of travel of the endless conveyor for delivering product to the upper surfaces of the plates and thereby to the cups.

Abstract: A container filling apparatus includes a tank mounted over a conveyor, and containers being moved along a conveyor under the tank. An elongated slot is formed in the bottom of the tank and aligned over the containers on the conveyor, to dispense fluid into the containers. A continuous loop belt extends around a pair of drums, with a lower portion of the belt in sealed slidable engagement with the tank bottom, to cover the slot. The belt has a plurality of apertures extending uniformly around the entirety of the belt, spaced apart a distance equal to the spacing of the containers on the conveyor, such that fluid dispensed through the belt apertures sliding over the slot will fill a container below the tank. Preferably, the belt is driven by the same drive system which drives the conveyor, to synchronize the speed of movement of the belt with the speed of movement of the containers under the tank.

Abstract: An automatic weight sorter used with a rotary container filling machine for sorting filled containers by weight. The filling machine has a rotary platform with a plurality of filling stations in which the containers, such as bottles, are supported for filling liquid product dispensed through a filling head at each filling station. The sorter is disposed at the exit end of the filling machine for successively weighing the filled bottles to sort them into predetermined classes of weight. The sorter is provided with an electronic device for storing measured weights for each filling station, calculating average weight for each station, counting the number of the sorted bottles in each class for each filling station, selectively displaying these data on a display screen and generating an alarm when the number of defective product exceeds a predetermined value.

Abstract: Accurately reproducible filling to a selected headspace level of a rapidly moving line of containers is obtained by using a single feeder screw through at least a final portion of a filling region and an outfeed zone following the filling region. The containers are tilted to a predetermined angle, depending on the selected headspace level, during their progress through the filling region and then return smoothly to an upright condition in the outfeed transition zone, without splashing any of the liquid content. Apparatus for filling the containers includes a container support structure in the filling region that can be adjusted through a range of tilt angles in an arc centered on the longitudinal axis of the feeder screw. The apparatus also includes an elongated funnel for delivering liquid to the containers and that can be pivoted forward to permit access to the filling region.

Abstract: The filling apparatus for a powdery product, especially for a freeze-dried food product, has a container conveyor for a plurality of containers, a measuring device and a plurality of filling funnels which are placed in the containers. The container conveyor has an entrance portion with a feed belt, a filling zone adjoining it and a delivery belt. A plurality of filling funnels is attached to a continuously circulating chain conveyor and guided in the conveying direction on the forwardly moving strand of a chain conveyor above and close to the container conveyor. A conveying screw driven synchronously with the chain conveyor is located in the entrance portion of the conveying belt. Its conveying helix engages the containers laterally so that the containers are movable with a feed speed corresponding to the conveying speed of the chain conveyor and can be spaced as defined in the spacing between the outlets of the filling funnels.

Abstract: An apparatus for the continuous sequential casting of metals and their alloys wherein a furnace is rotated about an axis and a series of molds is continuously transported to the furnace and the molds are sequentially filled with molten metal poured from the furnace. Each of the molds is caused to move in synchronous arcuate motion with an outlet of the furnace directly above the mold, so that the mold may be filled with metal from the furnace during the synchronous motion thereof. Within the furnace, a central main chamber communicates with the respective chamber of each of the outlets, such that, a continuous circuit of molten metal is maintained between the main and outlet chambers. In the top portion of the main chamber, an annular opening allows the addition of charge to the furnace during the rotation thereof for the continuous sequential casting process. During the filling of the molds, metal is withdrawn from the furnace substantially below the slag therein to prevent slag from entering the molds.

Abstract: An arrangement for use in a conveying and filling device where a conveyor is provided which travels along a linear path in a selected direction to carry articles, for example, recepticles to be filled. A dispensing device is carried by a mounting arm located in spaced relation from the conveyor and is carried by crank means to travel in an orbital path where the orbit carries the mounting arm in the direction of movement of the conveyor for the first portion of the orbit at the termination of which the orbital path returns the mounting arm to a second position relative to the conveyor for a second cycle over the conveyor, including a height adjusting arrangement to adjust the clearance between the mounting arm and the conveyor.

Abstract: A machine is provided which accurately measures and dispenses predetermined quantities of flowable products through an orbiting dispenser into conveyorized containers moving therebeneath. Orbital movement of the dispenser is synchronized with the linear speed of the conveyor so as to begin dispensing a product into a container as the dispenser approaches the lower portion of its cycle. The dispenser is programmed to delay closing for a period of time sufficient to permit substantially all of the product to flow therefrom and to be received into the container. Thereafter, pistons are provided to sweep out product residue from the interior of the dispenser and then to remove by a pulse of air any product residue still clinging to the bottom of the dispenser.

Abstract: Equally spaced pusher bars moving continuously around a closed path individually engage open top containers and push them in single file through a filling region where they are filled with liquid flowing freely in a continuous sheet from an elongated discharge edge extending along the path above the open tops of the containers. A separate deflecting unit is adjustably attached to each pusher bar, each deflecting unit having an upwardly convex wedge-shaped deflecting surface. The deflecting units move with the containers through the filling region, and the deflecting surfaces divide the continuous sheet of flowing liquid into a number of separate streams directed into the interiors of the respective containers, thereby preventing the liquid from contacting the external surfaces of the containers.

Abstract: In a slush molding process for producing a boot or shoe from a plastisol, a mold in the shape of the article of footwear is filled with liquid plastisol, the mold is heated to form a skin, the mold is tilted to pour out excess plastisol, and, after filling the heel cavity of the mold, the skin and heel filler are cured or hardened, and the skin is removed from the mold and trimmed for further processing. Instead of filling the heel cavities of the molds with a specially formulated heel filling composition, the skin trimmings, which were previously discarded as waste, can be ground, if necessary, mixed with additional stabilizer and injected into the heel cavities using an injection unit. With the molds travelling along a straight line path of travel, it is necessary to cause the nozzle end of the injection unit to move in synchronism with the molds.