Abstract: A conveyor and carriage assembly are synchronized to increase the speed of operation and eliminate any dwell periods to improve the rate at which a linear container filler is able to fill containers with a material. The fill rate approaches or exceeds that of prior art linear and rotary filling machines.

Abstract: An automated apparatus that sterilizes and refills beverage containers with filtered water and any number of additives or ingredients such as nutrients, health supplements, caffeine, flavorings, vitamins, sweeteners, coloring agents, medicines, etc. The apparatus allows consumers, including home consumers, to produce, customize and “bottle” their own flavored and fortified filtered water.

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 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: 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: A process and a machine are described for filling containers with cosmetic products even having different characteristics. The machine comprises at least one unit that executes a succession of similar processing cycles, each of which comprises the loading of at least one loading cell with a cosmetic product, and the levelling of the cosmetic product itself inside the loading cell, the transfer and compacting of the cosmetic product loaded inside the loading cell inside a pick-up cell, the transfer of the compacted cosmetic product from the pick-up cell to a collection container and the final pressing of the compacted cosmetic product in the collection container itself.

Abstract: An apparatus for introducing filler material in a fluid carrier into a measuring chamber in rapid succession is described. The apparatus includes a delivery subsystem for introducing the filler material into the fluid carrier. The delivery subsystem provides the fluid carrier and filler material to a diverter subsystem which separates the stream into two separate streams. The two separate streams are directed into a rotating concentrator subsystem that separates the fluid carrier from the filler material and compresses the filler material. The filler material is further compressed and dewatered in a taper subsystem and drain subsystem. The filler material is then dispensed from the drain subsystem into a measuring chamber where it is cut by a knife plate that includes two blades with overlapping cuts. The apparatus is capable of introducing controlled weights or volumes of filler material into a measuring chamber at high speeds.

Abstract: A container filling system is disclosed that produces controlled volumes and weights of filler material for discharge into containers. The system includes a material feed subsystem that provides a source of longitudinally aligned filler material of uniform density or a plug flow of substantially homogenous, amorphous filler material. A rotating measuring subsystem includes measuring chambers that receive predetermined amounts of the material for transfer to a discharge subsystem. The material is transferred into the measuring chambers in an axial direction and is transferred for discharge into the containers in the same direction. More particularly, the rotating discharge subsystem includes a plurality of discharge stations that receive both the measuring chambers and containers immediately below the chambers. Plungers are supported above the measuring chambers and are vertically controlled by a cam to move downward with rotation of the discharge subsystem.

Abstract: A container filling system that produces controlled volumes and weight of filler material for discharge into containers. The system includes a material feed subsystem that provides a source of longitudinally aligned filler material of uniform density. A rotating measuring subsystem includes measuring chambers that receive predetermined amounts of the material for transfer to a discharge subsystem. The material is transferred into the measuring chamber in an axial direction and is transferred for discharge into the containers in the same direction. More particularly, the rotating discharge subsystem includes a plurality of discharge stations that receive both the measuring chambers and containers immediately below the chambers. Plungers are supported above the measuring chambers and are vertically controlled by a cam to move downward with rotation of the discharge subsystem. As a result, the material is forced from the measuring chamber into the container.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for delivering a predetermined amount of material into a predetermined position on each of a series of moving trays while avoiding spillage of the product onto other portions of the trays. A conveyor lifts the material onto a shaker pan which delivers the material in an even flow on to a rotating turntable having a plurality of radially extending gutters thereon. The turntable directs the material to flow along the gutters and into a plurality of hoppers disposed at the periphery of the turntable. Once a hopper is full, any excess material falls onto a drip tray which returns the material back to a supply bin. The filled hoppers are sequentially rotated above the trays, which are moving on a conveyor, to release material onto a predetermined area of each successive tray. A funnel disposed between the hopper and the tray facilitates delivery of material onto the tray.

Abstract: An apportioning apparatus for depositing a selected amount of a particulate product onto a series of moving receptacles is provided. At least one bucket is mounted in a reciprocating carriage for receiving a selected amount of the product. The bucket includes a closure for the outlet end that selectively opens to deposite a selected amount of the product onto a moving receptacle, with the speed of movement of the carriage and bucket substantially matched to the speed of movement of the receptacle during the filling operation.

Abstract: Apparatus for dispensing uncompacted rice upon each of a continuously-moving train of plates from a hopper containing an auger which is rotated to effect dispensing only when a plate is in position beneath the outlet of the hopper. The hopper is caused to swing back and forth about an axis at right angles to the direction of motion of the plates, so that the outlet of the hopper swings downstream at about the same speed as the underlying plate while the auger is operating, thereby to concentrate the dispensed rice on a predetermined part of the plate. The timing may be such that, while the hopper is executing its upstream return motion, the next plate passes beneath it without receiving rice, the hopper dispensing only upon every other plate; another similar hopper at a downstream position then provides similar rice deposits upon similar parts of those alternate plates which do not receive rice from the upstream hopper.

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: Continuous hollow object casting machine comprises a plurality of chucks with means to convey the chucks through a helical path along a longitudinal, preferably a closed longitudinal, path, in the course of which the chucks are also rotated about an axis perpendicular to the primary helical path and the rate of movement there along being devised to permit substantially complete hardening of a molding material in molds carried by the chucks so that casts, with molten material therein, may be loaded at one end of the path and unloaded, with a hollow object molded therein, at the other end of the path.

Abstract: A filling machine for filling containers as they are advanced by a conveyor. Valved dispenser assemblies are moved in an upright closed loop course above the conveyor and move in the direction of advance of the conveyor during the lower half of the closed loop course and in the opposite direction during the upper half of the closed loop course. Fluid pressure operated valve actuators are provided for operating the valves on the dispensers between their open and closed positions and control mechanism is provided to control application of fluid pressure to the valve actuators in timed relation to the movement of the dispenser assemblies in their closed loop course. Provision is also made for no container-no fill operation.

Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing material into containers as they are advanced by a conveyor. The dispensing apparatus includes a nozzle having a product outlet at its lower end, a crank connected to the nozzle for moving the nozzle in an upright closed loop course, a dispenser control mounted for oscillation about a swing axis above the crank axis, and mechanism connecting the nozzle to the dispenser control for relative sliding movement so that the nozzle oscillates about the swing axis and also reciprocates relative to the dispenser control as the nozzle is moved in its closed loop course. Valve mechanism on the nozzle is operated between its open and closed positions in response to reciprocation of the nozzle toward and away from the dispenser outlet.

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.

Abstract: The relative positions between a pair of moving objects and the velocity of one of such objects is controlled so as to synchronize the movements of the objects. Synchronization is achieved through the use of a novel sensor mechanism and a control circuit associated therewith. The sensor mechanism, which may be mounted on a molten metal pouring machine, includes a moving beam which carries a probe which describes the same circular arc regardless of where positioned on the beam. The probe contacts an object on a conveyor, for example a mold to be poured, and a signal generator mechanically coupled to the moving beam will provide an output signal commensurate with the relative position and velocity of the tool and workpiece.

Abstract: A filling machine for simultaneously filling several containers each with a predetermined amount of fluid, in which the containers are indexed by the use of a feed screw which moves the containers into the area of the machine where the nozzles are lowered into the containers to carry out the discharge of the fluid into the containers and are raised again, and/or in which the nozzle support structure is actuated to reciprocate in the direction of the movement of the containers while the containers are being filled and opposite this direction after the nozzles are raised clear of the top of the containers.

Abstract: An apparatus for filling and sealing ampules has a support disc rotatable about an upright axis and provided along its outer edge with a succession of seats formed by rollers. Ampules are pressed into these seats by an endless belt spanned around the disc, or by a plurality of pressing wheels. The pressing wheels or the belt are driven so that the ampules are rotated in place in their seats during the filling and sealing operations. A tool carrier, which is pivotal about the axis of rotation of the support disc, angularly oscillates back and forth over a limited arc and the tools carried on this carrier are displaced at the same angular speed as the continuously displaced ampules so that they act on the ampules as they move in the forward direction, then return and act on the next ampule or group of ampules. These tools can be filling or sealing units.