Abstract: A device and a method for filling at least one container with a filling product in a beverage filling plant are described. The device includes a product holding vessel for accommodating the filling product, and at least one filling element communicating with the product holding vessel for filling the container with the filling product, and a product feed tube for feeding a filling product into the product holding vessel. A seal for sealing the product feed tube with respect to an interior space of the product holding vessel is provided. The seal can be switched between a sealing position for cleaning and a non-sealing position for the filling operation.

Abstract: An apparatus for filling containers with a product, includes a product supply, a pre-filling chamber having a controlled outlet, a movable sealing arrangement having a closed position for isolating the product supply from the pre-filling chamber, and a displacer arrangement that extends into the pre-filling chamber and that has an elastically deformable wall. The displacer arrangement is interactively connected to a control medium in such a way that an elastic volume change in the displacer arrangement changes a volume of the pre-filling chamber, thereby permitting control over an amount of product delivered through the outlet.

Abstract: A filling device for filling containers with liquid product includes a valve that is arranged in a product channel thereof. The valve comprises a valve element that is arranged in the product channel and a valve seat that surrounds the valve element to form the valve. The valve element and valve seat can be adjusted relative to each other. Length-adjustable connectors connect the valve seat to the product channel on both sides of the valve seat.

Abstract: A filling station for filling containers includes a number of container holders defining respective container positions; a number of filling assemblies, each filling assembly being associated with a container holder, where each filling assembly includes a reciprocating nozzle assembly which makes a first reciprocating movement from a retracted nozzle position in which a nozzle is retracted from the container to an inserted nozzle position in which the nozzle is inserted into the container, where the nozzle moves through an opening in a lid member of a reciprocating lid assembly to be inserted into the container for filling the container with liquid; where the reciprocating lid assembly makes a second reciprocating movement towards a filling opening of the container in the container holder and back in a direction away from the filling opening, where the reciprocating lid assembly is under pretension in the direction of the container holder.

Abstract: A sealing device with a bearing unit for a distribution apparatus for media may include a shaft sleeve arranged in a stationary manner and inside which at least one supply line for a medium can be guided and a housing rotatable with respect to the shaft sleeve and arranged radially outside the shaft sleeve with respect to a rotation axis of the housing. The bearing unit bears the housing such that it can rotate with respect to the shaft sleeve, and the bearing unit is offset with respect to the sealing device in the direction of the rotation axis.

Abstract: A center-of-gravity detection system includes a vehicle capable of carrying cargo and adapted to be towed by a towing vehicle, a shake detector configured to detect shakes in the directions of the self-weight and width of the towed vehicle during travel of the towed vehicle, and an arithmetic unit. The arithmetic unit is configured to derive, based upon physical quantities that correlate with the shakes, the location of the center of gravity, in three-dimensional space, of the towed vehicle.

Abstract: There is provided a flexible tube for an endoscope, including a framed structure unit having a plurality of joint members rotatably coupled to each other so that the framed structure unit is able to bend freely, each joint member having a form of a short cylinder, a reticulated tube that is reticulated with thread and is formed to cover the framed structure unit, and a flexible sheath that has flexibility and is formed to cover the reticulated tube. Further, a cross section of an outer surface of the flexible sheath has a circular shape, and a cross section of an outer surface of each joint member has a non-circular shape so that a wall thickness of the flexible sheath has a thicker part in a particular direction about an axis line of the flexible tube than another part of the wall thickness of the flexible sheath.

Abstract: According to a method for statistical weighing of a product supplied by a plurality of nozzles into containers, an empty container, belonging to a withdrawing group, is withdrawn to define an empty seat in the withdrawing group. The withdrawn empty container is weighed by a scale, to determine a tare weight, and then introduced in an empty seat made in a test group of containers, is a position designed to match with a selected nozzle to be tested. After introducing product into the weighed, empty container, by the selected nozzle, the filled container is withdrawn and weighed by the same scale to determine a gross weight. The exact quantity of product introduced into the filled container is thus determined by difference between the tare and gross weights.

Abstract: A liquid metering-filling apparatus is provided which includes a container transport conveyor intermittently drivable so as to halt containers one by one at a filling station. A filling nozzle is disposed above a path of transport of containers at the filling station. A metering cylinder houses a piston and has an outlet in communication with the filling nozzle. An inlet check valve is provided at an inlet of the metering cylinder. An outlet check valve is provided at any one of the outlet of the metering cylinder and inside of the filling nozzle. The liquid metering-filling apparatus also includes a driver for causing the piston to perform a cycle of stroking movement every time the conveyor is driven by one pitch. A photoelectric sensor is provided at the filling station for detecting any one of the presence and absence of a container of the plurality of containers at the filling station.

Abstract: The invention relates to a metering-out device for taking successive timed doses of liquid from a tank, the device comprising a body for mounting in fixed manner relative to the tank and including a liquid-taking plunger with motion transmission means for driving the plunger with reciprocating motion in the liquid so that in one direction the liquid is metered out and in the opposite direction it is pumped. The invention also provides a metering-out valve including such a metering-out device, and metering-out apparatus including such a metering-out valve.

Abstract: The invention provides a mount for attachment to a link chain conveyor, especially--but not exclusively--for use in an automatic packaging machine. The mount has two pivot points of attachment to prevent unwanted motion caused by centrifugal forces as the mount circles a sprocket wheel. One of the two pivot points is a pair of tracks having wear resistant nylon blocks mounted on them to provide lost motion. Responsive to each lost motion extension, the block rubs the tracks to clean them of debris.

Abstract: A high speed automatic packaging machine is constructed from standardized modules in order to reduce cost and standardize operational and maintenance procedures. The standardized modules include conveyor chains trained over sprocket wheels to form modules which may be ganged to maintain synchronization of operations. Various types of mandrels may be attached to the conveyor chain in order to adapt the machine to load different types of products. The mandrels experience significant centrifugal forces as they go around the path defined by the sprocket wheels. To prevent the mandrels from slapping the conveyor chain when it is traveling at high speed, a leading end of the mandrel is pivotly connected to the chain while a trailing end of the mandrel is captured within a slot which allows the mandrel to go around the sprocket wheel without departing therefrom.

Abstract: A bag detection apparatus (50) for sensing the position and seam integrity of a deformable bag (24) and bag transfer apparatus (53) for gripping and maintaining positive control of the edges (25) of the bag (24) during transfer from a bag filling station to a bag closure station. The bag positioning and seam integrity detecting apparatus (50) includes pneumatic conduits (60-67) mounted on the bag distending assembly (23) of a bag filling apparatus (20) and coupled to pressure switches (68). A controller (101), monitoring increases in pressure at each pressure switch (68), determines the position and condition of the mounted bag (24). The transfer apparatus (52) includes a pair of elongated arms (80) having hook-shaped gripping fingers (82) formed to engage and cooperate with clamping members (83) to grip the bag proximate the upper edge (25). A bag detection method also is provided.

Abstract: An automatic beverage dispenser having a single flavor or a multiflavor automatic beverage dispensing valve (faucet) and including a system for preventing the dispensing of a warm casual drink. The automatic dispenser includes an on-board computer having a timer circuit to purge the warm water in the uncooled portion of the water line between the cooling apparatus and the dispensing valve whenever a drink is requested and no drink has been dispensed for a particular period of time. The warm water is purged or drained out for a period of time needed to purge the warm water from the uncooled portion of the water line. In another embodiment, a temperature sensor is included in the water line and the warm water purging terminates when the temperature falls to a predetermined value.

Abstract: An aerosol can containing a liquid propellant is placed on a can support platform (44). An operator actuated fluid control switch (84) provides pneumatic fluid or compressed air to a pneumatic cylinder (46) which continuously biases the aerosol can upward into engagement with a reservoir outlet (66) of a liquid reservoir (60). A sensing switch (52) senses movement of the can support, hence, the aerosol can. An operator actuated start valve (92) enables compressed air to be supplied cyclically (78a, 78b, 96) to a pump pneumatic cylinder (70). A pump (74) driven by the cylinder cycles a preselected number of times as counted by counter (90) to pump a preselected amount of liquid from the reservoir through the reservoir outlet and into the aerosol can.

Abstract: The invention greatly increases the speed at which a fill step may be completed in an automatic packaging machine. Instead of the usual process where a gate opens and closes for dumping product into each empty box, a plurality of bottomless measuring cups and transfer cups are moved in an aligned sequence with the corresponding boxes. These cups move over planar surfaces which function as the bottoms of the cups and keep the product in place within the cups. At selected locations, the cups pass over interruptions in the surfaces so that the product may fall out of the cup and into an underlying structure.

Abstract: A driving device for a double bellows dispensing unit is disclosed. The device includes a cylinder slidably mounted on a fixed vertical shaft and a plate mounted on the cylinder. The plate is connected with the dispensing unit. A rotary cam and cam follower cooperate to impart oscillating motion to the plate upon upward movement of the cylinder along the shaft. A control valve controls the flow of fluid under pressure to the cylinder for selectively displacing the cylinder in opposite directions. When the cylinder is displaced downwardly by the control valve, the cam and cam follower are disengaged, so that the oscillating motion stops.

Abstract: Liquid from a supply tank B flows into a container C via outer and central annular chambers 14, 8 of filling apparatus A. Communication between the chambers is controlled by a flexible diaphragm 5 selectively urged against an annular seat 15 on a wall 10 separating the chambers in response to air pressure supplied to a chamber 23 on an opposite side of the diaphragm.

Abstract: A soft drink maker has a supply of soda water and various flavors housed in a cabinet. A user puts a container in a selected station on the cabinet and selects the size and flavor of the drink to be made and starts the machine. The machine senses the presence of the container in the station, dispenses soda water into the container in two measured and consecutive quantities, and dispenses into the container a measured quantity of the selected flavor syrup between the consecutive in-flows of soda water. Upon removal of the container from the station, the operation can be repeated. Various electrical interlocks make sure the proper sequence or cycle is followed.

Abstract: A controlled chute device, including a ramp chute having an entrance gate at the upstream and an exit gate at the downstream, for letting groups of product fed from the entrance gate slip down along it by gravity and discharging them from the exit gate, wherein the both entrance and exit gates are controlled sophisticatedly so that two or more groups of product sequentially fed from the entrance gate can exist on the chute at the same time without fear of contact and intermixture of the adjoining groups, which device is especially suitable for use in a combination weighing machine.

Abstract: A pharmaceutical filler apparatus (20) is disclosed. The pharmaceutical filler apparatus (20) cooperates with a conveyor (22) conveying containers to position each of the containers proximate a fluid delivery conduit (36) for receipt of fluid. The present invention further includes a reservoir (42) positioned above the containers at a predetermined height, the fluid being maintained in the reservoir at a constant level. The pharmaceutical apparatus (20) further includes a quick acting pinch valve (50) associated with the fluid delivery (36) for opening and closing the fluid delivery conduit (36). The pinch valve apparatus (50) includes a biasing spring (98) for biasing a valve apparatus (50) into a first position whereby the fluid delivery conduit (36) is closed. A cam actuator apparatus (54) cooperates with the pinch valve apparatus (50) to position the pinch valve (50) in a second position whereby the fluid delivery conduit (36) is opened.

Abstract: A nitrogen injector system is provided including a nitrogen injector unit. The nitrogen injector unit includes liquid nitrogen with a head space having gaseous nitrogen at a pressure exceeding atmospheric pressure. An injector orifice is provided, as is a distributing disk which normally closes that orifice. The distributing disk is provided with metering apertures for receiving metered amounts of liquid nitrogen from a nitrogen receptacle and transporting those metered amounts to a position adjacent the injector orifice and for opening the orifice when the metered amount is in the requisite position. The pressure of nitrogen gas within the head space is utilized to eject the metered amount from the metering aperture into a container located at the dispensing position. Containers are advanced to the dispensing position on a container conveyor.

Abstract: Apparatus for dispensing squirts of liquid into the top openings of a moving train of regularly spaced-apart containers, including a rotating circular band having a plurality of nozzle openings spaced about it and aligned directly over the container top openings, and a fixed manifold device slidingly sealed to the band and supplied with liquid under pressure so that each time a nozzle opening passes the manifold it supplies a squirt of liquid into a corresponding container moving along beneath it. Automatic shut-off of the dispenser is provided in the absence of a container by sensing the absence of the container at an upstream position and automatically moving the manifold device axially out of alignment with the path of the nozzle openings to prevent squirting of liquid into a gap in the train. Another manifold slidingly sealed to the band is supplied with pressurized air so that each nozzle is blown clean of liquid immediately after it completes its dispensing action.

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: A rotating single or multi-chamber counterpressure filling machine is provided and has filling elements respectively provided with a controlled pressurized gas valve arrangement having a valve- and control-unit, and with a centering device comprising a centering tulip on guided rods which are movable up and down, said centering device including a holder to fix the centering device in an upper position, and a releasor for releasing this holder. The holder and releasor are in the form of a controllable arresting device for arresting and releasing the centering device; the arresting device engages, or meshes in, at least one of the rods of the centering device.

Abstract: A gas precharged, liquid filling machine operating with dual rows of containers includes a pair of concentrically disposed inner and outer rows of container receptacles, and an array of pairs of inner and outer gas precharged, filling mechanisms which are disposed directly above the respective rows of container receptacles. The pair of inner and outer filling mechanisms each include a valve which is independently operated, in accordance with the presence or absence of a container, by means of coaxially disposed rotary shafts. Snifter mechanisms for both filling mechanisms are simultaneously operated by a common snifter shaft. Each pair of inner and outer container receptacles, which are modularized, are mounted on a common elevating member in a manner to permit their elastic downward displacement in response to undue stresses applied thereto, thus avoiding the risk that the containers or bottles may be broken.

Abstract: In a container filling apparatus having a plurality of revolving charging cylinders and respective pistons by which a fluid filling material supplied into the cylinders with their pistons at the limit end of their intake strokes is subsequently pushed out of the cylinders and through nozzles to fill respective containers at a filling position, the containers being preparatorily positioned on respective revolving platforms, the piston rod of each of the charging cylinders can be locked at the start of its intake stroke by a respective locking mechanism when the mechanism, as it revolves with the cylinder, contacts and is actuated by a stationary actuating device operated in accordance with a detection signal generated by a monitoring device. When this monitoring device detects the absence of an empty container from its preparatory position on any platform, it generates the detection signal to lock the corresponding piston rod thereby to prevent containerless discharging of the filling material.

Abstract: A valve and control system for filling sequentially presented containers with measured charges of semi-solid food product and the like from a feed hopper is provided in which the food product is charged into a product cylinder from the feed hopper through the valve and then discharged into a container through the valve in timed sequence with the reciprocating strokes of a piston in the product cylinder. Means are provided to monitor the discharge stroke of the piston to reverse the valve from the discharge position to the charge position before the discharge stroke of the piston is completed to cause the food product in the product cylinder to be returned to the feed hopper. This results in a dynamic discharge that precludes tailing of the food product at the valve discharge port and maintains the food product in the feed hopper in a homogenized state. The stroke of the piston is adjustable to predetermine the quantity of food product dispensed.