Abstract: Filling unit for a manufacturing machine for the production of disposable cartridges for electronic cigarettes; the filling unit has: a cylindrical tank which is arranged horizontally, is mounted so as to rotate in a stepwise manner around a vertical rotation axis, is delimited, at the bottom, by a base disc having a circular shape, and is delimited, on the sides, by a cylindrical side wall; a feeding duct that feeds a flow of tobacco inside the tank; a plurality of groups of seats, each of which is obtained in the base disc and is adapted to receive and contain a corresponding dose of tobacco; and a transfer device which is arranged in a fixed position and cyclically transfers the doses of tobacco contained inside the seats of a group standing still.

Abstract: An apparatus for treating containers includes treatment positions arranged on a transport element with a rotor, a transport element, treatment blocks, and functional elements. The treatment positions are formed on the treatment blocks, with at least two per block. Each treatment position ha all functional elements required for treating a container. The functional elements can be for controlled relative movement between treatment blocks and containers, for control of controlled fluid paths for a fluid treatment medium, for monitoring the treatment process, a functional element for controlling the treatment process, or for actuating elements or drives. At least one common functional element needed for treatment of the containers is provided jointly for all treatment positions assigned to one treatment block.

Abstract: A reconfigurable nest handling system for handling nests of objects arranged in a predetermined pattern is presented and applied to a system for filling nested pharmaceutical containers with a pharmaceutical fluid. In one general aspect, the system comprises a sterilizable chamber containing a planar rotary stage with tub and nest positioning systems that may be reconfigurable for holding differently sized pharmaceutical container tubs and nests and pharmaceutical closure tubs and nests. The chamber has a rotatable cover removal station, a rotatable filling station with a dispenser head, and camera guided vacuum pickup facilities for handling container and closure nests. The vacuum pickup facilities may be reconfigurable for handling differently sized nests. An associated method for filling the containers comprises establishing an aseptic condition within the chamber; removing covers from a container tub and a container closure tub by operating both the rotary stage and the cover removal station.

Abstract: A rotary machine includes a main axis, a plurality of first stations and a plurality of second stations. Each first station rotates around the main axis and applies a first process to a container. Each second station rotates around the main axis and applies a second process to a processed container. The machine also includes an internal exit position, at which each first station is located once the first station has completed the first process and that is arranged to release the processed container. At an internal entry position, each second station is arranged to receive the released processed container. At least one transfer arm is adapted to seize a processed container and move the processed container between a first station located at the internal exit position and a second station located at the internal entry position.

Abstract: A system and method to produce containers filled with liquid. A thermoplastic material preform is first subjected to thermal conditioning in the area of a heating section along a transport path. The preform is then shaped into the container inside a mold by applying pressure. The liquid with which the container is to be filled is used as the fluid for forming the container.

Abstract: A method for handling containers and container handling machine. 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: A reader for mechanical actuation of fluids within a test cartridge. The instrument interface including multiple independently-controlled plungers aligned to respective fluidic pouches on a test cartridge that is inserted into a testing apparatus embodying the instrument interface. The plungers include tips for applying mechanical force to the respective fluidic pouches.

Abstract: A method for installing lock levers for a beverage filling machine includes supplying a plurality of lock levers, including a plurality of regular size lock levers with a first dimension associated with the height of an engagement surface relative to the axis of rotation of the lever, and at least one other lock lever having a second dimension for the height such that the second dimension is reduced or increased relative to the first dimension, installing a plurality of regular size lock levers on the beverage filling machine, determining if the engagement surface of any of the regular size lock levers is not positioned at a predetermined position and thereby non-conforming, then installing at the location of any non-conforming regular size lock lever one of the at least one other lock lever having a second dimension to position the engagement surface thereof substantially at the predetermined position.

Abstract: The invention is directed to lock levers for use in an automatic beverage machine for filling cans for example. The lock lever may have an L-shaped configuration with a first and second leg, and a first engagement surface on a side of the second leg which transitions to a second engagement surface at the distal end of the second leg. The lock lever is selectively rotated between operational and non-operational positions, and the first engagement surface transitions into the second engagement surface. The transition from the first engagement surface to the second engagement surface positions the second engagement surface at a predetermined height without the first or second engagement surface extending above the predetermined height.

Abstract: Replacement lock levers and related methods are disclosed which accommodate adjustment to acceptable tolerances of the force applied to cans being filled by the platform lift cylinder assemblies of the automatic beverage filling machine, due to an eccentricity of the replacement lock levers.

Abstract: A packaging processing (liquid filling) apparatus, including a rising-and-lowering assembly attached to a pivot member and moved vertically and filling nozzles attached to the rising-and-lowering assembly. An endless chain having grippers at equal intervals is rotated continuously by a sprocket. A circular first raising-and-lowering cam that rotates with the sprocket is attached to the sprocket, and a circular-arc-shaped second raising-and-lowering cam is provided near the first raising-and-lowering cam; and a cam roller attached to the rising-and-lowering assembly is caused to roll on these cams. When the pivot member makes a forward motion to follow the bags held by grippers, the cam roller rolls over the second raising-and-lowering cam, and the rising-and-lowering assembly is lowered and then raised; when the pivot member makes a return motion, the cam roller rolls over the first raising-and-lowering cam, and the rising-and-lowering assembly is maintained in a raised position.

Abstract: In order to provide a rotary filling machine, as used for bottling liquids, by means of which high-purity bottling conditions can be maintained, an ultraclean room is provided and implemented in the area of the path on which the bottles circulate, the upper ceiling wall of said ultraclean room being defined, at least partially, by the lower surface of an annular vessel storing the liquid to be bottled and by the lower surface of the filling valves arranged immediately below said annular vessel.

Abstract: A bottling plant is described wherein a bottle feed line and a plurality of specific function groups are each provided with selectively operable devices acting on the bottles moving along the feed line. Each special function group includes one or more motors for actuating the selectively operable devices and a walled sterile chamber through which the bottles pass. The sterile chambers are kept slightly pressurized and contain at least a portion of the selectively operable devices of the specific function group. The wall structure of each sterile chamber separates the sterile chamber from the motors and from at least some of the selectively operable devices.

Abstract: A dummy bottle having a duct through which a flushing fluid flows when the dummy bottle is sealingly coupled with a tap. The dummy bottle is actuated during the flushing cycle of a filling machine used in a bottling plant. Whether in a rest position or in an active position, the dummy bottle is positioned higher than a corresponding neck supporting element in the filling machine.

Abstract: A pre-fill snift cam assembly and related methods are disclosed. The pre-fill snift cam assembly accommodates pre-fill evacuation of air from cans and bottles being processed by automatic filling equipment and causes the egress air from the containers (cans and bottles) to be discharged in a fashion other than from the fill valves into the beverage bowl, i.e., into the atmosphere.

Abstract: A device for filling PET bottles employs a cam driven vertically movable carriage mounted on the outside of the liquid storage tank adjacent each filler valve inside of the tank. A bracket mounted to the lower end of each carriage has a flat plate extending horizontally under a filler valve. A bottle gripper, having an open side slot for engaging under the collar near the mouth of a PET bottle, is suspended on two bolts which extend slidably through the flat plate. Normally uncompressed springs are interposed between the heads of the bolts and the top of the plate to hold the gripper against the bottom of the flat plate. A cam lifts the carriage after the gripper engages a bottle under its collar to initiate a seal between the bottle mouth and filler valve and as the carriage continues upward by a small amount for latching to the tank. The springs are compressed and a gap forms between the flat plate and the gripper. The plate compresses the spring which generates the force to increase the sealing force.

Abstract: An apparatus for filling containers, especially bottles, with liquid material is provided. The apparatus has at least one filling element for dispensing the liquid material into a respective container in a controlled manner. A bell-shaped portion is provided for each filling element and has a chamber for completely accommodating a container during a filling process. The underside of the bell-shaped portion has an opening for the introduction and withdrawal of a container. The apparatus also has a support mechanism that forms a support surface for the container and is disposed below the filling element in the direction of a filling element axis. Via relative movement between the bell-shaped portion and the support mechanism in the filling element axis, the chamber at the opening of the bell-shaped portion can be closed and opened by the support mechanism.

Abstract: An ice cream filling apparatus for simultaneously filling multiple ice cream containers as they move along a predetermined path of travel extending between a receiving station and a discharge station and a method of operating the filling apparatus in a manner controlling the volumetric fill of each container as a function of the speed that the container moves along its predetermined path of travel. The filling apparatus includes a transport and filling mechanism which quickly and easily adapts to different size and shape containers and includes a series of cantilevered container supports. Each container support individually holds and positions an ice cream container beneath a filling nozzle in a manner facilitating clean operation of the filling apparatus and such that board caliper and bouncing of the container have an inconsequential effect on volumetric fill accuracy of the filling apparatus.

Abstract: A bottle filling machine having a rotatable head containing reservoir with a plurality of downwardly extending bottle engaging filling mechanisms is provided with a tappet vertically slidable in the head adjacent each bottle filling mechanism. Each tappet is provided with a prehensile bottle gripping device at the lower end thereof for gripping a bottle and a curved cam plate is provided for raising each tappet and the bottle held thereby to the bottle filling position whereupon the latch pin will be moved into engagement with a bore in the tappet to hold the tappet and bottle in filling position without the assistance of the cam plate. Upon completion of the filling operation the latch is released to allow the filled bottle to be lowered under the influence of gravity.

Abstract: An arrangement for centering containers in a bottle treatment machine, particularly in a bottle filling machine, has centering elements arranged to be located below filling valves and movable in vertical direction, bottle lifting organs having a receiving plane and movable below the centering elements in the vertical direction, and a curved guiding element arranged to guide the bottle lifting organs so as to lower the latter in an outlet region and thereafter, after taking over a bottle and passing an inlet region, to raise them again, wherein the guiding element is formed so that the receiving plane of the lifting organs prior to a contact point between a filling path and an inlet star path, as considered in a supply direction of the bottles, coincides with a bottle supply plane of the inlet star, and during further rotation in direction toward the contact point the receiving plane of the lifting organs is located higher than the bottle supply plane of the inlet star.

Abstract: The tap device 1 consists in an articulated mechanism 23 which positions each plastic bottle 5 against the corresponding spigot 2 in a tilted position. The aeration and foaming of the carbonated liquid beverage are thus decreased, filling is more stable, and the star-wheel for removal 3 may be provided with a capper 42 using screw-tops.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for filling open-top containers with a flowable semi-solid material in which the material is discharged in substantially continuous fashion to a downwardly opening nozzle. An empty container is elevated into partial telescoping relative with the nozzle and moves downwardly as it is filled. The filled container is moved crosswise of the nozzle and the vertical position of the container relative to the nozzle is controlled during movement crosswise of the nozzle to initially maintain the upper edge of the filled container below the lowre edge of the nozzle at its discharge side to shear off material at a level above the top of the container and to thereafter move the filled container upwardly sufficient to cause the trailing upper edge of the filled container to substantially wipe across the lower edge of the nozzle at the discharge side thereof.

Abstract: A safety push rod assembly includes a vertical sleeve adapted to extend through the marginal portion of the bonnet of a rotary container filling machine, in which the sleeve is rigidly mounted. Slidably mounted in the sleeve and extending above it is a tubular upper rod that supports a container rest, and slidably mounted in the upper rod and extending down below the sleeve is a lower rod provided with a transverse passage therethrough inside the upper rod, with a detent ball in each end of the passage and with an axial bore extending from the upper end of the rod down to the transverse passage. In the lower end of the bore and resting on both detent balls is a center ball pressed downwardly by a coil spring compressed between that ball and a stop in the upper end of the bore for urging the detent balls into engagement with the encircling upper rod that is provided with an annular groove receiving projecting portions of the detent balls to thereby normally hold the push rod assembly in extended position.

Abstract: An apparatus for filling like containers with a like measured amount of divided matter is herein disclosed. The apparatus includes a base, to which a jack is connected. A drive and a feed system are also mounted on the base. A removable rotary dispenser is drivingly connected to the drive. A material reservoir is connected to a portion of the jack. The material reservoir is mounted above and in frictional contact with the removable rotary dispenser. A container elevator is connected to the base. The feed system supplies a plurality of like containers for filling the rotary removable dispenser. The container elevator lifts the like containers into contact with a portion of the removable rotary dispenser for filling. The jack is adapted to move the material reservoir away from the removable rotary dispenser so that the removable rotary dispenser may be quickly and easily changed to allow efficient use of the apparatus with different size containers.

Abstract: A roller-gear drive means for the rotary filler head portion of a container filling machine having a stationary base portion which is equipped with a pair of rotary starwheel units for directing containers into and out of the filler head, comprising a drive motor mounted in the base portion in direct driving relationship with a first of the starwheel units through a pair of gear means secured one to the driveshaft of the motor and one to the mounting shaft of the aforesaid first of the starwheel units.

Abstract: An apparatus particularly suited for rotary filler a mold or a container such as a lipstick pomade with fatty moldable substances by an end filling technique is disclosed. A puck mold and an inverted pomade container carried thereby is conveyed to the apparatus for filling and from the apparatus once filling has been completed for further processing. The apparatus includes a rotating frame including a plurality of lift platforms for supporting the puck mold during filling. The frame includes a housing and a depending filling stem and piston assembly. The piston assembly is adapted to receive a charge of the moldable substance from a housing manifold. A valve is provided within a flow line between the assembly and the stem to open communication from the assembly to the stem and to close communication from the assembly to the manifold, and vice versa.