Abstract: A nozzle-moving device has four bases, two rails, a shaft, a moving module, a brewing module, a transverse driver, and a longitudinal driver. Each one of the two rails is longitudinally connected to two of the four bases. The shaft is transversely connected to two of the four bases. The moving module is slidably mounted to the two rails. The brewing module is slidably mounted to the moving module. The transverse driver and the longitudinal driver are respectively connected to the shaft and the brewing module via timing belts, so the brewing module may move in two directions. Moreover, a user may easily change to different brewing modes via the transverse driver, the longitudinal driver, and a solenoid valve connected to the brewing module.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a nutritionally balanced composite meal for infants/small children, comprising at least one carbohydrate containing meal component and at least one protein containing meal component, where the individual components have been separately heat-treated. This to reduce the amount of advanced glycation end products (AGE's) generated, and control the levels of glycemic index (Gl) and insulin index (II), in the composite meal. Also disclosed is a method of producing said meal.

Abstract: The invention relates to denester for use with a tray sealer. The denester includes a magazine for accommodating at least one stack of trays. The magazine includes a first vertical guide and a second guide, the second guide capable of being inclined at an inclination relative to the first guide. The inclination of the second guide is adjustable to accommodate destacking of the trays in the stack of trays.

Abstract: An automated drink preparation apparatus that is operable to assist in the preparation of mixed drinks such as but not limited to cocktails. The automated drink preparation apparatus further includes a housing having an interior volume. Operably coupled to the housing is a drink glass conveyor system that is operable to transport drink glasses disposed thereon. Disposed within the interior volume of the housing is a plumbing system containing a plurality of storage vessels, a delivery tube network and a mixing assembly. The mixing assembly further includes a mixing chamber and a multi-port solenoid valve. Mounted to the exterior of the housing is a display screen providing access to the operating software of the automated drink preparation apparatus. An age verification module is mounted to the housing and is operable to facilitate commencement of a self-service mode. A remote interface is further included.

Abstract: A beverage dispensing apparatus includes a dispensing structure, a transportation mechanism linked with the dispensing structure and a staging structure linked with the transportation mechanism. A control system is linked with the dispensing structure, staging structure and the transportation mechanism. A sensor mechanism is linked with the control system. The sensor mechanism provides signals indicating the position of a cup. A cup identification system having an interactive display is connected to the control system. The display has visual characteristics indicating the position and characteristics of a cup.

Abstract: Systems and methods for brewing coffee and producing other hot beverages are included herein. An automated coffee vending kiosk configured in accordance with one embodiment includes a coffee brewing unit for brewing coffee and a cup dispensing portion. The cup dispensing portion can include a motor and a door operably coupled to the motor. The door can be moveable between a closed position and an open position to provide access to a cup storage area having a plurality of cups. A coffee dispensing portion can be positioned to dispense the coffee into an individual cup.

Abstract: An automatic machine for dispensing beverages has at least two rotatable cup dispensing towers having a plurality of housings for variously sized stacked cups. The housings may be rotated in a selective manner. Cups are dispensed from the housings. A cup holder device includes cup holders that receive the dispensed cups. The cup holder device is rotatable about a vertical axis that is parallel to the axes of rotation of the rotatable cup dispensing towers. The cup holder device is provided with at least two cup holders that move along concentric circular trajectories with respect to the vertical axis of the cup holder device.

Abstract: A beverage vending machine having a pickup compartment accessible from the outside and having a beverage mixing station; a beverage dispensing device having at least one outlet located at the mixing station in a fixed position facing the pickup compartment; a first member for feeding a cup into position beneath the outlet; and a second member which is movable, past the outlet and with respect to the first member, to and from a position separating the outlet from the pickup compartment.

Abstract: A beverage vending machine is disclosed. The beverage vending machine includes a beverage production unit; a store containing cups; a take-out compartment; at least two cup-holders; and a beverage dispensing device. The take-out compartment is accessible from the outside and has at least two dispensing stations. Each of the at least two cup-holders is configured to support a cup at a respective dispensing station. The beverage dispensing device defines an outlet of the beverage production unit and is operated to selectively engage the dispensing stations.

Abstract: A cup conveyor and holder device (1) for a beverage dispensing machine comprises a body (2) into which cups (C1-C3) are vertically dropped for filling with a drink and/or being delivered to the user; the internal surface of the body (2) is provided with at least two steps (3, 4, 8) transversal to the cup dropping direction (X), at different heights of said body (2) with respect to the same direction (X), for vertically supporting said cups (C1, C2, C3) at different diameters.

Abstract: A beverage vending machine having a beverage production unit; a store containing cups; a take-out compartment accessible from the outside and having at least two dispensing stations; at least two cup-holders, each for supporting a cup at a respective dispensing station; and a beverage dispensing device, which defines an outlet of the beverage production unit and is operated to selectively engage the dispensing stations.

Abstract: A water cooler caddy device for use in conjunction with a water cooler or other beverage dispenser. The water cooler caddy has an arcuate inner surface as an interface with the water bottle and is sized such that it may be placed over the water bottle and slid down so that it either rests on an upper surface of the water cooler, or is supported by the side of the water bottle. The water cooler caddy may have a gap in the circumference so that the radius of the inner surface may be temporarily increased to facilitate installation. Partitions are used to form compartments to contain service items.

Abstract: A cup conveyor and holder device (1) for a beverage dispensing machine comprises a body (2) into which cups (C1-C3) are vertically dropped for filling with a drink and/or being delivered to the user; the internal surface of the body (2) is provided with at least two steps (3, 4, 8) transversal to the cup dropping direction (X), at different heights of said body (2) with respect to the same direction (X), for vertically supporting said cups (C1, C2, C3) at different diameters.

Abstract: Disclosed is a dispenser of an icemaker in a refrigerator for maximizing an inner space when a total size is the same, and for minimizing the total size when the inner space is the same. The dispenser of the icemaker in the refrigerator includes an ice chute being a passage through which the ice produced from the icemaker is discharged; and a container supporter provided at an outer case and disposed to be perpendicular to an outer surface of the outer case when the ice is discharged outside through the ice chute, the contain supporter allowing a container seated thereon to receive the ice discharged from the ice chute. The ice chute is closed and not exposed outside when the ice-discharging process is finished, and the container supporter is not exposed to the outer surface of the outer case.

Abstract: A beverage dispenser operates a cup holder to advance a cup holding portion holding a cup in which a beverage is filled from an inside of a cup port to an outside thereof to locate it above a cup mount, lower the cup holding portion from a above position by a predetermined distance to place the cup on the cup mount in process of lowering, and retreat the cup holding portion from a lowered position to the inside of the cup port to leave the cup on the cup mount.

Abstract: A method of transporting containers from a first station to a second station within a container filling machine. Each container defines opposing first and second end sections, with the second end section forming a longitudinal recess defined by an inner surface of a sidewall. The method includes providing a carrier plate having at least one mounting piece. A container is loaded onto the mounting piece such that the second end section is positioned over the mounting piece and the mounting piece frictionally engages the interior surface of the longitudinal recess. The carrier plate is moved from the first station to the second station with the mounting piece securing the container relative to the carrier plate during movement of the carrier plate.

Abstract: An apparatus (100) for guiding the movement of a flanged vial (10) during an automated process to prevent the flange (50) from disrupting the movement of the vial (10) during the process. The apparatus (100) includes a receptacle (120) with a narrowing peripheral wall (130) adapted to receive the vial (10) during a vertical drop and direct the movement of the vial (10) toward a slide (160). A weighted flap (170) contacts the vial (10) as the vial (10) moves along the slide (160), slowing the descent of the vial (10), holding the vial (10) against the slide (160), and pivoting to accommodate the flange (50). A platform (190) catches the vial (10).

Abstract: In a cup-type beverage vending machine, during conveyance of a beverage-filled cup to a product taking-out position and when the cup does not reach the product taking-out position, a pivot arm is supported by a support roller and a cup on a cup stage is held by a holder. When the cup reaches the product taking-out position, a lower edge of the pivot arm is released from the support roller and the pivot arm and the holder are pivoted downward. Consequently, the holder is spaced downward apart from a front surface of the cup, which allows a customer to easily take out the cup.

Abstract: In a cup-type beverage vending machine according to the present invention, during conveyance of a beverage-filled cup to a product taking-out position and when the cup does not reach the product taking-out position, a pivot arm is supported by a support roller and a cup on a cup stage is held by a holder. When the cup reaches the product taking-out position, a lower edge of the pivot arm is released from the support roller and the pivot arm and the holder are pivoted downward. Consequently, the holder is spaced downward apart from a front surface of the cup, which allows a customer to easily take out the cup.

Abstract: A cup transfer device of a vending machine can prevent the cup transfer device, peripheral objects or the device motor from being damaged, even when an abnormal case is encountered, thereby preventing the cup holder from rotating actively. The cup transfer device comprises a cup holder; means for driving the cup holder; and means for selectively controlling power transmitted from the driving means to the cup holder. The driving means comprises a motor and a rotary shaft driven by the motor. The driving control means includes a first clutch disk connected with the rotary shaft for moving in an axial direction; a second clutch disk secured to the cup holder; and a resilient member for urging the first clutch disk toward the second clutch disk.

Abstract: In a cup-type beverage vending machine according to the present invention, during conveyance of a beverage-filled cup to a product taking-out position and when the cup does not reach the product taking-out position, a pivot arm is supported by a support roller and a cup on a cup stage is held by a holder. When the cup reaches the product taking-out position, a lower edge of the pivot arm is released from the support roller and the pivot arm and the holder are pivoted downward. Consequently, the holder is spaced downward apart from a front surface of the cup, which allows a customer to easily take out the cup.

Abstract: A link (20) is moved to a perpendicular (upper) direction based on a driving force F and a pin (22) provided on a link (16A) is moved along a guide groove (23) to a position shown in FIG. 5. Since the link (16A) is pivotally connected to a supporting unit (15) by a pin (14), the pin (22) can be moved along the guide groove (23) to a horizontal direction shown by an arrow without any change of its perpendicular position. By the movement to the horizontal direction, a clockwise rotating power around the pin (14) is generated in the link (16A). According to the cup type automatic vending machine of the invention, a cup transport mechanism can be driven by a small driving force, and the vending machine can be smaller without any deformation and circulation incapability of cups.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an applicator for a product comprising a body having an interior and a first end closed by an applicator wall. A piston is configured to move in a sealed manner along the interior of the body and to be driven by a drive mechanism configured to drive the piston towards the applicator wall to cause product to pass through the applicator wall. The applicator may further include a rod associated with the drive mechanism, the rod comprising a channel passing through at least a portion of the rod. The channel may have a first opening configured to open to the outside of the body and at least one second opening located between the piston and the applicator wall when the piston is located at a maximum distance from the applicator wall. The rod may also define at least one vent orifice.

Abstract: This invention is directed to methods, procedures and apparatus for controlling the portioning of flowable materials, particularly soft serve frozen confections, though also including other flowable products. Such other products may include soups, beverages such as milk shakes, soft drinks, and alcoholic beverages such as beers, and so forth. Typically a method for controlling the delivery of a portion of a flowable substance includes the steps of: i) Delivering the flowable substance in a stream; and ii) Noting the time for the delivery of a portion of a targeted amount; and iii) Determining the weight of the portion, and iv) Using this information to influence the delivery of further substance to meet a pre-determined target value. A preferred method is characterized by both the weight of the flowable substance being delivered and the time for the delivery of same being repeatedly or continuously assessed to achieve delivery of a pre-determined target weight or volume.

Abstract: A dispensing device is adapted for one-handed operation, and for release of a measured quantity of granular material. A base is generally disk-shaped. A stop is carried by an upper surface of the base, and is adjustably positionable so that when a container to be filled is moved into contact with the stop, that container is correctly positioned. A body 40 is attached to a support ledge defined about the perimeter of the base. The body is generally cylindrical, and defines an interior cavity with access through a front opening and a circular top having an off-center hole. A slide is supported by the top, and is manually movable between a loading position wherein a spring arm biasing the slide is relaxed, and a dispensing position wherein the spring arm is stressed. A slide enclosure is attached to the upper rim of the body portion.

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 tablet packing apparatus of the present invention have a tablet feeding section 2 for feeding tablets, tablet vessel feeding sections 3 for feeding tablet vessels 11, and a tablet packing section 4 for packing tablets fed from the tablet feeding section 2, into a tablet vessel 11 fed from the tablet vessel feeding sections 3. The tablet feeding section comprises a plurality of feeder vessels 36 for storing different types of tablets and a tablet conveyor 27 for conveying the tablets discharged from the feeder vessels 36, to the tablet packing section 4. In the apparatus, the following restoring process is executed. After the apparatus is stopped due to abnormality, the tablets remaining in the guide paths 31 and the tablets conveyor means 27 are conveyed to the tablet packing section 4 by the tablets conveyor means 27 to recover them into the tablet vessel 11 and then the tablet vessel 11 is transferred to the container chamber 6 of the storage shelves 1.

Abstract: An automated system for preparing and delivering postmix beverages in response to one or more drink orders being entered from a remote point of sale unit or a local keypad and including: a postmix beverage preparation assembly for dispensing ice and a selected postmix beverage into a cup; an oblong carousel type conveyor assembly including a plurality of upwardly open cup holders which are driven by a motor driven belt so as to pass beneath a cup dispensing station, an ice dispensing station, a beverage dispensing station, and a plurality of pick-up stations; a cup storage and dispenser assembly including a bidirectionally rotatable turret upon which is mounted a plurality of different sized cup supply tubes for holding a respective stack of beverage cups; and a pneumatic vertically driven cup gripper/extractor mechanism having a pair of pneumatically operated gripper arms which operate to remove a cup from a selected supply tube on the turret and placing the extracted cup into an empty cup holder which is th

Abstract: An automatic packaging machine is provided which has a chute for directing objects such as cooked french fries into the interior of a rotatable loading drum. The drum is rotated by a motor about a horizontal axis at a speed to cause the french fries to first be carried upwardly and then to fall through a predetermined path within the drum. A staging carousel is provided for carrying a supply of varying sized packaging containers such as cups. The carousel can be rotated to a dispensing position where a single selected size container will be dispensed to an index carousel. The index carousel will move the container to a position within the drum to intercept the falling french fries to fill the container. A detector is provided for sensing when the container has been filled. Once the container is filled it is moved via various transfer mechanisms to a deposit or storage area which can accommodate a plurality of containers and has a mechanism for clearing space to receive additional containers.

Abstract: An automatic dispenser for doughy food products, particularly for shop windows displaying ice cream products to be dispensed. The dispenser includes a taking unit which is movable with respect to ice cream containers present in the shop window. The taking unit dispenses a desired portion of ice cream and organizes the sorting, taking and dispensing of the desired portion.

Abstract: Improvements in a snow cone making machine including a retaining collar which interacts with a cone cup to prevent relative movement with respect to each other; an automatic cone cup dispenser having opposing forceps for extracting cone cups singly from a cup canister; and a scanning activation system for reading a product code on the cone cup to activate the preparation of a snow cone.

Abstract: An apparatus for distributedly filling a particulate or granular material into containers has an intermittently driven container conveyor, and a continuously driven particulate or granular material conveyor extending across and positioned above the container conveyor. First chutes and second chutes are arranged between the container conveyor and material conveyor. The container conveyor comprises first holders and second holders arranged alternately in the direction of transport thereof and each adapted to hold containers C equal in number to the number of container transport paths, and is so driven as to feed one first holder to a first filling station and one second holder to a second filling station and stop the two fed holders at the respective stations at a time. A first particulate or granular material feeder and a second particulate or granular material feeder are arranged at opposite sides of the intersection of the two conveyors.

Abstract: Open containers having uniform dimensions are handled in a group for loading of ballast and/or for filling with container contents prior to sealing. The containers are provided upright on a substantially unobstructed surface and are forced into a substantially contiguous array by inward pressure on the array in at least one direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axes of the containers. Compressing the array of containers in this manner moves the containers into immediately contiguous regular positions in a resulting container array, which is aligned in registry with dispensing orifices. One or more movable sweep arms which may cooperate with fixed walls laterally bounding the conveying surface are used to compress the array. The sweep arms and the fixed walls are scalloped to form receptacles defining a closest possible positioning of the peripheral containers, which during compression cause adjacent inward containers to become correctly positioned. Nozzles coupled to a material dispenser (e.g.

Abstract: Cups stored in the automatic vending machine are released and dropped from a cup supply unit to a cup holding unit one at a time and drink is injected thereinto as selected by a customer. The cup holding unit holding the cup filled with drink is transported approximately horizontally by a front/back cup transport unit to a vertical cup transport unit. As the vertical cup transport unit lifts the cup upward, the vending door is opened to expose to the customer the upper portion of the cup out of the cup outlet, as if the cup were sitting on a counter table in the front of the vending machine.

Abstract: A nozzle for dispensing products, including viscous products, in a container has a longitudinally extending tube mounted to a frame in which the tube is reciprocated vertically in its longitudinal direction. The mounted tube has an inclined wall at its base which forms an end of the tube and extends to a tube bottom inclined wall base edge adjacent an aperture positioned in the longitudinal wall portion. A plate suitable for covering the aperture is stationarily connected to the frame at a position so that upon reciprocation of the tube, the aperture is opened and closed by the plate. When the plate closes the aperture, the plate and tube are pressed to seal the aperture.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically supplying a medicament into a container comprising a mechanism having a plurality of separate small medicament cups each containing a medicament so that the medicament may be supplied from the medicament cup to a test container for use in an elution testing device. The small medicament cups each containing a medicament is moved linearly one after another to a medicament supply position and placed on the position to be once held there then turned, whereby the medicament contained in the medicament cup is dropped out of an opening formed on upper end face of the cup.

Abstract: A simple, low-cost container filling machine includes a pulse pump for drawing high-density, high viscosity, thixotropic pigment from a shipping container, an accumulator for smoothing flow of the pigment, a non-adjustable and replaceable anti-drip dispensing tube, an adjustable optical level sensor, and electronic means for setting the optical sensor. A fixed platform for containers being filled includes anti-splash and aligment devices.

Abstract: An automatic beverage dispensing system for use with a plurality of remote point of sale units with order entry keyboards, each having selector buttons for different flavors and cup sizes, the dispenser including an automatic cup dropper, an automatic ice dispenser, a transverse conveyor system for conveying an ice filled cup to any of a plurality of parallel lanes each having a forward conveyor system, a beverage dispenser valve associated with each of the lanes, and each forward conveyor system conveying a cup received from the transverse conveyor to a beverage fill station and then to a cup pick-up station. The dispenser can also be operated manually using buttons on the dispenser itself.

Abstract: An automatic beverage dispensing system including a conveyor, a multiflavor valve, and a programmable cup drop system which includes means for searching through a plurality of separate cup supply tubes for a cup of the selected size.

Abstract: A filing system which prevents the contamination of a container's sealing surface during the system's filling procedure is disclosed. A first endless belt is used to convey a succession of containers below a second endless belt. The first and second endless belts travel synronously and in the same direction. A similar succession of shields is attached to the second endless belt. As the two belts converge, the shields separately protrude into and extend over the open end of the laterally traveling containers. The shields prevent product or other contaminants from depositing on the containers' sealing surfaces as the containers are filled. Drip guards positioned on the downstream portion of the second endless belt collect drippage from each shield as it is removed from its seal protecting position within each container. The first and second endless belts are sanitized on every revolution to further prevent container contamination.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for pouring a plurality of materials into a plurality of containers while sequentially weighting the materials. A predetermined number of containers are arranged in a row on a pallet so that the containers are transported by a pallet as a unit. In order to pour the materials into the containers, the pallet carrying the containers is intermittently moved in a longitudinal direction by a distance corresponding to a distance between adjacent containers, and the materials are poured into the respective containers when the pallet stops with the containers at respective pouring positions. The pallet is transported in a transverse direction so as to arrange it to allow pouring of the materials into the containers and so as to discharge the pallet towards a discharge section.

Abstract: An automated drinkmaker system which is designed to accept an input drink order, as from a cash register, and deliver the drink order, for different sizes and different flavors, with or without ice, completely finished in lidded containers to an output station. The automated drinkmaker system is designed for labor free processing of drink orders in high volume quick service or fast food establishments. The machine is designed around a carousel type of drink transporter which intermittently carries each drink to and from four circularly spaced stations, cup dispensing, ice dispensing, soda dispensing, lid application and marking. The carousel design allows a cup to be dispensed at one station while another cup is being filled with ice at a second station, and yet another is being filled with soda at a third station, etc. The use of carousels is extended to both cup and lid dispensing.

Abstract: An automatic beverage dispensing system for use with a plurality of remote point of sale units with order entry keyboards, each having selector buttons for different flavors and cup sizes, the dispenser including an automatic cup dropper, an automatic ice dispenser, a transverse conveyor system for conveying an ice filled cup to any of a plurality of parallel lanes each having a forward conveyor system, a beverage dispenser valve associated with each of the lanes, and each forward conveyor system conveying a cup received from the transverse conveyor to a beverage fill station and then to a cup pick-up station. The dispenser can also be operated manually using buttons on the dispenser itself.

Abstract: An automatic beverage dispensing system for use with a plurality of remote point of sale units with order entry keyboards, each having selector buttons for different flavors and cup sizes, the dispenser including an automatic cup dropper, an automatic ice dispenser, a transverse conveyor system for conveying an ice filled cup to any of a plurality of parallel lanes each having a forward conveyor system, a beverage dispenser valve associated with each of the lanes, and each forward conveyor system conveying a cup received from the transverse conveyor to a beverage fill station and then to a cup pick-up station. The dispenser can also be operated manually using buttons on the dispenser itself.

Abstract: An automatic beverage dispensing system for use with a plurality of remote point of sale units with order entry keyboards, each having selector buttons for different flavors and cup sizes, the dispenser including an automatic cup dropper, an automatic ice dispenser, a transverse conveyor system for conveying an ice filled cup to any of a plurality of parallel lanes each having a forward conveyor system, a beverage dispenser valve associated with each of the lanes, and each forward conveyor system conveying a cup received from the transverse conveyor to a beverage fill station and then to a cup pick-up station. The dispenser can also be operated manually using buttons on the dispenser itself.

Abstract: A device for discharging material from a succession of filled open top transfer receptacles includes a guideholder having a pair of elongated parallel spaced-apart deadplates extending from an input end of the device toward an output end of the device. The spacing of the deadplates is sufficient to slidably receive the height of a transfer receptacle, and the length of the deadplates is sufficient to contain at least one transfer receptacle in a single station, and preferably two contiguous transfer receptacles in respective first and second stations. With two stations, the deadplates prevent loss of material from a receptacle in the first station but have openings in the second station to permit discharge of the contents of an inverted transfer receptacle in the second station.

Abstract: An automatic postmix beverage dispensing system including a conveyor, a multiflavor valve, and a stationary flavor indicator adjacent to each cup pick-up station to inform the operator what beverage is in each cup. Each time the conveyor advances the cups one station, the flavor indicator scrolls forward to continue to correctly identify the beverage in each cup. The flavor indicator can also include order indicia identifying the order number of each cup.

Abstract: An automatic beverage dispensing system for use with a plurality of remote point of sale units with order entry keyboards, each having selector buttons for different flavors and cup sizes, the dispenser including an automatic cup dropper, an automatic ice dispenser, a transverse conveyor system for conveying an ice filled cup to any of a plurality of parallel lanes each having a forward conveyor system, a beverage dispenser valve associated with each of the lanes, and each forward conveyor system conveying a cup received from the transverse conveyor to a beverage fill station and then to a cup pick-up station. The dispenser can also be operated manually using buttons on the dispenser itself.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for making a shaped frozen confection. The apparatus has a plurality of nozzles for extruding the shaped confection in a variety of contoured shapes. The nozzles simultaneously move in a vertical direction and circularly in a horizontal direction, thereby moving in a spiral path to produce a spirally-shaped frozen confection. A variety of differently shaped frozen confections can be made by varying the rate of extrusion from the nozzles, or the rate or direction of vertical movement of the nozzles.

Abstract: A machine for filling packaging containers with a flowable product comprises a control valve in the form of a plug valve having a body defining a bore forming a frusto-conical valve seat, a plug having a complimentary frusto-conical surface, and a valve chamber for pressurized fluid formed at the wider end of the plug. The chamber communicates with the bore. The plug is axially displaceable between a first position, in which the frusto-conical surface seals against the valve seat and in which it is rotatable to control flow through the valve, and a second position, in which it is withdrawn into the chamber to provide clearance between the mating surfaces of the plug and the seat but retaining clearance between its wider end and the opposite surface of the chamber so that all surfaces of the plug are exposed for cleaning and sterilization.