Abstract: Apparatus for performing operations on semi-finished devices for producing disposable cartridges for electronic cigarettes includes: a guide having a branch extending along a forming direction, and having a longitudinal plane; carriages movable along the guide, each guide includes a retaining element to retain a semi-finished device during operations thereon; a drive system for advancing the carriages along the guide; and operating stations spaced from each other along the forming direction, each having an operating arrangement for performing operations on the semi-finished devices carried by the retaining elements applying stresses on the semi-finished devices; wherein: the retaining element is arranged laterally relative to the longitudinal plane, the apparatus includes a stationary support located at the operating stations, and each of the carriages includes a contrast element cooperating with the stationary support and arranged to transfer stresses applied by the operating arrangement on the semi-finished

Abstract: A machine for filling bottles with solid forms of pharmaceutical products is provided with a conveying device for continuously moving forward a sequence of bottles along a given path, and a vibrating distribution plate, which is mounted along the path itself so as to continuously rotate around its own longitudinal axis, and has a plurality of feeding channels, each of which is wound in a helix around and along said longitudinal axis, and is moved forward in phase with a corresponding bottle to feed a given number of solid forms in the bottle itself.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for introducing solid particles into a vessel, in particular into a chemical reactor which comprises a pipe, preferably flexible and cylindrical, through which said particles flow from the top downward and is characterised in that it also comprises at least one helicoidal ramp (2) which is placed inside the pipe, wound around a central axis (2) and whose width is such that a distance between the external edge (4) of the ramp (2) and the pipe (1) is less than the size of introducible solid particles. A method using the inventive device is also disclosed.

Abstract: the invention relates to a machine for conditioning chaff (11) of predetermined diameter, that comprises a filling unit (3) for said chaff (11), including n filling stations (4), and a conveying device (2) for said chaff, said device (2) including at least one conveying member (5) provided with a succession of receiving housings (15) for said chaff (11) arranged along a predetermined pitch (E), said conveying member (5) further including, in addition to said succession of receiving housings (15) for said chaff (11) or first housings, a succession of receiving housings (16) or second housings for the chaff having another predetermined diameter, said second housings (16) being arranged along said pitch (E), and each of said second receiving housings (16) being provided between two first receiving housings (15).

Abstract: An automatic positioning system is provided for a filling device of a filling machine, wherein the filling device has a plurality of filling head mounted on a support to fill a plurality of containers positioned on filling positions with a material. The automatic positioning system comprises a first automatic positioning system for controlling the support to shift along a vertical linear route to and fro and positioning the support at a desired position in the linear route. The first automatic positioning system further controls a rising speed of the support. The automatic positioning system also comprises a second automatic positioning system for controlling a container-supporting unit to provide the containers with a supporting force.

Abstract: Continuous circular motion filling machine is provided for filling containers. The machine includes a rotating platform having an in-feed section disposed to receive empty containers and an out-feed section disposed to transfer filled containers from the rotating platform. A filling turret is disposed generally above the rotating platform and is rotatable at a speed corresponding generally to that of the rotating platform. The turret includes a plurality of filling elements movable between a rest position and a filling position as the turret rotates. Radially extensible and retractable indexing arms are spaced around the platform. The arms are at a retracted position at the in-feed section and are subsequently extended as the rotating platform rotates so as to index the containers into groups on the rotating platform between respective indexing arms. Each group of containers is arranged in a desired pattern and spacing between adjacent arms corresponding to a pattern and spacing of the filling elements.

Abstract: A bandolier of syringes for use in an automated syringe handling system is provided. The automated syringe handling system generally receives syringes and fills the syringe with a substance, such as a medicament. In one exemplary embodiment, the syringe handling system is a system that disperses one or more medicaments into the syringes in an automated manner. The bandolier includes a web, e.g., a strip of transparent material partially encapsulating bodies of syringes that are bound to the web at a prescribed interval. The bandolier includes a feature disposed within the prescribed interval and between the syringes with the feature being different from the surrounding web.

Abstract: There are practical difficulties in dosing a component of a composition into its container, such as a personal care product into a hand-holdable dispenser on a filling line, due in part to the short time that is available for the operation. The difficulties can be ameliorated or overcome by employing dosing apparatus in which a metering pump feeds a flowable material such a liquid through a dosing nozzle positioned above a container intended to receive a charge, the nozzle having a plurality of individual spouts spaced apart from each other so as to prevent their individual streams coalescing and the spouts extending sufficiently below its support to prevent droplets from adjacent spouts coalescing.

Abstract: A bandolier of syringes for use in an automated syringe handling system is provided. The automated syringe handling system generally receives syringes and fills the syringe with a substance, such as a medicament. In one exemplary embodiment, the syringe handling system is a system that disperses one or more medicaments into the syringes in an automated manner. The bandolier includes a web, e.g., a strip of transparent material partially encapsulating bodies of syringes that are bound to the web at a prescribed interval. The bandolier includes a feature disposed within the prescribed interval and between the syringes with the feature being different from the surrounding web.

Abstract: There are practical difficulties in dosing a component of a composition into its container, such as a personal care product into a hand-holdable dispenser on a filling line, due in part to the short time that is available for the operation. The difficulties can be ameliorated or overcome by employing dosing apparatus in which a metering pump feeds a flowable material such a liquid through a dosing nozzle positioned above a container intended to receive a charge, the nozzle having a plurality of individual spouts spaced apart from each other so as to prevent their individual streams coalescing and the spouts extending sufficiently below its support to prevent droplets from adjacent spouts coalescing.

Abstract: A supply device which, in a retainer type continuous-filling packaging system, converts the movement of empty bags supplied intermittently in a plurality of rows into a continuous motion in a single row and supplies these empty bags continuously to retainers that are conveyed at a constant speed. The supply device includes an empty-bag holding member conveying device and an intermittent bag supply device. In the empty-bag holding member conveying device, a plurality of empty-bag holding members (that contain therein empty bags) disposed at equal intervals are moved in one direction along a ring-form track that has a pair of parallel sections, and during this movement, the empty-bag holding members are moved intermittently by a specified distance (a distance equal to an integral multiple of an attachment spacing of the empty-bag holding members) on a bag entry side of the parallel sections and are moved continuously at a constant speed on a bag exit side of the parallel section.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for automatically and evenly dispensing adequate amount of seeds into bedding compartments of a latticed and bottom-netted seed holder according to a ratio of volume expansion of seeds in the bedding compartment. The apparatus mainly includes a conveyor for forward moving latticed seed holders disposed thereon, a volume-based seed holder straddling the conveyor and having multiple fixed-volume through holes for accommodating seeds to be dispensed into the latticed seed holders, a seed feeding tank mounted on a rail rack over the volume-based seed holder for temporarily storing and dispensing seeds, and sweeping off extra seeds from the volume-based seed holder, and a seed storage for storing seeds to be supplied to the seed feeding tank. With the fixed-volume through holes on the volume-based seed holder, the amount of seeds in each bedding compartment of the latticed seed holder can be well controlled to avoid undesirable compression of seeds after they are soaked and expanded.

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 liquid filling apparatus and a method of filling a plurality of containers C arranged in equal numbers in two or more parallel rows, all containers in all rows being first simultaneously and completely filled with a liquid during a fill time period, and then simultaneously released and replaced with empty containers during an index time period, each container row being positioned such that it is at least entirely offset or staggered from the position of the containers in the next adjacent and all other parallel rows, thus allowing simultaneous parallel filling followed by simultaneous parallel indexing of all containers in all rows without the possibility of one container group in any given row intersecting or colliding with any other container group in any other row following release from the filling positions.

Abstract: A machine for the filling bottles, particularly bottles of varying dimensions.The metering machine comprises two identical devices placed one on top of the other, with combs, allowing the rapid, simple and easy adjustment of the nozzles used for metering, and a device for controlling the cycle which is easy to adjust according to the size of the bottles moved by the conveyor.

Abstract: An apparatus for preparing a layered food product has a station for introducing a first food component into a container and a station for introducing a second food component into the container on top of the first food component. The apparatus also has a unit for metering CO.sub.2 snow onto the first food component and a suction unit for removal of residual CO.sub.2 snow before introduction of the second food component into the container, the metering and removal being effected during passage of the first food component in the container through a tunnel in which air conditions about the container may be controlled.

Abstract: A container filler indexing counter is provided for an automatic filling machine, which consists of a conveyor having a belt and guide rail for carrying a plurality of containers therealong. Two cylinders are spaced apart and adjustably mounted to the conveyor, in which the first cylinder is positioned as an incoming stop gate, while the second cylinder is positioned as an exit stop gate to form a filling area therebetween. Two fiber optic sensors are spaced apart and adjustably mounted to the guide rail of the conveyor, in which the first fiber optic sensor is positioned as a counter for the containers entering the filling area, while the second fiber optic sensor is positioned as a counter for the containers leaving the filling area.

Abstract: A device is disclosed for translatorily moving a plate-shaped cup holder, equipped with cups arranged successively in the direction of movement for receiving liquid, to the processing station of an analyzer. The cups are used for mixing viscous body fluid, e.g. blood, with a diluent.Movement of the cup holder and exact positioning of the cups in the processing station are effected in that the cup holder frictionally rests on a driven endless belt, in that an incrementally driven indexing wheel is brought into engagement with the cups, and in that a sensor is arranged for detecting the passage of each cup and determining the indexing position of the indexing wheel in which a cup is located in its processing position.

Abstract: Introducing a measured amount of a liquid into receptacles in a microtiter plate includes locating receptacles in register with the liquid supply. The liquid supply includes pistons and cylinders operated by a stepper motor for adjustable measured and controllable incremental delivery of amounts of liquid simultaneously to the receptacles. A liquid source is located below the support for the receptacles and the receptacles are transversely moveable on a conveyor away from a filling station so that the liquid can be obtained from the liquid source. Pneumatic means moves both the cylinders and the pistons in the liquid supply upwardly and downwardly relative to the receptacles and the liquid source. The stepper motor moves the pistons upwardly and downwardly relative to the receptacles and liquid source.

Abstract: An automatic conveyorized volumetric container filler is provided and consists of a mechanism to pump a predetermined amount of fluid from a reservoir into containers by using volumetric piston pumps operated by a pump drive cylinder. The containers are automatically conveyed to a plurality of filling nozzles for receiving the fluid therefrom so that after the containers are filled, they can be conveyed away to be capped.

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 apparatus including dispensers connected to a hopper enable discrete portions of filler material to be introduced into individual containers as they pass through a food canning operation. The dispensers are connected to a hopper and are operable to dispense discrete amounts of filler material that are stored in the hopper. The amount of filler material to be introduced into the containers brings a container weight to within desired tolerances of a selected target weight. The containers are provided to the dispensers by a timing screw that extends adjacent to a conveyor that conveys the containers. The timing screw is synchronized with a transfer gear that directs each container onto a platform below the dispensers.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for check-weighing a product charge in a continuously operating conveyor system without interrupting the operation and without having extra empty containers in the system after a check-weigh has occurred. Containers are fed forward in a series to a filling station where they are filled with a measured charge of product. When a check-weigh is desired a container is prevented from entering the series, a gap occurs corresponding to the measured charge to be check-weighed, and that charge is diverted to a scale and weighed while subsequent containers receive their charges uninterrupedly.

Abstract: A filling machine for filling containers with an accurately predetermined amount of a fluid product in which a flow meter for accurately measuring the flow rate of a fluid product fed to a filling nozzle is provided in the feed line leading to such nozzle which generates signals in its output indicative of the amount of flow; the signals are counted in a counter which causes the feed line to be shut off when a predetermined programmed number of pulses has been reached. The counter is reset automatically by an indexing device which indicates that the filled container has left the filling position and a new container has arrived in the filling position; resetting of the counter causes the vavle to reopen, thereby restarting the filling operation.

Abstract: A pan indexer for use with a moulder/panner with a gate and a conveyor, having a carrier for a cantilevered template with a spaced series of tangs for successively engaging and releasing pans on the conveyor when the template is moved up and down in synchronism with dough pieces being deposited through a gate from the moulder/panner to pans on the conveyor.

Abstract: An automatic high-speed filling machine with lowerable nozzles for simultaneously filling a predetermined number of containers, in which the control of the machine is transferred to the star wheel of the indexing mechanism, when the star wheel is released after completion of the filling operation; the drive actuating the filling units is thereby stopped while the star wheel performs its indexing function during rotation thereof.

Abstract: An indexing system for filling machines used to fill small containers transported on an endless conveyor belt, which includes a container-driven star-wheel, a member preventing the free rotation of the star-wheel and a cam-operated control for enabling and disabling the free, container-driven rotation of the star-wheel.

Abstract: A high-speed filling machine for filling a fluid product into small containers, in which a continuously moving conveyor belt brings empty containers to their filling position underneath filling nozzles, where the empty containers are held stationary by an indexing mechanism while the filling nozzles are lowered into the empty containers, the fluid product is discharged into the containers and upon completion of discharge stroke of the filling units, the nozzles are again raised whereafter the indexing mechanism will release the filled containers for further movement by the conveyor belt; the single channel from the inlet end thereby branches out into two parallel channels upstream of the filling station, each provided with its own indexing mechanism, while a nozzle support structure which raises and lowers the filling nozzles into the containers, is also adapted to reciprocate so that alternately the empty containers in one channel and then in the other channel are filled.

Abstract: In a system for sequentially processing batteries with battery processing equipment an apparatus is described for retaining each of said batteries in at least one standby position, for advancing each of said batteries to at least one battery processing position, for aligning each of said batteries with respect to said battery processing equipment during the operation of said equipment, and for allowing the discharge of each of said batteries from said battery processing position. Said apparatus comprises a conveyor surface defined by a plurality of transverse rollers, at least two of which rollers which are spaced apart by a distance at least as great as the longitudinal dimension of said batteries to be processed, are adapted for movement with respect to said surface between first normal positions and second stop positions, whereby longitudinal movement of at least two of said batteries along said surface is halted at said standby and said battery positions by said rollers and said stop positions.

Abstract: .Iadd.The present invention provides a simplified control apparatus for a system which fills a plurality of containers with fluid. The control apparatus functions to hold and to advance containers on a continuously moving conveyor while synchronizing the filling cycle for the containers. .Iaddend.

Abstract: An indexing system for filling machines used to fill small containers transported on an endless conveyor belt, which includes a container-driven star-wheel, a member preventing the free rotation of the star-wheel and a cam-operated control for enabling and disabling the free, container-driven rotation of the star-wheel.

Abstract: A high-speed filling machine for filling a fluid product into small containers, in which a continuously moving conveyor belt brings empty containers to their filling position underneath filling nozzles, where the empty containers are held stationary by an indexing mechanism while the filling nozzles are lowered into the empty containers, the fluid product is discharged into the containers and upon completion of discharge stroke of the filling units, the nozzles are again raised whereafter the indexing mechanism will release the filled containers for further movement by the conveyor belt; the single channel from the inlet end thereby branches out into two parallel channels upstream of the filling station, each provided with its own indexing mechanism, while a nozzle support structure which raises and lowers the filling nozzles into the containers, is also adapted to reciprocate so that alternately the empty containers in one channel and then in the other channel are filled.