Abstract: A fill head for depositing hazardous waste materials into a container movable between a filling position seated on the container, and a container exchange position withdrawn from the container; a control arm carried by the fill head directing movement of the fill head between the filling and exchange positions; a drip tray movably carried on a support platform adjacent the fill head for extending underneath the fill head to retain drippings of the hazardous waste material from the fill head when in the exchange position; and, a lifting arm carried by the drip tray engaging the control arm, wherein the lifting arm biases the control arm to raise the fill head from the filling position to the exchange position when the drip tray is extended underneath the fill head so that as the fill head is withdrawn from the container any dripping hazardous waste is captured by the drip tray.

Abstract: A device for dispensing a dosage includes a base frame, at least one device for receiving any dosage-dispensing unit or functional unit that is compatible to be inserted therein, a holder and at least one drive mechanism. The holder has at least one holding position for a dosage-dispensing unit or functional unit. A weighing cell arranged on a lower horizontal plane of the base frame includes a load receiver to receive a target container. A changing mechanism enables the receiving device to be moved horizontally relative to the base frame. This horizontal shift allows a dosage-dispensing unit or functional unit to be interchanged between the holding position and the receiving device. The changing mechanism also permits the receiving device, together with the drive mechanism, to be moved vertically with regard to the base frame.

Abstract: A beverage filling assembly and a cam apparatus for a beverage filling machine is disclosed. A cam housing defines a first aperture along a central axis and a second aperture transverse to the central axis with a filling valve aligned with the second aperture. The cam member is rotatably disposed in the first aperture and includes a shaft portion and an eccentric portion aligning with the filling valve. A lever is connected to the cam member for concurrent movement with the cam member. A bearing sleeve defines an orifice for receiving the shaft portion. The bearing sleeve is formed of a self-lubricating material for preventing frictional engagement between the cam housing and the shaft portion. The bearing sleeve includes a flange adjacent the cam housing for preventing movement of the bearing sleeve axially along the central axis during operation. The bearing sleeve is removable from the shaft portion during servicing.

Abstract: A beverage filling assembly and a cam apparatus for a beverage filling machine is disclosed. A cam housing defines a first aperture along a central axis and a second aperture transverse to the central axis with a filling valve aligned with the second aperture. The cam member is rotatably disposed in the first aperture and includes a shaft portion and an eccentric portion aligning with the filling valve. A lever is connected to the cam member for concurrent movement with the cam member. A bearing sleeve defines an orifice for receiving the shaft portion. The bearing sleeve is formed of a self-lubricating material for preventing frictional engagement between the cam housing and the shaft portion. The bearing sleeve includes a flange adjacent the cam housing for preventing movement of the bearing sleeve axially along the central axis during operation. The bearing sleeve is removable from the shaft portion during servicing.

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: Particulate filling devices and methods are disclosed that utilize a swivel connector, a mounting surface connected to the swiveling connector, and several obstacles mounted on the mounting surface. The obstacles are positioned consecutively to form a helix-pattern.

Abstract: A method for loading a particulate catalyst into a vertical catalyst tube includes (i) introducing catalyst loading apparatus into a vertical catalyst tube, (ii) loading catalyst particles into the top of the tube whereinafter they contact the apparatus as they pass down the tube, forming a uniform bed of catalyst beneath the apparatus and (iii) simultaneously removing the apparatus from the catalyst tube in timed relationship to the catalyst loading, wherein the apparatus includes one or more deflector units, each deflector unit including a plurality of inclined deflector plates arranged on a rigid elongate member such that all the catalyst particles are deflected by one or more of the plates as they pass through the or each unit.

Abstract: A liquid filling apparatus includes a discharge head having a cavity for storing liquid, a nozzle communicated with the cavity, and a discharge device for discharging liquid stored in the cavity through the nozzle. In addition, the apparatus includes a liquid supply section which supplies the liquid to the nozzle of the discharge head by contacting the liquid with the nozzle, and a suction device connected to a cavity side of the discharge head, which draws liquid supplied from the liquid supply section to inside the cavity, by suction from the nozzle via the cavity.

Abstract: An inexpensive inner bag loaded into a cylindrical container such as a drum. The inner bag has excellent airtightness and facilitates transferring the inner bag to a separate container. The inner bag comprises two hexagonal first sheets and two pentagonal second sheets. Each first sheet has a pair of opposite sides extending longitudinally and a trapezoidal portion formed around one longitudinal end of the sheet. Each second sheet has a pair of opposite sides extending longitudinally and a triangular portion formed around one longitudinal end of the sheet. The first and second sheets are placed in an opposite relation to each other. The peripheries of the first and second sheets, excluding the other ends, are bonded together by heat-sealing.

Abstract: A filling system of a packaging machine is set forth that reduces the mixing of product and air during the filling of the container with a flowable material such as low fat milk. The fill pipe of the filling system has an elliptical cross-section which provides for a reduced velocity of the flowable material entering the container while allowing for an increased production time of the packaging machine. The fill system is especially adopted to fill containers having a rectangular cross-section. Connected to the fill pipe is a nozzle with flaps designed to substantially conform and engage with the sidewalls of a container. When the flaps are urged to an open position, the mixing of air and product is inhibited as the flowable material is dispensed into the container through the nozzle and as a moving mechanism is operated to relatively move the container and nozzle from a first to a second position. The fill pipe has an elongate body, an inlet end and an outlet end.

Abstract: A filling system for filling a container is set forth. The container to be filled has a bottom portion and a plurality of sidewalls defining a container cross-section. The filling system comprises a fill pipe having a product inlet and a product outlet, a valve rod disposed in the fill pipe, a flexible outlet extension, and an umbrella-shaped sealing member having a bottom portion. The valve rod and the sealing member are movable between a first position in which the sealing member engages and seals the product outlet and a second position in which the sealing member is disengaged from the product outlet. The bottom portion of the sealing member is preferably shaped to conform to the interior bottom portion of the container. The flexible outlet extension extends from the product outlet and is dimensioned to engage and conform to the sidewalls of the container during filling thereby to inhibit mixing of product and air during the filling cycle.

Abstract: A method for filling particulate material into a vertical tube includes conveying the particles downwardly into the tube along a line with a damper in the form of a series of damper brushes each arranged substantially transversely to the line and having a radial extension less than the inner diameter of the tube. The line is pulled up gradually as the tube is filled with particles. The damper can be in the form of brushes that are flexible so that they give or yield gradually when the particles fall down thereon. A wire can be used as the line, to which is fastened a series of substantially equidistant transversely extending brushes, preferably in the form of springs.

Abstract: A draught beer dispensing system according to the present invention comprises a beer receiving receptacle, a beer dispensing valve from which the draught beer is dispensed into the receptacle under the pressure of carbon dioxide gases, a source supplying carbon dioxide gases, and a movable dispensing nozzle connected to the beer dispensing valve through a flexible pipe and operated by an actuating means. When draught beer is dispensed, the tip of the beer dispensing nozzle is positioned within the receptacle first and is moved upwardly to the upper edge of the receptacle upon completion of beer dispensing.

Abstract: An ice cream dispensing machine having at least one storage container for storing liquid ice cream. The storage container is connected to a freezing cylinder that contains a mixing spiral. The freezing cylinder is connected to a dispensing apparatus that includes a vertically movable ice cream cornet holder. Cornet position sensing switches are employed to initiate machine operations. Timing clocks control the dispensing of the ice cream and provide a safety factor with respect to the maximum quantity of ice cream that can be dispensed during a single dispensing operation. The time interval between two successive dispensing operations is controlled to insure that sufficient time has elapsed for complete freezing of the liquid ice cream for the next dispensing operation.

Abstract: An agricultural bag loading machine having an improved mechanical assembly for automatically effecting controlled, continuous compression and delivery of compacted animal feed material into a flexible agricultural storage bag via a compression and delivery chamber. The compressed, delivered feed material has a uniform, air tight side wall density throughout the bag-delivered, sausage shaped feed material mass. The loading machine has additional features, including a pneumatic bladder assembly for changing the forming chamber dimensions and configuration, an improved agricultural bag attachment and continuous feeding mechanism which eliminates bag fold-over and wrinkling problems during filling, and an integral forming chamber cleanout mechanism which enables clearing and cleaning of the forming chamber at the end of an agricultural bag loading operation.

Abstract: An agricultural bag loading machine having an improved mechanical assembly for automatically effecting controlled, continuous compression and delivery of compacted animal feed material into a flexible agricultural storage bag via a compression and delivery chamber. The compressed, delivered feed material has a uniform, air tight side wall density throughout the bag-delivered, sausage shaped feed material mass. The loading machine has additional features, including a pneumatic bladder assembly for changing the forming chamber dimensions and configuration, an improved agricultural bag attachment and continuous feeding mechanism which eliminates bag fold-over and wrinkling problems during filling, and an integral forming chamber cleanout mechanism which enables clearing and cleaning of the forming chamber at the end of an agricultural bag loading operation.