Abstract: A packaging machine and method for filling bulk materials into packages with a rotatable machine frame and a plurality of circumferentially arranged filling spouts. During frame rotation, bulk materials are filled into packages. A machine silo is configured at the machine frame which has a storage volume for storing a quantity of bulk materials for filling a plurality of packages. Bulk materials are filled into the attributed packages from the silo through the filling spout. The machine silo is connected with a material supply with a controllable closing member for feeding bulk materials to the machine silo. A controller controls the closing member of the material supply dependent on the fill level to reduce the height of fall of the bulk materials being fed into the silo, or to avoid a free fall of the bulk materials during the feeding of bulk materials into the machine silo.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for high-speed precision powder or granular weigh filling and the like. Electronic weighing devices are used in conjunction with a multiplicity of weigh pans which can simultaneously be placed on the weighing devices, filled to a programmed weight, transported and dumped into containers all by a common mechanical system. Reject fills are flagged and are eliminated at a convenient point later on the run out conveyor.

Abstract: An automatic weight sorter used with a rotary container filling machine for sorting filled containers by weight. The filling machine has a rotary platform with a plurality of filling stations in which the containers, such as bottles, are supported for filling liquid product dispensed through a filling head at each filling station. The sorter is disposed at the exit end of the filling machine for successively weighing the filled bottles to sort them into predetermined classes of weight. The sorter is provided with an electronic device for storing measured weights for each filling station, calculating average weight for each station, counting the number of the sorted bottles in each class for each filling station, selectively displaying these data on a display screen and generating an alarm when the number of defective product exceeds a predetermined value.

Abstract: A method of charging a package with dosed bulk material, includes the steps of filling the package in a pre-filling station to an extent less than a desired final weight; weighing the partially filled package; determining the difference between actual and desired weight of the package; advancing the partially filled package to an after-filling station; and filling the package in the after-filling station with additional bulk material having a weight corresponding to the determined weight difference. Metering of the additional bulk material and readying the additional bulk material for delivery into the package are started before the package assumes a charging position in the after-filling station.

Abstract: A combinatorial weighing method and apparatus which operates by weighing plural groups of articles of various weighs by a plurality of weighing machines, finding the sums of all conceivable combinations of these weight values or of given combinations thereof, selecting the combination whose sum is equal or closest to a set value, and discharging the articles from those weighing machines corresponding to the selected combination to obtain articles of a desired weight or number. Between the discharge of the articles from the weighing machines and the following supply of fresh articles to the same weighing machines, an operation of determining the best combination by performing the same combinatorial computations with respect to the weight values of the remaining weighing machines which have not discharged their articles, is performed two or more times to improve weighing capability.