Abstract: Freshly filled containers (such as cans for confinement of carbonated beverages which are admitted at an elevated pressure) are overlapped by caps or other suitable closures not later than at the point where they leave the filling unit of a combined filling and capping apparatus. The closures are maintained in alignment with and are pressed against the open tops of filled containers during advancement from the filling unit to the capping or sealing unit. This ensures that the confined liquid cannot be affected by atmospheric air and cannot escape from the respective containers irrespective of the distance of the filling unit from the capping or sealing unit.

Abstract: A machine for filling cups 42 with a food product has a conveyor formed from slats 40. The machine includes a loading station 10, a sterilizing station 12, a drying station 14, a filling station 16, a gassing station 18, a sealing station 20 and an unloading station. At the sealing station 20, closures cut from foil 84 are heat sealed onto the cups 42. The foil 84 is guided to the sealing station 20 by a series of rollers including a final roller 88 positioned above the conveyor. The function of the gassing station 18 is to create an atmosphere of nitrogen in the unfilled parts of the containers. The gassing station 18 has a gassing chamber formed partly by a casing member 70 and partly by the foil 84 as it passes downwardly to the final roller 88. The upper surface of the gassing chamber is above the rotational axis of the final roller 88. Nitrogen is injected into the gassing chamber by an injection tube 82 formed from sintered stainless steel, the pores in the steel acting as injection holes.

Abstract: A dispenser for an active substance which is positioned in the region of the nostrils for inhalation and is used for the evaporation of active substances of a medicinal, paramedicinal, and flavor-therapeutic types. The dispenser includes a flat dish that is made of absorbent, air-penetrable material and is surrounded by a circular edge. The dish is covered by a lid that is pasted on the edge. Loosely poured micro-capsules containing an active substance are contained in a closed chamber formed between the lid and the dispenser. A central area of the outside of the lid is covered with a tampon-like adhesive layer which, in turn, is covered by a peelable siliconized protective foil. A process and a production line for the manufacturing of the dispenser of active substances are described.

Abstract: An apparatus for seaming a can end to a filled cylindrical can includes can feed device for supporting the bottom of the can rotatably about its own axis and feeding the can linearly along a travel path at a predetermined speed. A can end holder member is provided for detachably holding the can end directly above the can feed device and holding the can end rotatably about its own axis. A can end feed member is provided for moving the can end holder member to feed the can end in synchronism with the can which is fed by the can feed device. A lifting/lowering member is provided for lowering the can end holder member to hold the can end held by the can end holder member against an open end of the can. A seaming device is provided and extends linearly along the travel path for pressing an end hook of the can end against a flange of the can while the can end against which the can end is held is being fed by the can feed device.

Abstract: Apparatus for gripping a container when being capped in a container filling and capping machine is provided and consists of at least two adjustable container gripper belt assemblies oppositely suspended on a table top between a conveyor. The assemblies will grip the container during its travel therealong and prevent rotation of the container when the cap is applied onto a bottle neck of the container by a capping mechanism.

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: A machine for packaging is a non-germ atmosphere according to the present invention comprises a container sterilization means which sterilizes containers, and a fill-end-pack means which fills the food in the containers and seals them with lids. At least a pair of rails runs through the container sterilization means and the fill-and-pack means. The containers are hung by the rails and they are intermittently carried by a first intermittent carrying means and the container sterilization means and by a second intermittent carrying means in the fill-and-pack means. The machine is arranged such that it is readily adjustable for different sized containers without allowing germs in the atmosphere to enter into the machine. The container sterilization means for further comprises an air current control means to control the flow of the sterilization agent and to fully sterilize the containers.

Abstract: A capsule charging apparatus that is a capsule conveying device disposed on a stand internally provided with at least one driving unit and a capsule charging device including at least one charging unit disposed on a stand which is detachably attached to the side of the stand of said capsule conveying device, said capsule conveying device arranging a plurality of capsules in which body portion are fitted into cap portions substantially vertically with their cap portions uppermost and their body portions below the cap portions; separating the capsules into the cap portions and the body portions; moving the separated cap portions and body portions in the horizontal direction; and fitting together the body portions and the cap portions again and said charging unit being driven by the driving unit inside the stand of said capsule conveying device.

Abstract: The invention describes an apparatus for the sterile packaging of flowable substances, comprising a conveyer belt (4), from one end of which open packages (5) can be passed by an intermediate conveyer means (21-23) through a sterilizing chamber (7) and to a second conveyer belt (13) disposed in a sterile chamber (15) enclosed in a housing (14), filling means (17) and sealing means (18) being disposed in this sterile chamber (15) while an outlet sluice (24) is disposed in a wall of the housing. In order to simplify and so further improve such an apparatus that a more effective sterilization process is achieved, it is according to the invention envisaged to construct the sterilizing chamber (15) as an inlet sluice (8).

Abstract: A filler and sealer with an endless two directional flexing chain having carriers thereon are capable of being driven about vertical axes of a rotary filler and also about horizontal axes of end discs. Each carrier movably supports a tray supporting head which is accurately maintained in filling positions relative to rotary and reciprocating tray fillers, and is thereafter accurately maintained in position to have a lid sealed on the container. Arcuate guide shoes on each carrier ride in linear and arcuate tracks to guide the carriers. A push bar conveyor includes spacer rollers which engage each carrier and push the carriers around their paths of movement at uniform speed.

Abstract: An improved filling and casing system is disclosed herein, which comprises a case conveying device for conveying cases, a carrier conveying device disposed adjacent to and in parallel to the case conveying device for conveying carriers capable of accommodating and holding containers, an uncasing station including a container gripper movable between the case and the carrier for taking out the containers from the case and accommodating them in the carrier, a filling station including a filling head for performing a filling operation for the containers accommodated and held in the carrier, and a capping station including a capping head for performing a capping operation for the filled containers. The uncasing station, the filling station and the capping station are disposed in succession along the case conveying device and the carrier conveying device.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for continuously producing bottled beverages and closing bottles with caps, each bottle having an externally threaded mouth and having been charged with a liquid product for drinking, the apparatus includes a timing screw for advancing bottles continuously at fixed spatial intervals, each bottle having an externally threaded mouth and having been charged with a liquid product for drinking. An inlet star wheel having a plurality of recesses at the periphery thereof at fixed spatial intervals is provided. The recesses receive bottles with externally threaded mouths that have been conveyed by the timing screw. A cap release applies caps onto the threaded mouths of bottles. A nozzle ejects a stream of a non-oxidizing gas into bottles with the nozzle being situated immediately ahead of the cap release. A capper having a plurality of recesses at the periphery thereof at fixed spatial intervals is provided.

Abstract: A monitoring and control system is provided for a container filling line having an in-feed conveyor for conveying empty containers, a multiple-valve rotary fill station supplied by the in-feed conveyor for filling the containers, a multi-head closer station for closing the then-filled containers, a discharge station for discharging the filled and closed containers to a take-away conveyor, the take-away conveyor not being cynchronized with the in-feed conveyor, the operation of the filler station and the operation of the closer station, the monitoring and control system including means at the discharge station for generating a first signal responsive to each container passing the discharge station, a detection station provided at a location on the take-away conveyor spaced from the discharge station for detecting one or more characteristics of a container passing thereby, means at the detection station for generating a second signal responsive to each container passing the detection station, means for generati

Abstract: The present invention provides a device for fixedly securing a cap and body of a capsule together to thereby render the capsule tamper evident. In one form of the invention, the capsules are conveyed at spaced intervals along a predetermined path of travel through a treatment zone which is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the capsule. An elongated bar having a tapered edge and positioned within the treatment zone engages the side of the capsule to produce an indentation in the side of the capsule which increases in depth from the entry and to the exit end of the treatment zone. This indentation around the capsule hermetically seals the cap and body of the capsule together so that the cap and body cannot be separated without destruction of the capsule. In another form of the invention, the bar is increasingly heated along its length so that, in addition to forming an indentation circumferentially around the capsule, simultaneously hermetically seals the capsule cap and body together.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a segmented head seal for a cup packaging machine which has independent sealing head segments. The segmented head seal has a mounting plate having an insulator plate attached thereto. Attaching to the insulator plate is a support plate. Attached to the support plate are a plurality of locator assembly members. Movably linked to each individual locator assembly member is an independent sealing member. The links between the sealing members and the locator assembly members allow the sealing member to move on the locator assembly member. The locator assembly members are attached to the support plates with one or more bias springs located in openings in the locator assembly members between the support plate and the sealing blocks.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a machine for the automatic packaging of goblets, having a number of stations which permit the goblets to be deposited on a conveyor, to be filled, to be obturated and to be evacuated, these stations being each carried by at least one modular frame, all the modular frames being crossed by the conveyor and being likely to be connected to one another by mechanical connecting, each modular frame having mechanical, electrical and pneumatic control associated to each frame to permit the station it carries to work in an autonomous and separate way, these control being possibly connected to and driven by a multiprocessor solid with at least one of the modular frames.

Abstract: A system for packaging articles within containers, each container being generally egg shaped and having an open end for receiving the articles and having a generally planar closure applied to the open end thereof to confine the articles therein. The system includes a multi-station intermittently rotatable generally circular turret or carousel carrier disk having a plurality of radial slots, each fixedly mounting a canister for receiving and temporarily confining articles therein fed into the top thereof during partial rotation or indexing of said turret or carousel and for receiving an open container fed into the bottom during the remainder of the rotation thereof. These canisters are open at both ends for systematically receiving the articles and containers in timed relation. Highly polished reciprocatable fingers are selectively positioned beneath the canisters when such are located at prescribed locations to confine the articles therein.

Abstract: In the disclosed apparatus, a belt feeds empty containers, into a filling station. At a waiting position in the station of the belt lifts a container with a support having centering rollers that permit horizontal displacement of the empty container while alignment pulleys engage the vertical sides of the container to the rotate the container about its vertical axis so that its fill opening is at the leading edge of the container. A horizontally rotatable plate above the container but ahead of the waiting position sequentially applies an unplugging device and a level sensor to the container. When the belt moves the container to the filling position and when filling device has filled the container, the plate swings the unplugging device around to the filling position and plugs the container's fill opening. Upon further rotation, it positions a second device to apply a safety cap to the container.

Abstract: The specification discloses a method and apparatus for accurately positioning a lid of a series of lids above a container flange in preparation for the heat sealing operation. The apparatus is designed to maintain the production rate of prior art filling and packaging machines while still precisely locating a lid such that little or no overhang of the lid relative to the flange of a container occurs. This is achieved by providing a start and stop type conveyor with individual conveyor plates provided with alignment lugs for urging the flange of a container and a lid into alignment. The resulting product is less vulnerable to lid damage and hence is more presentable when served to the consumer. This system is particular valuable in the packaging of individual creamer containers.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for packaging products between first and second plastic components sealed by using a hot melt adhesive applied by a dispensing applicator in one of several serially arranged stations of a packaging operation. The first plastic component is supported for indexing movement on a transport and moved under a hot melt applicator which is continuously driven in a predetermined path of travel which traverses the entire periphery of the product-loaded first plastic component. The first plastic component is stopped under the applicator for a predetermined dwell time during which the applicator dispenses the hot melt adhesive, then advanced to a position where the second plastic component is applied to form a filled package which is the evacuated and sealed. Apparatus is provided for preventing dripping or stringing of the hot melt adhesives.

Abstract: A process for the manufacture of packages made of prefabricated containers which are substantially dimensionally stable and have at a filling end an outwardly projecting flange edge on which a cover sheet is fixed by welding, hot sealing or bonding. The process comprises the steps of providing a service belt consisting of a thermoplastic sheet material produced in a continuous sheet forming process. The continuous service belt moves along a path through a package forming, filling and closing work station. Recesses are formed in the service belt for receiving the prefabricated containers which are incorporated in succession and in a close spaced relationship into the recesses of the service belt. The prefabricated containers are filled with material and a continuous sheet web including weakening lines defining the outer edge surface dimension of a cover is supplied for each of the containers disposed in the recesses.

Abstract: A packing machine for American boxes comprising apparatus for supplying empty boxes, apparatus for supplying the contents of the box in batches, apparatus for transferring the batches and placing them in open boxes, and apparatus for discharging the boxes. The apparatus for supplying the empty boxes bears a magazine of folded box blanks and apparatus for opening and erecting the box and forming the bottom thereof.

Abstract: A container holder capable of holding various containers, such as bottles and cans, comprises a deformable container-holding member made from a plastic material, a holding frame, and an adapter plate. The central portion of the holding member is divided into several tongues, and a central hole surrouded by these tongues is formed. The holding member is sandwiched between the adapter plate and the holding frame. Depending on the kind of the container held by this holder, the adapter plate is replaced with another adapter plate. Also disclosed is a container carrier in which container holders as described above are detachably mounted. An apparatus for handling containers using this container holder comprises mechanisms for performing these handling operations and conveying the container carrier between stations for the handling operations while the containers are received in the container holder.

Abstract: The cup filling unit includes a guided circulating feed means which carries cup receptacles positioned in rows transverse to the feed direction. The cup receptacles also follow feed paths parallel to the feed direction. An elevator is provided for feeding cup and/or cover stacks in an added cup and/or cover feed device. The carrier of the elevator engages under a cup and/or cover stack and raises it from below axially into a lower opening of a shaft of an intermediate magazine. Each lower opening is associated with an engagable or disengagable supporting base for gripping under or delivering an overlapping cup and/or cover stack. The intermediate magazine is movable and displaceable from its filling position into a discharging position. In the discharging position the lower opening of the intermediate magazine substantially coincides with the upper opening of a cup and/or cover delivery magazine positioned above the cup and/or cover delivery station.

Abstract: A machine for making fuel elements/aerosol generating cartridges useful for smoking articles, the machine providing for receiving a random supply of tubular, open-end containers, orienting the containers to position them for filling, filling the containers with a predetermined amount of aerosol generating material, and capping the open ends by inserting fuel elements therein.

Abstract: Cells, particularly animal cells, are cultivated in roller bottles which are handled or processed by a system comprising a decapper, the first liquid sucking and filling machine in which culture medium is sucked and a bottle cleaning liquid is supplied, a bottle rolling mechanism for washing the inner wall of the bottle in a horizontally-reclined state while rolling the same, the second liquid sucking and filling machine in which the cleaning liquid is sucked and culture medium is supplied, and a capper. The decapper, the first liquid sucking and filling machine, the bottle rolling mechanism, the second liquid sucking and filling machine, and the capper are all located in an aseptic chamber in this order along a conveyor which extends between a bottle supply turn table and a bottle collecting turn table.

Abstract: A production apparatus comprises a step-wise driven conveyor adapted to receive articles to be subjected to different operations. Along the conveyor operative devices are arranged for carrying out the different operations to which the articles are to be subjected. The operative devices having comparatively short operation periods are stationarily arranged along the conveyor, whereas at least two operative devices having comparatively long operation periods, are movably arranged along the conveyor so as to follow the conveyor while the conveyor makes at least one step and then to be moved one such step opposite to the direction of movement of the conveyor. By such doubling of the operative device or devices having long operation periods, an increased capacity of the production apparatus is achieved. The production apparatus can be used in producing ice cream coronets.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a conveyor for containers comprising two chains carrying transverse members each constituted by an assembly of links hingedly connected to each other and to the chains to constitute deformable parallelogram linkages into which can be inserted containers (R) of any shape and size while at the same time ensuring the centering of the containers.

Abstract: An automatic container stuffing apparatus and method is disclosed. The apparatus is especially useful for the insertion of two component gas generating pouches into pressurized containers of the type wherein the pressurizing gas does not come into contact with the contents of the container. The apparatus receives the pouches, performs necessary bursting operations to initiate gas pressurization, compresses the pouch into an elongate shape and inserts the pouch into a container. Two embodiments are disclosed. One embodiment receives pouches in a continuous sheet and separates the pouches from the continuous sheet prior to insertion into a container. Another embodiment receives individual separate pouches arranged in a stack extending in the longitudinal direction of a transport conveyor, thus eliminating the need to separate the pouches from a continuous sheet.

Abstract: An apparatus for aseptic packaging, in particular of food products and snack items, in packaging containers has a clean room with a sterile atmosphere, in which equipment for sterilization, rinsing, filling and closing the packaging containers is disposed. The packaging containers are conveyed in increments through the clean room on supporting elements, which are secured to two parallel endless conveyor chains. To prevent infection of the clean room from the conveyor apparatus, only the supporting elements are carried through the clean room, while the conveyor chains are disposed outside thereof. Holders, which join the supporting elements to the conveyor chains travel longitudinally through slits of the wall of the clean room. Secured to the holders are lamellae, which together with the edge portions of the slit in the wall form a labyrinth seal.

Abstract: A monitoring and control system for a fluid container filler line having an empty container in-feed conveyor (11), a multivalve fill station (14), a multihead scanner station (17), a discharge conveyor (20) and a fill height detector (25), the system comprising a sensing module (22) having a first sensor (44) to indicate the first of a sequence of numbered valves with means to reset a valve counter, a second sensor (45) to count each valve of the sequence and controller means (50) responsive to said sensors to spacially track each container (12) through the system and to identify the particular fill valve for each particular container. A detector (54) is responsive to the controller and signals from the height detector to detect an improperly filled faulty container and identify the particular number valve which did the faulty filling.

Abstract: A nuclear waste packaging facility for receiving both contact and remote handled nuclear waste in portable shipping containers and encapsulating this waste into ground-disposable modules is disclosed herein. The facility generally comprises a separately shielded section for processing remote handled waste including various remotely-controlled winches and conveyors, as well as a second, separately shielded section for processing contact handled waste. A module transportation and loading section is disposed between the remote and contact handled waste sections of the facility, and places empty module containers in a loading position adjacent each of the two, separately shielded sections of the facility. Both the contact and remote handled waste sections include radiation and ultrasonic detectors for determining the radioactive level of the waste, and whether or not any of this waste is in liquid form.

Abstract: A packaging machine comprising a closed main chamber enclosing a container transport conveyor in its entirety, a closed rear chamber disposed in communication with the main chamber and enclosing a container forming-feeding unit in its entirety, and a group of units including a filling unit, a capping unit, a sealing unit, a marking unit and a container discharge unit which are arranged in series on the top wall of the main chamber from a rear portion thereof toward the front. The group of units have portions operative on containers and extending into the main chamber. Cleaners for cleaning the conveyor, etc. are arranged at required locations within the main chamber.

Abstract: A method of packing a semisolid compound into a bag comprising the steps of precooling a high temperature semisolid compound to such a temperature at which it can maintain the desired viscosity, filling said precooled semisolid compound into a packing bag made of synthetic resin while cooling its outer surface with water, heat-sealing an opening part of the bag, putting the bag in a water tank for cooling, removing the cooled bag and transporting it, and an apparatus for carrying out the above-described method.

Abstract: A packaging machine wherein product-loaded cup-shaped receptacles are advanced with an indexing movement through a series of packaging stations. One station includes a fixed vacuum/gas chamber extending entirely over one set of receptacles. The receptacles are first evacuated through this fixed chamber, and thereafter gas is directed into the chamber to fill the receptacles. A fine wire-mesh screen is positioned between the chamber and the receptacles to constrain the air and gas flow to a vertical direction, to prevent disarrangement of the product during evacuation and gassing. A gas-curtain structure develops an enclosed region of gas above the receptacles during their movement out from under the fixed chamber over to the final sealing station. The sealing operation takes place in two successive steps within the sealing station.

Abstract: Process and plant for capsuling products, particularly pharmaceutical products, using capsules each consisting of a bottom, containing the product itself, and a removable top, whereby each bottom, once separated from the respective top, is fed by a conveying member through a number of filling and control stations to a closing device where each bottom is fitted with the respective top supplied to the closing device along a separate route running through a parking device.

Abstract: Automatic skin packaging apparatus are provided and comprise concomitantly operable substrate feeder means, film heater means, film pressure forming means, film cooling means, film and substrate die cutting means, and skin packaged article-substrate finishing and collection means. Conveyor and film supply means are intermittently operable, from constantly operable drive motor means, to intermittently advance article-bearing substrates to the above specified components, in turn, and to intermittently supply film thereover at said film heater means. Stop means insure precise conveyor means operation, and interrelated control means are provided to precisely control the time and duration of operation of all apparatus components.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for packaging an edible liquid in individual sterilized containers. The apparatus comprises a conveyor for the containers wherein the containers are sterilized on the lower level thereof and then are filled and sealed on the upper level thereof. The sealing means comprises the use of a payout wheel to feed a ribbon of sterile cover stock over an idler wheel and onto a heated sealing wheel. The payout and sealing wheels are provided with indexing buttons for the ribbon of cover stock to ensure precise registration thereof onto the containers.

Abstract: A system for synchronizing the operation between a filling unit for filling desired contents into bottles and a capping unit for capping the thus filled bottles in a bottle handling line is provided. The present synchronized driving system includes separate driving motors for separately driving the filling and capping units. The timing of operation of each of the filling and capping units is detected and its information is supplied to a micro-computer which then, after carrying out predetermined calculations, controls the operating conditions of the driving motors to keep the filling and capping units synchronized.

Abstract: A cup dispenser for cups containing freshly made beverages comprises a discharge opening connecting a dispensing chamber with the interior of the dispenser. This discharge opening is from the inside filled by a rotor mounted about a vertical shaft. The peripheral wall of the rotor closes completely the discharge opening in any position of the rotor apart from the position in which a recess opposes the discharge opening. This recess is shaped in such a manner that it may receive a cup situated therein when the dispenser is activated. Subsequently, the cup is filled with the desired beverage at a filling station and optionally provided with a cover at a cover dispensing device. Such a dispenser protects the interior parts thereof efficiently against the environment, and furthermore it allows the positioning of the covers on the filled cups in a simple manner.

Abstract: A compact portable apparatus for filling open ended preformed containers with a substance, such as liquid, and then heat bonding a thin flexible closure material to the periphery of the open end of the container, for sealing the latter, comprising a frame and a rotatable support thereon adapted to receive a plurality of the containers; a plurality of work stations are provided on the frame, adapted for coaction with a respective container mounted on the support, including a feed station for automatically feeding the containers one at a time onto the support, a filling station for inserting the substance into each of the containers, a sealing station for heat bonding the thin flexible closure to the peripheral lip of the filled container; but in readily peelable relationship therewith, and a discharge station for removal of the filled and sealed containers from the support.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for filling and capping a quantity of stackable containers with a fluid from a fluid reservoir. The apparatus comprises a rotary table having a plurality of apertures disposed therein for receiving the containers. Containers from a container magazine are transferred individually and placed within the apertures in the rotary table. A filling head is disposed at a second position for filling the container with the fluid pumped from the fluid reservoir. A lid magazine is disposed at a third position with a rotatable arm means for transferring lids from the lid magazine to the filled container. A lid sensor is included for sensing the presence of a lid on the rotatable arm during rotation thereof. A heat sealer located at a fourth position heat seals the lid to the container. A discharge station is located at a fifth position for discharging the capped containers from the rotary table.

Abstract: In a bottle- and can-filling machine the bottles after filling are fed from a star wheel directly to a capping carrousel and cans after filling are fed from the star wheel via a feed device along a feed path to a closing machine. This feed device is a feed chain extending from the closing machine right up to the star wheel of the filling machine and lying to the side of the center of the can path at the star wheel. Normally the chain lies to the outside of the center of this path at the star wheel and has fingers engageable behind the cans.

Abstract: According to this process, after separating the cap and the body of the capsule, a bead of viscous adhesive is deposited inside this cap and at a certain distance from the edge thereof, and there is introduced into the body of the capsule the dose of product to be packed, then the body thus filled is fitted into the cap thus prepared. In a preferred embodiment of the process, before fitting the body of the capsule into the cap thereof and during this fitting together, the atmosphere bathing the inside and the outside of the capsule is given a predetermined composition.

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 method and apparatus for handling of containers of the type having a sleeve with one open end and a substantially closed end having an opening therein, and having a displaceable plunger sealingly engaging the inside wall of the sleeve and being displaceable along the axis thereof between the open and closed ends. In accordance with both the method and apparatus, the plunger is assembled in the sleeve and is displaced toward the closed end thereof having the opening therethrough, and the container is then filled with a suitable filling material through the opening simultaneously as the displaceable plunger is moved away from the opening, thereby allowing the material to be injected freely into the container without having to evacuate air therefrom.

Abstract: A method of cleaning bottle filling devices after bottle breakage in filling stations circulating in bottle filling machines, especially counterpressure filling machines. That filling station in which the bottle breakage has occurred is freed of glass fragments by spraying liquid thereagainst, while continuing with the machine rotation and still during the same circulation. At least during the first machine circulation subsequent to the bottle breakage and the liquid spraying, the filling device is rinsed with the liquid supplied to the bottle to be filled. After discharge from the machine circulation, the filled bottle is separated from the filled bottles of the remaining filling stations.

Abstract: A Post-mix drink dispensing system is described including the combination of a cup dispenser, a means for introducing soft drink ingredients into the cups, an ice dispenser for depositing ice in the cups, an automatic lid dispenser for capping the cups, and a marker for marking the lids with indicia identifying the contents of the cup. The system includes a carousel arrangement wherein a cup is rapidly moved through a substantially circular arc to various stations which perform the above operations in rapid sequence.

Abstract: A method of treating waste material, particularly radioactively contaminated waste such as ion exchange resins or molecular sieves incorporating .sup.137 Cs. The waste is one which is associated with water, e.g. the waste is wet, and is admixed with a synthetic resin composition which hardens on reaction with water. Also disclosed is an apparatus which may be used for producing the hardened waste/resin mixture in a protectively lined drum or other vessel for subsequent dumping, e.g. at sea.

Abstract: An automated liquid container filling apparatus is disclosed which automatically fills cups with a fluid and then seals the cups with covers. The apparatus includes a circular table which is rotatably mounted on a base member for rotation about an axis perpendicular to the base member, having a plurality of holes therethrough spaced at equal angles about the circumference of the table. A motor is mounted to the base member and is operatively connected to the table for periodically rotating the table through the angle. A cup dispenser is mounted on the base member at a first position over the table, having a plurality of cups stored in a storage portion and a cup delivery mechanism adjacent to the cup storage portion which is operatively connected to the motor, for periodically dispensing one of the plurality of cups into each of the holes in the table, in synchronism with the periodic table rotation.