Container filling machine

Claim 2

In a container filling machine, a container supporting tray, a filling head having a filling stem mounted for movement into and out of filling position relative to said tray, means mounting said tray and said filling head for movement through a predetermined path, and means moving said filling stem into filling position as said tray and said head are moved through said path including a cam extending along said path, and cam follower means connected to said filling stem, said cam including first and second sections one of which determines the spacing between said tray and said stem when the latter is in a fully submerged filling position, and means mounting said one cam section for movement relative to the other thereof, thereby to vary said fully submerged filling position of said stem.

Claim 3

A container filling machine as set forth in claim 1, wherein said cam includes an inclined portion for raising said filling stem from said filling position to a cutoff position, wherein said other cam section including a cutoff portion determining the said cutoff position of said filling stem, and an extensible cam section movable relative to said other cam section for varying the point in said path at which said filling stem arrives at said cutoff position.

Claim 4

A container filling machine as set forth in claim 2, wherein said inclined portion is provided both by said other cam section and said extensible cam section, said extendible cam section including a portion comprising an extension of said cutoff portion.

Claim 5

A container filling machine as set forth in claim 1, wherein said means mounting said one cam section for movement relative to the other thereof includes at least two rotatable mounting posts in threaded engagement with said movable one cam section for moving the same upon rotation of said posts, and means for rotating said posts in unison.

Claim 6

A container filling machine as set forth in claim 1, together with means mounting both of said cam sections for movement toward and away from said tray.

Claim 7

A container filling machine as set forth in claim 5, wherein said cam section mounting means include a cam mounting member and at least two rotatable mounting posts in threaded engagement with said mounting member for moving the same upon rotation of said posts, and means for rotating said posts in unison.

Claim 8

A container filling machine as set forth in claim 5, wherein said filling head includes a housing in which said stem moves, means mounting said housing for movement toward and away from said tray, and coupling means selectively engaging said cam and filling head mounting means for movement in unison.

Claim 9

A container filling machine as set forth in claim 1, together with means mounting said tray for movement into and out of filling position relative to said filling head, and means for moving said tray into filling position as said tray and said filling head are moved through said path including another cam extending along said path, and cam follower means connected to said tray, said other cam including first and second sections one of which determines the spacing between said filling head and said tray when the latter is in filling position, and means mounting said one tray cam section for movement relative to the other tray cam section thereby to vary the height of fill of a container supported on said tray.

Claim 10

In a container filling machine, a container supporting tray, a filling head having a product dispensing stem mounted for extension toward said tray into a filling position and retraction into a product cutoff position, means mounting said tray and said head for movement through a predetermined path, and means moving said stem between filling and cut off positions including a cam extending along said path and cam follower means connected to said stem, said cam including a first section determining the spacing between said tray and said stem when the latter is in a fully submerged filling position, a second section determining the spacing between said tray and said stem when the latter is in said cut off position, and a third section extensible relative to said second section for varying the point in said path at which said stem is retracted into said cut off position.

Claim 11

In a container filling machine, a container supporting tray, a filling head having a product dispensing stem mounted for extension toward said tray into a filling position and retraction into a product cutoff position, means mounting said tray and said head for movement through a predetermined path, and means moving said stem between filling and cut off positions including a cam extending along said path and cam follower means connected to said stem, said cam including a first section determining the spacing between said tray and said stem when the latter is in a fully submerged filling position, a second section determining the spacing between said tray and said stem when the latter is in said cut off position, and a third section extensible relative to said second section for varying the point in said path at which said stem is retracted into said cut off position.

Claim 12

A container filling machine as set forth in claim 9, wherein said first and second sections comprise generally horizontal first and second follower engaging portions, said cam having an inclined follower engaging portion defined in part by said third section and leading from said first section to said second section, said third section comprising an extension of said second section, said cam providing a dwell portion intermediate said first and second portions for continued dispensing of product when said third section is in a retracted position.