US3626996A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Container-filling method and apparatus
Assignee: Servi-Tech Inc
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Filing: 1970-04-08
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Granted: 1971-12-14
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Expires: 1990-04-08
Abstract
Abstract Method and apparatus for filling a container or can with a carbonated liquid or beverage wherein: the can is indexed into position beneath the filling apparatus; carbon dioxide gas is introduced into the can; carbonated liquid beverage flows into and fills the can; and the foam at the top of the liquid in the can, developed during filling, is evacuated through snift passageways which are isolated from the liquid-filling passageway. The lower portion of the liquid-filling passageway adjacent the spreader is small in volume and has a screen disposed immediately above the spreader to confine the foam for ease of removal whereby the sequential filling and capping of cans is significantly accelerated.
Inventors
- 👤 Joseph P Bingham
- 👤 Terry E Nish
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 18:12
CPC Classifications
B; B67; B67C; B67C3/00; B67C3/02; B67C3/06; B67C3/22; B67C3/28; B67C3/281; B67C3/26; B67C2003/2651; B67C2003/2657; B67C2003/2671; B67C2003/2674; B67C2003/268
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
72 words
In a method foR filling a can with carbonated beverage comprising the following steps: opening a gas valve, causing carbon dioxide to flow into a can, opening a liquid valve, causing a carbonated beverage to flow along a liquid flow path to fill the can, opening a snift valve and evacuating foam, developed during filling of the can, along a snift flow path which is entirely separate from the liquid flow path.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
72 words
In a method foR filling a can with carbonated beverage comprising the following steps: opening a gas valve, causing carbon dioxide to flow into a can, opening a liquid valve, causing a carbonated beverage to flow along a liquid flow path to fill the can, opening a snift valve and evacuating foam, developed during filling of the can, along a snift flow path which is entirely separate from the liquid flow path.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
75 words
In a method of controlling foam during the filling of a container with carbonated beverage, comprising the following steps: activating beverage valve structure, discharging carbonated beverage through a small-mesh screen and across a juxtaposed beverage flow spreader immediately above the top of the container, creating foam above the container, confining the foam to essentially the available volume between the beverage in the container and the screen and evacuating the foam along a snift flow path.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
75 words
In a method of controlling foam during the filling of a container with carbonated beverage, comprising the following steps: activating beverage valve structure, discharging carbonated beverage through a small-mesh screen and across a juxtaposed beverage flow spreader immediately above the top of the container, creating foam above the container, confining the foam to essentially the available volume between the beverage in the container and the screen and evacuating the foam along a snift flow path.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
118 words
In an elongated valve apparatus for filling a container with carbonated beverage comprising a gas valve disposed at one end of the valve apparatus for cyclically communicating gaseous carbon dioxide from a source to the container through vent means coextensive with a substantial axial length of the valve apparatus, a beverage valve disposed intermediate the length of the valve apparatus for cyclically communicating carbonated beverage from a reservoir to the container through bonnet means located at the other end of the valve apparatus, the bonnet means defining carbon dioxide passageway means, beverage passageway means, and snift passageway means, each passageway means being insulated and separated from the other passageway means with each passageway means communicating with the container.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
118 words
In an elongated valve apparatus for filling a container with carbonated beverage comprising a gas valve disposed at one end of the valve apparatus for cyclically communicating gaseous carbon dioxide from a source to the container through vent means coextensive with a substantial axial length of the valve apparatus, a beverage valve disposed intermediate the length of the valve apparatus for cyclically communicating carbonated beverage from a reservoir to the container through bonnet means located at the other end of the valve apparatus, the bonnet means defining carbon dioxide passageway means, beverage passageway means, and snift passageway means, each passageway means being insulated and separated from the other passageway means with each passageway means communicating with the container.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
100 words
In a can-filling apparatus comprising a liquid valve, a gas valve and a screen, the apparatus receiving at one end thereof the open end of a container to be filled first with gas and then with liquid, the apparatus having liquid-communicating passageway means, the passageway means terminating adjacent liquid spreader means at the one end, the screen being essentially transverse the passageway means and closely juxtaposed the spreader means so that the volume of the liquid passageway means between the screen, the spreader means and the one end is very small when compared with the remainder of the passageway means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
100 words
In a can-filling apparatus comprising a liquid valve, a gas valve and a screen, the apparatus receiving at one end thereof the open end of a container to be filled first with gas and then with liquid, the apparatus having liquid-communicating passageway means, the passageway means terminating adjacent liquid spreader means at the one end, the screen being essentially transverse the passageway means and closely juxtaposed the spreader means so that the volume of the liquid passageway means between the screen, the spreader means and the one end is very small when compared with the remainder of the passageway means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
In an apparatus as defined in claim 4 further comprising a snift valve and snift passageway means isolated from the liquid-communicating passageway means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
88 words
In an apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein the gas is carbon dioxide, the liquid is a carbonated beverage, the screen is fine mesh, and the separate snift passageway means communicates between the very small volume of the liquid-communicating passageway means and the snift valve whereby foam created during the filling of the container is confined by the screen to the small volume of the liquid-communicating passageway means and is promptly evacuated through the separate snift passageway means and the snift valve after filling of the container.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
91 words
In a vertically oriented valve apparatus, a carbon dioxide valve comprising hollow vent stem means, a carbonated beverage valve joined to the vent stem means, a snift valve, and a beverage flow spreader, vent tube means forming a continuation of the vent stem means and traversing axial of the apparatus from the beverage valve to below the spreader, the vent tube means having an unconstricted hollow interior of a size slightly less than the size of the hollow interior of the vent stem means for communicating carbon dioxide to a container.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
91 words
In a vertically oriented valve apparatus, a carbon dioxide valve comprising hollow vent stem means, a carbonated beverage valve joined to the vent stem means, a snift valve, and a beverage flow spreader, vent tube means forming a continuation of the vent stem means and traversing axial of the apparatus from the beverage valve to below the spreader, the vent tube means having an unconstricted hollow interior of a size slightly less than the size of the hollow interior of the vent stem means for communicating carbon dioxide to a container.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
65 words
In a high-speed valve apparatus comprising seriatum a snift valve; a snift block; and a bonnet; the snift block and the bonnet together defining beverage passageways forming a beverage flow path for filling a container; the bonnet, the snift block, and the snift valve defining snift passageways; the entire length of which is isolated from the beverage passageways and which forms a foam evacuation path.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
65 words
In a high-speed valve apparatus comprising seriatum a snift valve; a snift block; and a bonnet; the snift block and the bonnet together defining beverage passageways forming a beverage flow path for filling a container; the bonnet, the snift block, and the snift valve defining snift passageways; the entire length of which is isolated from the beverage passageways and which forms a foam evacuation path.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
83 words
In a valve apparatus comprising a valve for dispensing carbonated beverage into a container, a bonnet with a central bore terminating in a divergent egress port, and a beverage flow spreader, the spreader being frustoconical in configuration and being releasably secured by fasteners to the bonnet adjacent the divergent egress port but separated therefrom by spacers to define a narrow divergent chamber of fixed dimensions through which beverage passes and thereafter gently cascades in an annular ring upon the sidewalls of the container.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
83 words
In a valve apparatus comprising a valve for dispensing carbonated beverage into a container, a bonnet with a central bore terminating in a divergent egress port, and a beverage flow spreader, the spreader being frustoconical in configuration and being releasably secured by fasteners to the bonnet adjacent the divergent egress port but separated therefrom by spacers to define a narrow divergent chamber of fixed dimensions through which beverage passes and thereafter gently cascades in an annular ring upon the sidewalls of the container.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
132 words
A bonnet comprising a body having a first flange adapted to be secured to a bulb containing gaseous carbon dioxide and carbonated beverage and a second flange carrying a sealing rubber for engaging an open end of a container to be filled with beverage through the bonnet, the body defining a central axial bore terminating in a divergent egress port and at least one axially directed snift passageway offset and separate from the central axial bore, the snift passageway opening at one end in the divergent egress port, the other end of the snift passageway communicating with an open groove in the bonnet remote from the divergent egress port, the open groove being adapted to communicate with a snift valve for evacuating foam from the container after it is filled with beverage.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
132 words
A bonnet comprising a body having a first flange adapted to be secured to a bulb containing gaseous carbon dioxide and carbonated beverage and a second flange carrying a sealing rubber for engaging an open end of a container to be filled with beverage through the bonnet, the body defining a central axial bore terminating in a divergent egress port and at least one axially directed snift passageway offset and separate from the central axial bore, the snift passageway opening at one end in the divergent egress port, the other end of the snift passageway communicating with an open groove in the bonnet remote from the divergent egress port, the open groove being adapted to communicate with a snift valve for evacuating foam from the container after it is filled with beverage.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-12-13 | 1975-06-14 | 1975-12-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-12-13 | 1979-06-14 | 1979-12-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-12-13 | 1983-06-14 | 1983-12-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |