Apparatus for automatic filling of liquid containers having semirigid walls

Claim 2

Apparatus for filling of containers having a fill opening and comprising A. a container infeed station for receiving and supporting container in a predetermined orientation for filling, B. liquid-dispensing means connected to a liquid supply and which includes 1.a liquid discharge nozzle insertable into a container to a predetermined depth through the fill opening thereof, said discharge nozzle being vertically disposed and having a selectively operable, valved discharge orifice at the lower end thereof, and

Claim 3

A flow-responsive device connected in liquid flow relationship to said discharge nozzle and forming a control signal indicative of volumetric liquid flow through said discharge nozzle, C. container-elevating means including 1. a container-supporting platform for receiving and supporting a container in said predetermined orientation, and 2. a platform-elevating mechanism coupled with said platform and selectively operable to vertically displace said platform between a container receiving and discharge position and a relatively elevated position where said liquid discharge nozzle is inserted into said container through the fill opening thereof, D. container transfer means engageable with a container disposed at said infeed station and operable to effect transfer of said container from said infeed station onto said containersupporting platform when said platform is at said receiving and discharge position, and E. control means for controlling operating of the apparatus in a predetermined sequence to perform a container-filling operation and being connected with 1. said container transfer means for effecting transfer of a container and including means detecting a container at said infeed station to enable operation of said transfer means, 2. said liquid-dispensing means for operating said valved discharge orifice and responding to the control signal fOrmed by said flow-responsive device for controlling operation of said liquid-dispensing means in dispensing a predetermined volume of liquid, and 3. said container-elevating means for controlling displacement thereof in either direction and maintaining movement of said platform from said relatively elevated position at a predetermined rate proportionally related to the rate of fill of a container by said liquid-dispensing means.

Claim 4

A flow-responsive device connected in liquid flow relationship to said discharge nozzle and forming a control signal indicative of volumetric liquid flow through said discharge nozzle, C. container-elevating means including 1. a container-supporting platform for receiving and supporting a container in said predetermined orientation, and 2. a platform-elevating mechanism coupled with said platform and selectively operable to vertically displace said platform between a container receiving and discharge position and a relatively elevated position where said liquid discharge nozzle is inserted into said container through the fill opening thereof, D. container transfer means engageable with a container disposed at said infeed station and operable to effect transfer of said container from said infeed station onto said containersupporting platform when said platform is at said receiving and discharge position, and E. control means for controlling operating of the apparatus in a predetermined sequence to perform a container-filling operation and being connected with 1. said container transfer means for effecting transfer of a container and including means detecting a container at said infeed station to enable operation of said transfer means, 2. said liquid-dispensing means for operating said valved discharge orifice and responding to the control signal fOrmed by said flow-responsive device for controlling operation of said liquid-dispensing means in dispensing a predetermined volume of liquid, and 3. said container-elevating means for controlling displacement thereof in either direction and maintaining movement of said platform from said relatively elevated position at a predetermined rate proportionally related to the rate of fill of a container by said liquid-dispensing means.

Claim 5

A flow-responsive device connected in liquid flow relationship to said discharge nozzle and forming a control signal indicative of volumetric liquid flow through said discharge nozzle, C. container-elevating means including

Claim 6

A flow-responsive device connected in liquid flow relationship to said discharge nozzle and forming a control signal indicative of volumetric liquid flow through said discharge nozzle, C. container-elevating means including

Claim 7

said liquid-dispensing means for operating said valved discharge orifice and responding to the control signal fOrmed by said flow-responsive device for controlling operation of said liquid-dispensing means in dispensing a predetermined volume of liquid, and

Claim 8

said liquid-dispensing means for operating said valved discharge orifice and responding to the control signal fOrmed by said flow-responsive device for controlling operation of said liquid-dispensing means in dispensing a predetermined volume of liquid, and

Claim 9

a flow-responsive device connected in liquid flow relationship to said discharge nozzle and forming a control signal indicative of volumetric liquid flow through said discharge nozzle, B. container-supporting means adapted to receive a container and support said received container in liquid-filling relationship to said discharge nozzle, and C. control means connected with said liquid-dispensing means for operating said valved discharge orifice and responding to the control signal formed by said flow-responsive device for controlling operation of said liquid-dispensing means in dispensing a predetermined volume of liquid into said container, said flow responsive device being an oscillating-piston-type liquid flowmeter comprising D. an oscillating piston disposed in the liquid flow path through the meter and causing to cyclically oscillate in accordance with liquid flow therethrough, E. a rotatably journaled, magnetic-field-forming magnet structure mechanically coupled with said oscillating piston and revolved by cyclic movement of said piston, and F. an electromechanical transducer coupled with said magnetic field and responding thereto in forming an electrical-pulse-form control signal for each revolution of said magnet structure.

Claim 10

a flow-responsive device connected in liquid flow relationship to said discharge nozzle and forming a control signal indicative of volumetric liquid flow through said discharge nozzle, B. container-supporting means adapted to receive a container and support said received container in liquid-filling relationship to said discharge nozzle, and C. control means connected with said liquid-dispensing means for operating said valved discharge orifice and responding to the control signal formed by said flow-responsive device for controlling operation of said liquid-dispensing means in dispensing a predetermined volume of liquid into said container, said flow responsive device being an oscillating-piston-type liquid flowmeter comprising D. an oscillating piston disposed in the liquid flow path through the meter and causing to cyclically oscillate in accordance with liquid flow therethrough, E. a rotatably journaled, magnetic-field-forming magnet structure mechanically coupled with said oscillating piston and revolved by cyclic movement of said piston, and F. an electromechanical transducer coupled with said magnetic field and responding thereto in forming an electrical-pulse-form control signal for each revolution of said magnet structure.

Claim 11

a platform-elevating mechanism coupled with said platform and selectively operable to vertically displace said platform between a container receiving and discharge position and a relatively elevated position where said liquid discharge nozzle is inserted into said container through the fill opening thereof, D. container transfer means engageable with a container disposed at said infeed station and operable to effect transfer of said container from said infeed station onto said container-supporting platform when said platform is at said receiving and discharge position, and E. control means for controlling operating of the apparatus in a predetermined sequence to perform a container-filling operation and being connected with

Claim 12

a platform-elevating mechanism coupled with said platform and selectively operable to vertically displace said platform between a container receiving and discharge position and a relatively elevated position where said liquid discharge nozzle is inserted into said container through the fill opening thereof, D. container transfer means engageable with a container disposed at said infeed station and operable to effect transfer of said container from said infeed station onto said container-supporting platform when said platform is at said receiving and discharge position, and E. control means for controlling operating of the apparatus in a predetermined sequence to perform a container-filling operation and being connected with

Claim 13

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said flow-responsive device is an oscillating-piston-type liquid flowmeter comprising G. an oscillating piston disposed in the liquid flow path through the meter and caused to cyclically oscillate in accordance with liquid flow therethrough, H. a rotatably journaled, magnetic-field-forming magnet structure mechanically coupled with said oscillating piston and revolved by cyclic movement of said piston and I. an electromechanical transducer coupled with said magnetic field and responding thereto in forming an electrical-pulse-form control signal for each revolution of said magnet structure.

Claim 14

Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein passage of said predetermined volume of liquid through said flowmeter actuates said oscillating piston for a predetermined number of cycles resulting in a proportionally related number of electrical pulses, said control means including pulse counter means for counting said electrical pulses and controlling operation of said liquid discharge nozzle in accordance with the number of pulses counted.

Claim 15

said container-elevating means for controlling displacement thereof in either direction and maintaining movement of said platform from said relatively elevated position at a predetermined rate proportionally related to the rate of fill of a container by said liquid-dispensing means.

Claim 16

said container-elevating means for controlling displacement thereof in either direction and maintaining movement of said platform from said relatively elevated position at a predetermined rate proportionally related to the rate of fill of a container by said liquid-dispensing means.

Claim 17

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said control means operates said valved discharge orifice to permit discharge of liquid therefrom after said discharge nozzle has been inserted into said container, actuates said platform-elevating mechanism to effect withdrawal of said liquid discharge nozzle from said container after a quantity of liquid sufficient to cover said discharge orifice has been dispensed into said container and maintains the rate of withdrawal equal to the rate of fill of said container to thereby maintain said discharge orifice immersed in the dispensed liquid.

Claim 18

Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said control means operates said valved discharge orifice to an open position permitting discharge of liquid after said discharge nozzle has been inserted into said container to said predetermined depth.

Claim 19

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said liquid discharge nozzle includes an elongated, vertically disposed, liquid-conducting tube connected at the upper end to said liquid supply inlet and having said discharge orifice formed at the lower end thereof, a valve element selectively movable between a closed position in closing relationship to said orifice an an open position permitting liquid flow through said orifice, and an actuating mechanism connected with said valve element for selective positioning in either said open or said closed position, said actuating mechanism connected with said control means for control of said actuating mechanism.

Claim 20

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said container-supporting platform includes latch means selectively engageable with a container supported on said platform, said latch means adapted to engage said container about the fill opening thereof and thereby maintain said fill opening in stable relationship to said platform.

Claim 21

Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said latch means comprises a latch plate supported for reciprocable sliding movement in a horizontal plane and being formed with an opening adapted to engage said container about the fill opening thereof, and latch actuation means connected to said latch plate and operable to effect horizontal reciprocable movement thereof between a latched and an unlatched position, said latch actuation means being connected with said control means for control of operation.

Claim 22

Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said control means includes means responsive to the position of said latch plate to control sequential operatiOn of the apparatus in accordance with the position of said latch plate.

Claim 23

Apparatus according to claim 1 including empty-container-feeding means receiving containers from a continuous supply and operated in sequential coordination with said container transfer means for feeding of a container to said infeed station after said transfer means has completed a transfer operation, said container-feeding means connected with said control means for controlling cyclic operation of said feeding means.

Claim 24

Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said container feeding means includes container-supporting means extending between said empty container supply and said infeed station for support of a container during a container-feeding operation, and container-displacing means engageable with a container received from said continuous supply and operable to displace said received container along said container-supporting means toward said infeed station.

Claim 25

Apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said control means includes container-detecting means responding to the presence of a received container for enabling operation of said container feeding means.

Claim 26

Apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said infeed station includes a supporting bracket having a surface configuration adapted to engage and support a container thereon in said predetermined orientation, and the container-supporting means of said container-feeding means comprises a container-supporting surface disposed to support a container in relatively elevated relationship to said supporting bracket whereby a container displaced from said container-supporting means onto said supporting bracket will be subjected to gravitational forces resulting in orientation of said container.

Claim 27

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said container-supporting platform comprises an open-sided bracket having a surface configuration for supporting said container in said predetermined orientation and includes supporting plates selectively positionable at each open side of said bracket in supporting relationship to a respective vertical sidewall of said container, each said plate carried by said platform for displacement from said supporting-relationship position to a nonsupporting position permitting transfer of a container across said platform through the open side of said bracket.

Claim 28

Apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said plates are pivotally mounted on said platform for swinging movement in a vertical plane and said container-supporting platform includes actuating means connected with said plates for effecting swinging movement of said plates to a selected one of said positions, said actuating means connected with said control means for control of operation.

Claim 29

Apparatus according to claim 15 wherein said control means includes plate-detecting means responding to the position of said plates for providing sequential control of operation.

Claim 30

Apparatus according to claim 1 including discharge means disposed to receive a container from said container-supporting platform and operable to displace said received container for discharge of said container from the apparatus, said discharge means connected with said control means for operation thereof.

Claim 31

Apparatus according to claim 17 wherein said discharge means includes a container-supporting plate disposed to receive a container from said platform and initially support said received container in said predetermined orientation, said plate being pivotally mounted on the apparatus for swinging movement from said initially supporting position to a second position where said received container is oriented for discharge and having means coupling said plate with said container-supporting platform whereby swinging movement of said plate is controlled by the relative vertical position of said platform.

Claim 32

Apparatus according to claim 18 wherein said container-supporting plate is provided with a lever arm having a cam follower, and said container-supporting platform is proviDed with a cam surface engageable with said cam follower to maintain said container-supporting plate in said initial position when said platform is at said container receiving and discharge position and disengageable from said cam follower when said platform is elevated thereby permitting swinging movement of said plate.

Claim 33

Apparatus according to claim 19 wherein said discharge means includes container-displacing means engageable with a container received from said container-supporting platform and operable to displace said received container, said displacing means including a horizontally reciprocable container-pushing plate.

Claim 34

Apparatus according to claim 20 wherein said control means includes detector means responding to said container-supporting plate when said plate is in said second position to control sequential operation of said container-displacing means by enabling operation only when said plate is in said second position.

Claim 35

Apparatus according to claim 17 wherein said discharge means includes a supporting surface disposed to receive a container from said container-supporting platform in said predetermined orientation, a support and tilt bar disposed in a horizontal place above said surface at a relative elevation to engage said container at the upper part thereof and support said container in said predetermined orientation, said support and tilt bar being supported at an elevation to permit passage of a container in a discharge orientation beneath said bar, and container-displacing means engageable with a received container in said predetermined orientation for placing said container in said discharge orientation by causing rotation of said container about said bar and for subsequently displacing said container for discharge from the apparatus.

Claim 36

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said liquid discharge nozzle comprises an elongated, vertically disposed, liquid-conducting tube having said discharge orifice formed at the lower end thereof, and an elongated, tubular shield telescopically receiving said liquid-conducting tube interiorly thereof in longitudinal alignment, said shield being axially displaceable relative to said tube from a normal position covering the lower portion of said tube to a position exposing a length of said tube for insertion in a container.

Claim 37

Apparatus according to claim 23 wherein said liquid discharge nozzle includes an elongated, tubular shroud disposed to telescopically receive said shield when said shield is displaced from said normal position, said shroud telescopically receiving an upper marginal end portion of said shield when said shield is in said normal position to prevent entrance of contaminants at the upper end thereof.

Claim 38

Apparatus according to claim 24 wherein said tubular shield is engageable at the lower end with said container-supporting platform for effecting upward displacement thereof concurrently with upward movement of said platform.

Claim 39

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said valved discharge orifice, and said platform-elevating mechanism are actuated by independently operable fluid actuators connected with respective elements with said control means including a fluid control system connected with said fluid actuators for effecting operation thereof and an electrical control system connected with said fluid control system for controlling operation thereof.

Claim 40

Apparatus according to claim 1 which includes second similar liquid-dispensing means, and second similar container-elevating means, and wherein said container transfer means is selectively operable to alternatingly transfer a container from said infeed station onto the container-supporting platform of either of said container-elevating means and said control means is connected with and effective in independently controlling operation of said second liquid-dispensing means and container-elevating means in a same predetermined sequence to perform a container-filling operation.

Claim 41

Apparatus for filling of containers comprising A. liquid-dispensing means connected to a liquid supply and which includes

Claim 42

Apparatus for filling of containers comprising A. liquid-dispensing means connected to a liquid supply and which includes

Claim 43

Apparatus according to claim 28 wherein passage of said predetermined volume of liquid through said flowmeter actuates said oscillating piston for a predetermined number of cycles resulting in a proportionally related number of electrical pulses, said control means including pulse counter means for counting said electrical pulses and controlling operation of said liquid discharge nozzle in accordance with the number of pulses counted.