Apparatus for filling and adjusting the contents level in flexible containers

Claim 1

A machine for adjusting the liquid level in a series of overcapacity flexible containers having differences of size from one to another comprising in combination: means for flexing a filled plastic container to raise the liquid level within said container, means for signalling when the liquid level reaches a predetermined height, control means for causing said flexing means to start in operation and responsive to said signalling means for stopping said flexing when said liquid has attained a predetermined height relative to said bottle.

Claim 5

An apparatus for filling a series of flexible overcapacity containers having a filling opening, with identical volumes of liquid and maintaining identical headspaces in each container when capped in spite of differences of the capacity from one container to the next comprising: means for filling each said container with a predetermined amount of liquid, flexing means for moving two points on said container relative to each other, means for signalling when said liquid rises to within a predetermined distance from the top of the filling opening of said container, control means for causing said flexing means to start in operation after each said bottle has been filled with said predetermined amount of liquid and responsive to said signalling means for halting said moving when said liquid level has come to a predetermined distance from the top of the filling opening of said container.

Claim 6

An apparatus for filling a series of flexible overcapacity containers having a filling opening, with identical volumes of liquid and maintaining identical headspaces in each container when capped in spite of differences of the capacity from one container to the next comprising: means for filling each said container with a predetermined amount of liquid, flexing means for moving two points on said container relative to each other, means for signalling when said liquid rises to within a predetermined distance from the top of the filling opening of said container, control means for causing said flexing means to start in operation after each said bottle has been filled with said predetermined amount of liquid and responsive to said signalling means for halting said moving when said liquid level has come to a predetermined distance from the top of the filling opening of said container.

Claim 12

An apparatus for maintaining identical headspaces in each container of a series of flexible overcapacity containers in spite of differences of the capacitY from one container to the next where each container is filled with a predetermined quantity of liquid comprising: a rotatable means having a plurality of stations along its edge for receiving a plurality of flexible overcapacity containers, each said station comprising: a plurality of platens for deforming said flexible container, a dual wound reversing motor mounted at each said station for moving said platens relative to each other and having a common terminal and a first armature winding terminal and a second armature winding terminal, a control circuit for said motor means comprising, a first relay having normally closed contacts and a first and a second terminal, first conductive means connecting said first terminal to a first power line, a single pole double throw switch having a first terminal electrically connected to the movable contact arm and a second and third terminal each electrically connected to the fixed contact points of said switch, second conductive means connecting said second terminal of said first relay to said first terminal of said single pole double throw switch, third conductive means connecting said second terminal of said single pole double throw switch to said first armature winding terminal of said motor, fourth conductive means connecting said common terminal of said motor to a second power line, a first normally closed single pole single throw switch having a first and second terminal, a fifth conductive means connecting the third terminal of said single pole double throw switch to the first terminal of said first normally closed single pole switch, a sixth conductive means connecting the second terminal of said first single pole switch to the second armature winding terminal of said motor, a second normally closed single pole, single throw switch having a first and a second terminal, seventh conductive means connecting said first terminal to said first power line, a first normally open sensor switch having two terminals, eighth conducting means connecting the second terminal of said second normally closed single pole switch to the first terminal of said normally open sensor switch, a second relay having normally open contacts and a first and a second terminal, ninth conducting means connecting the second terminal of said second normally closed single pole switch to the first terminal of said second normally open relay, a control relay coil for closing said second relay and opening said first relay upon enerization of said coil and having a first and second terminal, tenth conducting means connecting the first terminal of said first normally open sensor switch to the first terminal of said control relay coil, eleventh conducting means connecting the second terminal of said normally open single pole switch to the first terminal of said control relay coil, and twelfth conducting means connecting the second terminal of said control relay coil to said second power line whereby said motor direction and extent of travel may be controlled by a series of cams mounted along the path of each said station and adapted to move said switches from one position to another.

Claim 13

An apparatus for maintaining identical headspaces in each container of a series of flexible overcapacity containers in spite of differences of the capacitY from one container to the next where each container is filled with a predetermined quantity of liquid comprising: a rotatable means having a plurality of stations along its edge for receiving a plurality of flexible overcapacity containers, each said station comprising: a plurality of platens for deforming said flexible container, a dual wound reversing motor mounted at each said station for moving said platens relative to each other and having a common terminal and a first armature winding terminal and a second armature winding terminal, a control circuit for said motor means comprising, a first relay having normally closed contacts and a first and a second terminal, first conductive means connecting said first terminal to a first power line, a single pole double throw switch having a first terminal electrically connected to the movable contact arm and a second and third terminal each electrically connected to the fixed contact points of said switch, second conductive means connecting said second terminal of said first relay to said first terminal of said single pole double throw switch, third conductive means connecting said second terminal of said single pole double throw switch to said first armature winding terminal of said motor, fourth conductive means connecting said common terminal of said motor to a second power line, a first normally closed single pole single throw switch having a first and second terminal, a fifth conductive means connecting the third terminal of said single pole double throw switch to the first terminal of said first normally closed single pole switch, a sixth conductive means connecting the second terminal of said first single pole switch to the second armature winding terminal of said motor, a second normally closed single pole, single throw switch having a first and a second terminal, seventh conductive means connecting said first terminal to said first power line, a first normally open sensor switch having two terminals, eighth conducting means connecting the second terminal of said second normally closed single pole switch to the first terminal of said normally open sensor switch, a second relay having normally open contacts and a first and a second terminal, ninth conducting means connecting the second terminal of said second normally closed single pole switch to the first terminal of said second normally open relay, a control relay coil for closing said second relay and opening said first relay upon enerization of said coil and having a first and second terminal, tenth conducting means connecting the first terminal of said first normally open sensor switch to the first terminal of said control relay coil, eleventh conducting means connecting the second terminal of said normally open single pole switch to the first terminal of said control relay coil, and twelfth conducting means connecting the second terminal of said control relay coil to said second power line whereby said motor direction and extent of travel may be controlled by a series of cams mounted along the path of each said station and adapted to move said switches from one position to another.