Volumetric filler system for flexible resilient bottles

Claim 2

In a process for filling flexible bottles with fluid from a supply bowl, the flexible bottles having a normal unstressed configuration of nominal volume, said process comprising the following steps: a. positioning the bottle for interposition in a fluid circuit comprising a supply conduit part connected to the bowl and a vent conduit part opening above the bowl: b. establishing the said fluid circuit by opening valve means whereby the bottle and vent conduit part both fill with fluid, whereby foam, if any, is pushed up the vent stack, and whereby said bottle is stressed to assume a configura-tion of excess volume; c. thereafter establishing a closed or substantially closed fluid system in which said bottle or at least one of said conduits forms a part; d. expanding said one of said fluid conduits while the said closed fluid system exists in order to shift fluid to contract the bottle so that it at least approximately assumes said nominal volume configuration; e. thereafter isolating the bottle from said fluid system preparatory to separation of said bottle; and f. thereafter separating the bottle.

Claim 3

The process as set forth in claim 1 in which the said volume shift is controlled to impart a slight negative pressure upon said bottle whereby ambient air enters the bottle as the bottle separates.

Claim 4

The process as set forth in claim 1 including the step of subjecting said bowl to atmospheric pressure.

Claim 5

In a process for filling flexible bottles with fluid from a supply bowl vented to atmosphere, which comprises the following steps: a. allowing fluid to flow from said bowl to an antechamber substantially to fill the antechamber; b. thereafter establishing a connection between the lower end of said antechamber and the bottle; c. opening a vent stack to the top of the bottle; d. opening the antechamber to the bowl for gravity refilling thereof as the contents of the antechamber discharge into said bottle; e. allowing the bottle to fill completely as the fluid level rises in the vent stack; f. substantially closing the vent and the communication between the bowl and the said antechamber to establish a substantially closed system in which the antechamber and said bottle form communicating parts; g. expanding the volume of the antechamber while said antechamber and said bottle are in communcation as parts of a substantially closed system; h. thereby shifting the volume of fluid between said parts to cause said bottle to assume a normal or near normal configuration; i. substantially interrupting communication between said bottle and said antechamber; and separating the mechanical cOnnection between the bottle and the antechamber.

Claim 6

In a process for filling flexible bottles with fluid from a supply bowl vented to atmosphere, which comprises the following steps: a. allowing fluid to flow from said bowl to an antechamber substantially to fill the antechamber; b. thereafter establishing a connection between the lower end of said antechamber and the bottle; c. opening a vent stack to the top of the bottle; d. opening the antechamber to the bowl for gravity refilling thereof as the contents of the antechamber discharge into said bottle; e. allowing the bottle to fill completely as the fluid level rises in the vent stack; f. substantially closing the vent and the communication between the bowl and the said antechamber to establish a substantially closed system in which the antechamber and said bottle form communicating parts; g. expanding the volume of the antechamber while said antechamber and said bottle are in communcation as parts of a substantially closed system; h. thereby shifting the volume of fluid between said parts to cause said bottle to assume a normal or near normal configuration; i. substantially interrupting communication between said bottle and said antechamber; and separating the mechanical cOnnection between the bottle and the antechamber.

Claim 7

The process as set forth in claim 4 in which the volume shift between said antechamber and bottle parts is controlled whereby a slight negative pressure is imposed upon said bottle in advance of separation.

Claim 8

In a system for filling flexible bottles with fluid: a. a bowl for containing fluid to be admitted to the bottles; b. means venting the bowl to atmosphere; one or more gravity filler valves attached to the bottom of the bowl, each filler valve including i. means forming an antechamber for receiving fluid from the bowl; said antechamber forming means having an outlet sealingly cooperable with a bottle; ii. means forming a vent adjacent said outlet for passage of fluid therein; iii. means operable upon connection between the bottle and the antechamber for opening the vent and opening said outlet for unrestricted passage of fluid into the bottle and into the vent; iv. means operable upon filling of said bottle for closing the vent and the antechamber to define a closed system between the antechamber and said bottle; v. means operable to expand the antechamber while said antechamber and said bottle form a substantially closed system whereby a volume of fluid is sucked back into said antechamber; and vi. means for closing the communication between said antechamber and said bottle preparatory to separation of said bottle.

Claim 9

In a system for filling flexible bottles with fluid: a. a bowl for containing fluid to be admitted to the bottles; b. means venting the bowl to atmosphere; one or more gravity filler valves attached to the bottom of the bowl, each filler valve including i. means forming an antechamber for receiving fluid from the bowl; said antechamber forming means having an outlet sealingly cooperable with a bottle; ii. means forming a vent adjacent said outlet for passage of fluid therein; iii. means operable upon connection between the bottle and the antechamber for opening the vent and opening said outlet for unrestricted passage of fluid into the bottle and into the vent; iv. means operable upon filling of said bottle for closing the vent and the antechamber to define a closed system between the antechamber and said bottle; v. means operable to expand the antechamber while said antechamber and said bottle form a substantially closed system whereby a volume of fluid is sucked back into said antechamber; and vi. means for closing the communication between said antechamber and said bottle preparatory to separation of said bottle.

Claim 10

In apparatus for filling flexible bottles with fluid: a. a bowl for fluid and open to atmosphere; b. the bottom of said bowl having a plurality of discharge openings; c. a filler valve installed at each of said discharge openings; d. a bottle lifter mechanish for moving a bottle upwardly to engage its filler valve and thereafter to disengage its filler valve; e. each filler valve comprising i. a vent post extending above the level of fluid in the bowl and having a lower end positioned beneath the bowl to enter the neck of a bottle; ii. a cup surrounding the post and mounted for movement upwardly and downwardly along the post; iii. said cup having a spout part engagable with the lower end of said post to close said spout and to limit downward movement of said cup; iv. the lower end of said cup being engagable by the bottle for lifting the cup; v. resilient means urging the cup downwardly to cause said spout to engage the lower end of said post; vi. relatively stationary wall means forming with the interior of said cup, an expansible chamber that increases in volume as the cup moves toward said downward limit; vii. means operable upon continued upward movement of the cup first, to open said vent to a place on said post surrounded by the bottle neck and second, to open the cup to relatively unrestricted flow communication with said bowl; said means upon reverse continued downward movement of said cup first, restricting the communication between said cup and said bowl, second, closing the vent to establish a closed volume system between the bottle and the cup whereby, upon still further movement of the cup, said cup increases in volume to suck fluid from the bottle before the spout finally closes.

Claim 11

In apparatus for filling flexible bottles with fluid: a. a bowl for fluid and open to atmosphere; b. the bottom of said bowl having a plurality of discharge openings; c. a filler valve installed at each of said discharge openings; d. a bottle lifter mechanish for moving a bottle upwardly to engage its filler valve and thereafter to disengage its filler valve; e. each filler valve comprising i. a vent post extending above the level of fluid in the bowl and having a lower end positioned beneath the bowl to enter the neck of a bottle; ii. a cup surrounding the post and mounted for movement upwardly and downwardly along the post; iii. said cup having a spout part engagable with the lower end of said post to close said spout and to limit downward movement of said cup; iv. the lower end of said cup being engagable by the bottle for lifting the cup; v. resilient means urging the cup downwardly to cause said spout to engage the lower end of said post; vi. relatively stationary wall means forming with the interior of said cup, an expansible chamber that increases in volume as the cup moves toward said downward limit; vii. means operable upon continued upward movement of the cup first, to open said vent to a place on said post surrounded by the bottle neck and second, to open the cup to relatively unrestricted flow communication with said bowl; said means upon reverse continued downward movement of said cup first, restricting the communication between said cup and said bowl, second, closing the vent to establish a closed volume system between the bottle and the cup whereby, upon still further movement of the cup, said cup increases in volume to suck fluid from the bottle before the spout finally closes.

Claim 12

The combination as set forth in claim 7 in which said cup communicates with said spout via a recessed conduit formed in said post, said vent opening in the side of the post opposite the conduit and being controlled by the edge of said spout.

Claim 13

The combination as set forth in claim 7 in which said means to open the cup to relatively unrestricted movement comprises a throttle or closure ring that moves relative to an aperture in said wall means.

Claim 14

In apparatus for filling flexible bottles with fluid: a. a bowl for containing fluid, and opening to atmosphere; b. a plurality of receiver cups attached to and suspended from the bowl and in uninterrupted communication with the bowl; the bottom of each of said receiver cups having a central opening; c. a tubuLar vent post for each receiver cup, and supported by the bowl to extend downwardly through the opening in the bottom of the corresponding receiver cup, and upwardly beyond the normal level of fluid in the bowl; d. a companion cylinder cup for each receiver cup and telescopically accommodated on the bottom of the corresponding receiver cup, each of said cylinder cups having a central opening in its bottom surrounded by a depending cylindrical spout slidably fitted over the bottom of the corresponding vent post, each of said cylinder cups being engageable from below by a bottle to lift the cylinder cup, each of said cylinder cups having a throttle or closure ring working in the bottom opening of the corresponding receiver cup for alternately restricting communication between the companion cups or for establishing relatively unrestricted communication therebetween all in accordance with the axial position of the cylinder cup on the corresponding receiver cup; e. each of said vent posts having a plug at its lever end forming a stop and closure for the corresponding cylinder cup spout; the ring being in throttle or closure position at the stop position of said cylinder cup, each of said vent posts having a lateral recess for establishing a discharge path from said cylinder cup past the spout as the cylinder cup member is raised, and each of said vent posts having a vent opening opposite the corresponding recess that opens only after upward movement of the corresponding cylinder cup beyond a position corresponding to opening of said discharge path; f. each cylinder cup forming a part of a substantially closed volume system by operation of said closure ring upon return movement of the cylinder cup toward its lower limited position and when said vent is closed, whereby continued downward movement of said cylinder cup sucks fluid from said bottle in an amount sufficient to establish a substantially normal bottle configuration in advance of separation of said bottle from said cylinder cup.

Claim 15

In apparatus for filling flexible bottles with fluid: a. a bowl for containing fluid, and opening to atmosphere; b. a plurality of receiver cups attached to and suspended from the bowl and in uninterrupted communication with the bowl; the bottom of each of said receiver cups having a central opening; c. a tubuLar vent post for each receiver cup, and supported by the bowl to extend downwardly through the opening in the bottom of the corresponding receiver cup, and upwardly beyond the normal level of fluid in the bowl; d. a companion cylinder cup for each receiver cup and telescopically accommodated on the bottom of the corresponding receiver cup, each of said cylinder cups having a central opening in its bottom surrounded by a depending cylindrical spout slidably fitted over the bottom of the corresponding vent post, each of said cylinder cups being engageable from below by a bottle to lift the cylinder cup, each of said cylinder cups having a throttle or closure ring working in the bottom opening of the corresponding receiver cup for alternately restricting communication between the companion cups or for establishing relatively unrestricted communication therebetween all in accordance with the axial position of the cylinder cup on the corresponding receiver cup; e. each of said vent posts having a plug at its lever end forming a stop and closure for the corresponding cylinder cup spout; the ring being in throttle or closure position at the stop position of said cylinder cup, each of said vent posts having a lateral recess for establishing a discharge path from said cylinder cup past the spout as the cylinder cup member is raised, and each of said vent posts having a vent opening opposite the corresponding recess that opens only after upward movement of the corresponding cylinder cup beyond a position corresponding to opening of said discharge path; f. each cylinder cup forming a part of a substantially closed volume system by operation of said closure ring upon return movement of the cylinder cup toward its lower limited position and when said vent is closed, whereby continued downward movement of said cylinder cup sucks fluid from said bottle in an amount sufficient to establish a substantially normal bottle configuration in advance of separation of said bottle from said cylinder cup.

Claim 16

A gravity filler valve for bottles and adapted to be attached to a fluid-containing bowl: a. means forming an antechamber for receiving fluid from a bowl; said antechamber forming means having an outlet sealingly cooperable with the bottle; b. means forming a vent adjacent said outlet for passage of fluid therein; c. means operable upon connection between the bottle and the antechamber for opening the vent and opening said outlet for unrestricted passage of fluid into the bottle and into the vent; d. means operable upon filling of said bottle for closing the vent and the antechamber to define a closed system between the antechamber and said bottle; e. means operable to expand the antechamber while said antechamber and said bottle from a substantially closed system whereby a volume of fluid is sucked back into said antechamber; and f. means for closing the communication between said antechamber and said bottle preparatory to separation of said bottle.

Claim 17

A gravity filler valve for bottles and adapted to be attached to a fluid-containing bowl: a. means forming an antechamber for receiving fluid from a bowl; said antechamber forming means having an outlet sealingly cooperable with the bottle; b. means forming a vent adjacent said outlet for passage of fluid therein; c. means operable upon connection between the bottle and the antechamber for opening the vent and opening said outlet for unrestricted passage of fluid into the bottle and into the vent; d. means operable upon filling of said bottle for closing the vent and the antechamber to define a closed system between the antechamber and said bottle; e. means operable to expand the antechamber while said antechamber and said bottle from a substantially closed system whereby a volume of fluid is sucked back into said antechamber; and f. means for closing the communication between said antechamber and said bottle preparatory to separation of said bottle.

Claim 18

The combination as set forth in claim 11 in which said vent is formed on one side of said outlet and is of sufficient size to allow fluid to run down one side of the vent while air rises on the other side of the vent.

Claim 19

A gravity filler valve for bottles, including: a. a substantially tubular post having provisions for attachment to a bowl so that the upper end of the post extends above the level of fluid in the bowl and so that the lower end of the post projects beneath the bowl for cooperation with bottles positioned about the post; b. means partitioning only the lower end of said post so that the lower end of said post is divided into an influent side and an effluent or vent side; said post having lateral openings to expose both said influent side and said effluent side; c. means providing a pathway between said influent side and said bowl; d. valve actuator means reciprocably mounted at the lower end of said post for controlling communication between a bottle and saId influent side whereby fluid entering the bottle flows along one side thereof as air and foam, if any, is vented along the other side thereof.

Claim 20

A gravity filler valve for bottles, including: a. a substantially tubular post having provisions for attachment to a bowl so that the upper end of the post extends above the level of fluid in the bowl and so that the lower end of the post projects beneath the bowl for cooperation with bottles positioned about the post; b. means partitioning only the lower end of said post so that the lower end of said post is divided into an influent side and an effluent or vent side; said post having lateral openings to expose both said influent side and said effluent side; c. means providing a pathway between said influent side and said bowl; d. valve actuator means reciprocably mounted at the lower end of said post for controlling communication between a bottle and saId influent side whereby fluid entering the bottle flows along one side thereof as air and foam, if any, is vented along the other side thereof.

Claim 21

The combination as set forth in claim 13 in which the cross-sectional area of the lower end of the effluent side is about the same size as said influent side.

Claim 22

The combination as set forth in claim 13 in which said influent side of said post is truncated in axial length to minimize the corresponding length of the reduced portion of the effluent side.

Claim 23

The combination as set forth in claim 13 in which said valve actuator means also controls the communication between said bottle and said effluent side.