US3857422A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Aerosol container filling apparatus and method
Assignee: AptarGroup Inc
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Filing: 1972-02-04
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Granted: 1974-12-31
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Expires: 1992-02-04
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed is a method and apparatus for performing the method, wherein a plurality of containers conveyed in a linear path are simultaneously filled by a multioutlet filling means which travels in an orbital path. A portion of the orbital path lies parallel to and above the linear path of the containers.
Inventors
- 👤 E Cunningham
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 03:51
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65B; B65B3/00; B65B3/26; B65B3/30; B65B3/32; B65B39/00; B65B39/14; B65B43/00; B65B43/42; B65B43/52; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/18; Y10T74/18056; Y10T74/18152
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
151 words
An apparatus for fluid filling of containers traveling in a linear path and at a continuous motion, said apparatus comprising: means for conveying containers to be filled in a linear path along the length of said apparatus; means for supporting and maintaining each of said containers in spaced position from adjacent containers; a dancer beam assembly means adapted for vertical reciprocating movement, said dancer beam assembly means positioned above said conveying means; at least one walking beam means attached to said dancer beam assembly means; said walking beam assembly means including drive means whereby said walking beam assembly means is adapted to move in an orbital path, a portion of said path being linear and in vertical alignment with the linear path of said containers when containers pass through said apparatus; and, filling means connected to said walking beam assembly means for fluid filling containers when containers pass through said apparatus.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
151 words
An apparatus for fluid filling of containers traveling in a linear path and at a continuous motion, said apparatus comprising: means for conveying containers to be filled in a linear path along the length of said apparatus; means for supporting and maintaining each of said containers in spaced position from adjacent containers; a dancer beam assembly means adapted for vertical reciprocating movement, said dancer beam assembly means positioned above said conveying means; at least one walking beam means attached to said dancer beam assembly means; said walking beam assembly means including drive means whereby said walking beam assembly means is adapted to move in an orbital path, a portion of said path being linear and in vertical alignment with the linear path of said containers when containers pass through said apparatus; and, filling means connected to said walking beam assembly means for fluid filling containers when containers pass through said apparatus.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 further including means for adjusting said container support means whereby containers of different sizes can be passed through said apparatus.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 further including means for adjusting the vertical location of said dancer beam assembly means relative to said container conveying means whereby containers of different heights can be passed through said apparatus.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 further including metering pump means for metering the amount of fluid to be filled in a container passing through said apparatus.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 4 wherein said metering pump means are connected to said filling means on said first and second walking beam assembly means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
85 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 further including a second walking beam assembly means attached to said dancer beam assembly means including drive means for walking beam assembly means whereby said second walking beam assembly means is adapted to move in an orbital path, a portion of said path being linear and in vertical alignment with the linear path of said containers; and, filling means connected to said second walking beam assembly means for fluid filling containers when said containers pass through said apparatus.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
187 words
An apparatus for fluid filling of container traveling in a linear path and at a constant speed, said apparatus comprising: conveyor means for conveying containers to be filled in a linear path through said apparatus; means adapted for supporting and maintaining containers in equally spaced relationship to each other along said linear path; a dancer beam assembly means disposed above said container conveying means; said dancer beam assembly means including means for providing vertical reciprocating movement to said dancing beam assembly means; a first walking beam assembly means attached to one side of said dancer beam assembly means; a second walking beam assembly means attached to the opposite side of said dancer beam assembly means; drive means associated with each of said walking beam assembly means for causing each of said walking beam assembly means to travel in a substantially orbital path, a portion of said path being a linear path in vertical alignment to the linear path of said containers when containers pass through said apparatus; filling means located on each of said walking beam assembly means for filling containers when containers pass through said apparatus.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
187 words
An apparatus for fluid filling of container traveling in a linear path and at a constant speed, said apparatus comprising: conveyor means for conveying containers to be filled in a linear path through said apparatus; means adapted for supporting and maintaining containers in equally spaced relationship to each other along said linear path; a dancer beam assembly means disposed above said container conveying means; said dancer beam assembly means including means for providing vertical reciprocating movement to said dancing beam assembly means; a first walking beam assembly means attached to one side of said dancer beam assembly means; a second walking beam assembly means attached to the opposite side of said dancer beam assembly means; drive means associated with each of said walking beam assembly means for causing each of said walking beam assembly means to travel in a substantially orbital path, a portion of said path being a linear path in vertical alignment to the linear path of said containers when containers pass through said apparatus; filling means located on each of said walking beam assembly means for filling containers when containers pass through said apparatus.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 7 further including means for adjusting said container support means whereby containers of different sizes can be passed through said apparatus.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 8 further including means for adjusting the vertical location of said dancer beam assembly means relative to said container conveying means wherEby containers of different heights can be passed through said apparatus.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
35 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 7 and further including metering pump means associated with said filling means on each of said walking beam assemblies for metering the fluid fill to containers to be filled.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
154 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 10 wherein said metering pump means includes a cylindrical piston member; a piston disposed within and adapted to slide along the length of said piston member; said piston having means for precluding fluid to pass from one end of said piston to the remaining end of said piston; at least one adjustable piston stop located at one end of said piston member for limiting the length of piston travel in said piston member; piston cap means located at each end of said piston member; fluid passage means located in each end of said cap means for the ingress and egress of fluid in said piston member; said fluid passage means being connected to a second fluid passage means leading to said container filling means on said walking beam assembly means and to a third fluid passage leading to a source which supplies fluid to said metering pump means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
101 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 7 wherein said container supporting means comprise a first endless chain means located on one side of said container conveyor means; a second endless chain means located on the opposite side of said container conveying means; a plurality of disc means attached to said first and second endless chain means whereby two adjacent discs on said first endless chain means mate with two corresponding adjacent disc means on said second endless chain means whereby said four disc means are adapted to contact a container and maintain its position as said container passes through said apparatus.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 12 wherein said disc means are located above said container conveyor means whereby said disc means will normally contact a container side wall.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
50 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 12 and further including means for moving said first and second endless chain means relative to each other whereby the space between said first and second endless chain means can be adjusted to permit containers of different sizes to be passed through said apparatus.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 7 wherein said filling means on each of said walking beam assembly means includes at least one filling head adapted to contact and fill a container.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 15 wherein each of said walking beam assembly means includes a walking beam having a plurality of filling heads spaced along the length of said walking beam.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 16 wherein said filling heads are evenly spaced along the length of said walking beams.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 7 wherein said dancer beam assembly means is biased in a normally upward position.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
110 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 18 wherein said dancer beam assembly means further included a dancer beam which extends along substantially the length of said apparatus, said dancer beam being positioned over and in substantial alignment with said container conveyor means; biasing means located at each end of said dancer beam for biasing said dancer beam in an upward position; cam means disposed above said dancer beam; cam follower means attached to said dancer beam and associated with said cam whereby said cam means having a cam path adapted to force said cam follower means and dancer beam assembly means downward in the direction of said container conveying means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 7 and further including a vacuum means associated with said filling means for drawing a vacuum on containers when containers pass through said apparatus.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
103 words
The method of fluid filling containers according to the steps of: conveying a plurality of containers to be filled in a linear path and at constant speed past a container filling station; simultaneously driving a multiple outlet fluid filling means in an orbital path normally vertically spaced from said containers, a portion of said path being linear and in alignment with said linear path of said containers to be filled; reducing the vertical distance between said filling means and containers to be filled; and, filling said plurality of containers simultaneously while said filling means and containers have the vertical distance between them reduced.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
103 words
The method of fluid filling containers according to the steps of: conveying a plurality of containers to be filled in a linear path and at constant speed past a container filling station; simultaneously driving a multiple outlet fluid filling means in an orbital path normally vertically spaced from said containers, a portion of said path being linear and in alignment with said linear path of said containers to be filled; reducing the vertical distance between said filling means and containers to be filled; and, filling said plurality of containers simultaneously while said filling means and containers have the vertical distance between them reduced.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of filling containers in accordance with claim 21 and further including the step of moving said filling means following a filling operation to return to its normal position.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of filling containers in accordance with the method of claim 22 and further including the step of metering the amount of fluid to be put into a container in the course of a filling operation.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of fluid filling containers according to claim 21 and further including the step of raising said filling means relative to said containers following a filling operation.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-12-30 | 1978-07-01 | 1978-12-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-12-30 | 1982-07-01 | 1982-12-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-12-30 | 1986-07-01 | 1986-12-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |