US3857424A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Piston product filler
Assignee: Kartridg Pak Co
•
Filing: 1973-08-27
•
Granted: 1974-12-31
•
Expires: 1993-08-27
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for filling containers with a volumetrically metered amount of liquid which apparatus comprises a series of filling heads each supported on a turret and each filling head including a depending metering cylinder in which there is a hollow piston member movable between an adjustable stop and the bottom of the cylinder with an associated top valve member operated by a superposed air cylinder to close on the piston member and isolate a filling charge. Each filling head is supplied with liquid either directly from an elevated supply tank mounted on the turret or from a stationary supply through a rotary connection. Each metering cylinder has a hollow nozzle in the bottom thereof with an associated poppet valve which opens when the nozzle is actuated by upward pressure of a container to permit discharge of a metered amount of liquid. The metering valve member is lowered initially a sufficient distance to close on the top end of the piston and subsequently to drive the piston down and force liquid isolated below the piston through the nozzle and into the container.
Inventors
- 👤 G Roberts
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 22:48
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65B; B65B3/00; B65B3/04; B65B3/10; B65B3/12; B65B3/26; B65B3/30; B65B3/32; B65B31/00; B65B31/003
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
180 words
In an apparatus for filling containers with a measured amount of a liquid product from a source of supply which apparatus comprises elevated support means, at least one filling head mounted on said support means, each said filling head including a metering cylinder fixedly mounted on said support means and in communication with said source of supply through an inlet in the upper portion of said cylinder, a hollow nozzle in the bottom of said metering cylnder with an associated valve which is opened by upward pressure of a container to be filled, a hollow piston member movable in said cylinder, an adjustable stop limiting the upward movement of said hollow piston, a valve member operable to close on the piston member and thereby isolate a quantity of the liquid product in the bottom of each said metering cylinder and means to operate said valve member and thereafter to move said piston member when the valve associated with said nozzle is opened so as to discharge a predetermined amount of the liquid product through the nozzle and into the container.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
180 words
In an apparatus for filling containers with a measured amount of a liquid product from a source of supply which apparatus comprises elevated support means, at least one filling head mounted on said support means, each said filling head including a metering cylinder fixedly mounted on said support means and in communication with said source of supply through an inlet in the upper portion of said cylinder, a hollow nozzle in the bottom of said metering cylnder with an associated valve which is opened by upward pressure of a container to be filled, a hollow piston member movable in said cylinder, an adjustable stop limiting the upward movement of said hollow piston, a valve member operable to close on the piston member and thereby isolate a quantity of the liquid product in the bottom of each said metering cylinder and means to operate said valve member and thereafter to move said piston member when the valve associated with said nozzle is opened so as to discharge a predetermined amount of the liquid product through the nozzle and into the container.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
85 words
In an apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said metering cylinder has a bottom cap with a vertical bore, said nozzle has a hollow stem portion slidable in said bore and a container engaging mouth portion with resilient means normally urging said nozzle to a downward position and the valve associated with said nozzle is at the top of said stem portion and is opened to allow passage of liquid product when said mouth portion is moved upward by pressure of said container.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
81 words
In an apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said metering cylinder has a readily detachable bottom closure in the form of a bell cap with a hollow depending stem portion and said nozzle has a hollow container engaging portion and a hollow upstanding stem portion slidably mounted in the depending stem portion of said bell cap whereby upon upward movement of said nozzle the associated valve is opened for discharge of fluid from the bottom of the metering cylinder.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
In an apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein said nozzle has a pair of axially spaced screen members with the lowermost one thereof adjacent the bottom end of said nozzle.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
In an apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein said nozzle has axially spaced screen members with the lowermost one thereof adjacent the bottom end of said container engaging nozzle portion and the uppermost one clamped between said nozzle portions.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
In an apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said nozzle has an anti-drip means in the form of a screen disposed at the lowermost end thereof.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
In an apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said adjustable stop comprises a ring member adjustably mounted in sliding engagement with the inside wall of said metering cylinder.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
94 words
In an apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said adjustable stop comprises a ring member adjustably mounted in sliding engagement with the inside wall of said metering cylinder and wherein said ring member has a bottom wall configuration which co-operates with the top wall configuration of said piston member so as to form, when the piston member approaches the ring member, a pocket with an upper opening of a size which decreases as the members engage so as to trap a small quantity of liquid therein and produce a dash pot effect.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
47 words
In an apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the means to operate said valve member comprises an air cylinder mounted for vertical adjustment above said metering cylinder and having its piston connected to said valve member so as to raise and lower said valve member.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
82 words
In an apparatus as set forth in claim 9 and said valve member having a lost motion connection with said hollow piston member whereby initial downward movement of said valve member closes the center opening in said piston member and subsequent downward movement of said valve member lowers said piston member and initial upward movement of said valve member opens the center opening in said piston member and subsequent upward movement of said valve member raises the piston member against said stop.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
184 words
In an apparatus for filling containers with a measured amount of a liquid product which apparatus comprises a product supply tank, a filling head assembly mounted in said supply tank, said filling head assembly including a metering cylinder fixedly depending from the supply tank with the open top thereof in communication with said supply tank so as to receive liquid product from the tank, a hollow nozzle in the bottom of said metering cylinder with an associated valve which is normally closed and which is opened in response to upward pressure of a container to be filled, a hollow piston member movable in said cylinder, an adjustable stop limiting the upward movement of said hollow piston, a valve member operable to move downwardly and close on the piston member so as to isolate a quantity of the liquid product in said metering cylinder, means to operate said valve member and means to move said piston member when the valve associated with said nozzle is opened so as to discharge a predetermined amount of the isolated liquid product through the nozzle and into the container.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
184 words
In an apparatus for filling containers with a measured amount of a liquid product which apparatus comprises a product supply tank, a filling head assembly mounted in said supply tank, said filling head assembly including a metering cylinder fixedly depending from the supply tank with the open top thereof in communication with said supply tank so as to receive liquid product from the tank, a hollow nozzle in the bottom of said metering cylinder with an associated valve which is normally closed and which is opened in response to upward pressure of a container to be filled, a hollow piston member movable in said cylinder, an adjustable stop limiting the upward movement of said hollow piston, a valve member operable to move downwardly and close on the piston member so as to isolate a quantity of the liquid product in said metering cylinder, means to operate said valve member and means to move said piston member when the valve associated with said nozzle is opened so as to discharge a predetermined amount of the isolated liquid product through the nozzle and into the container.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
80 words
In an apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein said metering cylinder has a bottom cap with a central bore, said nozzle has a hollow stem portion slidable in said bore and a container engaging mouth portion with means normally urging said nozzle to a downward position where the valve associated with said nozzle is closed and adapted to be opened to allow passage of liquid product when said mouth portion is raised by upward pressure of said container.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
82 words
In an apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein said metering cylinder has a bottom closure in the form of a bell cap with a hollow depending stem portion and said nozzle has a container engaging portion and a hollow stem portion slidably mounted in the depending stem portion of said bell cap and said nozzle associated valve is operable upon upward movement of said nozzle to permit discharge of fluid from the bottom of the metering cylinder through said nozzle.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
40 words
In an apparatus as set forth in claim 13 wherein the container engaging portion of said nozzle is provided with horizontally disposed, axially spaced screen members, the lowermost one of which is disposed adjacent the bottom end of said nozzle.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
48 words
In an apparatus as set forth in claim 13 wherein screen members are mounted in said nozzle in parallel, axially spaced relation with the lowermost one thereof adjacent the bottom end of said container engaging portion and the uppermost one at the bottom of said nozzle stem portion.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
48 words
In an apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein a horizontally disposed screen is mounted adjacent the lowermost end of said nozzle which reinforces the surface tension of the product allowing atmospheric pressure to retain excess product iN the nozzle when the container is withdrawn after filling.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
55 words
In an apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein said valve member has a bulbous lower end of a size to close the center opening in said hollow piston member and said means to operate said valve member comprises a pneumatic cylinder with its piston connected to the upper end of said valve member.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
37 words
In an apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein said means to operate said valve member comprises a power cylinder mounted above said product supply tank and having a depending piston connected to said valve member.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
89 words
In an apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein said piston member has a peripheral recess at the top thereof and said adjustable stop comprises a ring member having a bottom edge shaped to move into the peripheral recess in said piston member so as to trap in the pocket formed by said recess a relatively small quantity of the liquid product while leaving a top opening of decreasing area as the piston member approaches the end of its upward stroke so as to create a dashpot effect.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
32 words
In an apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein said adjustable stop comprises a ring member which is supported on rod members depending from an adjustable support above said metering cylinder.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
257 words
An apparatus for filling containers with a measured amount of a liquid product comprising a product supply tank, a horizontal support member for said supply tank, a plurality of filling heads mounted in said supply tank, each said filling head including a metering cylinder depending from the supply tank and in communication with said supply tank so as to receive liquid product therefrom, a hollow nozzle in the bottom of said metering cylinder with an associated valve which is opened by upward pressure of a container to be filled, a hollow piston member movable in said cylinder, a stop ring limiting the upward movement of said hollow piston, a valve member operable to close the opening in said piston member and isolate a quantity of the liquid product in the bottom of said metering cylinder, a power cylinder disposed above said product supply tank and having its piston connected to said valve member so as to move said valve member and said piston member when the valve associated with said nozzle is opened to discharge a predetermined amount of the liquid product through the nozzle and into the container, a common horizontal support member for the power cylinders and the stop rings associated with said filling heads, vertically extending jackscrews having axially spaced nut forming means connected to said horizontal support members, and means for simultaneously operating the nut forming means for adjusting each of said support members so as to simultaneously adjust the elevation of the valve members and stop rings relative to the metering cylinders.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
257 words
An apparatus for filling containers with a measured amount of a liquid product comprising a product supply tank, a horizontal support member for said supply tank, a plurality of filling heads mounted in said supply tank, each said filling head including a metering cylinder depending from the supply tank and in communication with said supply tank so as to receive liquid product therefrom, a hollow nozzle in the bottom of said metering cylinder with an associated valve which is opened by upward pressure of a container to be filled, a hollow piston member movable in said cylinder, a stop ring limiting the upward movement of said hollow piston, a valve member operable to close the opening in said piston member and isolate a quantity of the liquid product in the bottom of said metering cylinder, a power cylinder disposed above said product supply tank and having its piston connected to said valve member so as to move said valve member and said piston member when the valve associated with said nozzle is opened to discharge a predetermined amount of the liquid product through the nozzle and into the container, a common horizontal support member for the power cylinders and the stop rings associated with said filling heads, vertically extending jackscrews having axially spaced nut forming means connected to said horizontal support members, and means for simultaneously operating the nut forming means for adjusting each of said support members so as to simultaneously adjust the elevation of the valve members and stop rings relative to the metering cylinders.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
299 words
An apparatus for filling containers with a measured amount of a liquid product comprising, product distributor means having a stationary product inlet fitting and a rotatable product outlet fitting with at least one outlet connection thereon, elevated rotatably mounted horizontal support means, at least one filling head mounted on said horizontal support means, each said filling head including a metering cylinder mounted on said horizontal support means with a conduit connecting the top portion of each metering cyliner with one of said outlet connections, a hollow nozzle in the bottom of said metering cylinder with an associated valve which is opened by upward pressure of a container to be filled, a hollow piston member movable in said cylinder, a stop ring limiting the upward movement of said hollow piston, a valve member operable to close the center opening in said piston member and isolate a quantity of the liquid product in the bottom of said metering cylinder, a power cylinder disposed above said metering cylinder and having its piston connected to said valve member so as to move said valve member and said piston member when the valve associated with saId nozzle is opened to discharge a predetermined amount of the liquid product through the nozzzle and into the container, a common rotatably mounted horizontal support member for the power cylinders and the stop rings associated with said filling heads, vertically extending jackscrews having axially spaced nut forming means connected to said elevated rotatably mounted horizontal support means and said rotatably mounted horizontal support member, and means for simultaneously operating the nut forming means for adjusting said elevated rotatably mounted horizontal support means and said rotatably mounted horizontal support member so as to simultaneously adjust the elevation of the valve members and stop rings relative to said metering cylinders.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
299 words
An apparatus for filling containers with a measured amount of a liquid product comprising, product distributor means having a stationary product inlet fitting and a rotatable product outlet fitting with at least one outlet connection thereon, elevated rotatably mounted horizontal support means, at least one filling head mounted on said horizontal support means, each said filling head including a metering cylinder mounted on said horizontal support means with a conduit connecting the top portion of each metering cyliner with one of said outlet connections, a hollow nozzle in the bottom of said metering cylinder with an associated valve which is opened by upward pressure of a container to be filled, a hollow piston member movable in said cylinder, a stop ring limiting the upward movement of said hollow piston, a valve member operable to close the center opening in said piston member and isolate a quantity of the liquid product in the bottom of said metering cylinder, a power cylinder disposed above said metering cylinder and having its piston connected to said valve member so as to move said valve member and said piston member when the valve associated with saId nozzle is opened to discharge a predetermined amount of the liquid product through the nozzzle and into the container, a common rotatably mounted horizontal support member for the power cylinders and the stop rings associated with said filling heads, vertically extending jackscrews having axially spaced nut forming means connected to said elevated rotatably mounted horizontal support means and said rotatably mounted horizontal support member, and means for simultaneously operating the nut forming means for adjusting said elevated rotatably mounted horizontal support means and said rotatably mounted horizontal support member so as to simultaneously adjust the elevation of the valve members and stop rings relative to said metering cylinders.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
305 words
An apparatus for filling containers with a measured amount of a liquid product comprising, product distributor means having a stationary product inlet fitting and a rotatable product outlet fitting with at least one outlet connection thereon, at least one elevated support bracket, a filling head mounted on each said support bracket, a rotatably mounted platform, a vertically reciprocating support rod for each said filling head mounted on said platform with each said support bracket mounted on a support rod above said platform, each said filling head including a metering cylinder mounted on a said support bracket and a conduit connecting the top portion of each metering cylinder with one of said outlet connections, a hollow nozzle in the bottom of said metering cylinder with an associated valve which is opened by upward pressure of a container to be filled, a hollow piston member movable in said cylinder, a stop ring limiting the upward movement of said hollow piston, a valve member operable to close the center opening in said piston member and isolate a quantity of the liquid product in the bottom of said metering cylinder, a power cylinder disposed above said metering cylinder and having is piston connected to said valve member so as to move said valve member and said piston member when the valve associated with said nozzle is opened to discharge a predetermined amount of the liquid product through the nozzle and into the container, and a lateral support member mounted on each vertically reciprocating support rod for supporting one of said power cylinders and the stop ring associated therewith, and drive means for simultaneously rotating said platform and reciprocating said support rods so as to lower said nozzles against container on said platform and thereafter raise said nozzles to permit removal of the filled containers and replacement with unfilled containers.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
305 words
An apparatus for filling containers with a measured amount of a liquid product comprising, product distributor means having a stationary product inlet fitting and a rotatable product outlet fitting with at least one outlet connection thereon, at least one elevated support bracket, a filling head mounted on each said support bracket, a rotatably mounted platform, a vertically reciprocating support rod for each said filling head mounted on said platform with each said support bracket mounted on a support rod above said platform, each said filling head including a metering cylinder mounted on a said support bracket and a conduit connecting the top portion of each metering cylinder with one of said outlet connections, a hollow nozzle in the bottom of said metering cylinder with an associated valve which is opened by upward pressure of a container to be filled, a hollow piston member movable in said cylinder, a stop ring limiting the upward movement of said hollow piston, a valve member operable to close the center opening in said piston member and isolate a quantity of the liquid product in the bottom of said metering cylinder, a power cylinder disposed above said metering cylinder and having is piston connected to said valve member so as to move said valve member and said piston member when the valve associated with said nozzle is opened to discharge a predetermined amount of the liquid product through the nozzle and into the container, and a lateral support member mounted on each vertically reciprocating support rod for supporting one of said power cylinders and the stop ring associated therewith, and drive means for simultaneously rotating said platform and reciprocating said support rods so as to lower said nozzles against container on said platform and thereafter raise said nozzles to permit removal of the filled containers and replacement with unfilled containers.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3779292A
Cited
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 |