US3905404A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Container filling control
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1974-01-07
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Granted: 1975-09-16
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Expires: 1994-01-07
Abstract
Abstract A control unit for a container filling operation wherein the control unit moves with the container past a plurality of processing stations at least one of which is a filling station is disclosed. Fluid valves and a fluid logic circuit provide the control both to initiate and stop the filling operation and to purge a ''''full'''' sensor after each filling operation.
Inventors
- 👤 James R Cox
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 14:19
CPC Classifications
B; B67; B67C; B67C3/00; B67C3/02; B67C3/22; B67C3/28; B67C3/282; B67C3/283; B65; B65B; B65B57/00; B65B57/02; B65B57/06; B65B57/10; B65B57/14; B65B57/145; B67C3/26; B67C2003/2685; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/206
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
198 words
In a container processing system wherein a container to be filled and a control unit individual to that container are both moved past a plurality of processing stations including at least a container filling station, an improved fluid logic control unit comprising: a first fluid valve adapted to be actuated from one of its open and closed conditions to the other by means at the container filling station to indicate arrival of the control unit at that station; a second fluid valve adapted to be actuated from one of its opened and closed conditions to the other by the presence of a container with its associated control unit for inhibiting the filling operation in the event that no container accompanies the control unit at the container filling stations; a fluid logic circuit having at least one output and inputs coupled at least to said first and second valves, said fluid logic circuit providing an output signal indicating when both the container is present and the container is at the container filling station; and fluid actuable relay means coupled to the fluid logic circuit output for initiating the filling operation when the fluid logic circuit provides an output signal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
198 words
In a container processing system wherein a container to be filled and a control unit individual to that container are both moved past a plurality of processing stations including at least a container filling station, an improved fluid logic control unit comprising: a first fluid valve adapted to be actuated from one of its open and closed conditions to the other by means at the container filling station to indicate arrival of the control unit at that station; a second fluid valve adapted to be actuated from one of its opened and closed conditions to the other by the presence of a container with its associated control unit for inhibiting the filling operation in the event that no container accompanies the control unit at the container filling stations; a fluid logic circuit having at least one output and inputs coupled at least to said first and second valves, said fluid logic circuit providing an output signal indicating when both the container is present and the container is at the container filling station; and fluid actuable relay means coupled to the fluid logic circuit output for initiating the filling operation when the fluid logic circuit provides an output signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
55 words
The control unit of claim 1 further comprising a sensor for sensing when the container is filled to a desired level and for providing a signal to a fluid logic circuit input to disable the fluid logic circuit output signal and therefore also disable the fluid actuable relay means and stop the container filling operation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
48 words
The control unit of claim 2 further comprising a third fluid valve adapted to be actuated by means at a station subsequent to the filling station, and means responsive to actuation of the third fluid valve for purging the sensor of any residual material from the filling operation.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
59 words
The control unit of claim 2 wherein the sensor comprises a fluid conduit extending into the container, a low pressure air source forcing air through the conduit into the container, and means monitoring the pressure of the air passing into the conduit for providing a disabling signal to a fluid logic input when the pressure exceeds a predetermined value.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
91 words
The control unit of claim 13 wherein the fluid logic circuit comprises a plurality of NOR gates, a first of which receives an input from the first fluid valve and a second of which receives an input from the second fluid valve, means coupling the output of the first NOR gate to an input of the second NOR gate, means coupling the output of the second NOR gate to an input of the first NOR gate, and means coupling the output of the second NOR gate to the fluid actuable rElay.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
57 words
The control unit of claim 5 further comprising a sensor for sensing when the container is filled to a desired level and for providing a signal to an input of the second NOR gate to disable the fluid logic circuit output signal and therefore also disable the fluid actuable relay means and stop the container filling operation.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
48 words
The control unit of claim 6 further comprising a third fluid valve adapted to be actuated by means at a station subsequent to the filling station, and means responsive to actuation of the third fluid valve for purging the sensor of any residual material from the filling operation.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
60 words
The control unit of claim 6 wherein the sensor comprises a fluid conduit extending into the container, a low pressure air source for forcing air through the conduit into the container, and means monitoring the pressure of the air passing into the conduit for providing the disabling signal to a fluid logic input when the pressure exceeds a predetermined value.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
103 words
A fluid logic control unit for a container filling operation comprising: a pair of conduits adapted to extend into a container to be filled, the first conduit for supplying material to the container and the second conduit for sensing when the container is filled to a preferred level; a low pressure air source; means for conveying air from the source through the second conduit and into the container including means for sensing the air pressure in the conveying means; and fluid logic means coupled to the sensing means for inhibiting the container filling operation when the sensed air pressure exceeds a predetermined value.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
103 words
A fluid logic control unit for a container filling operation comprising: a pair of conduits adapted to extend into a container to be filled, the first conduit for supplying material to the container and the second conduit for sensing when the container is filled to a preferred level; a low pressure air source; means for conveying air from the source through the second conduit and into the container including means for sensing the air pressure in the conveying means; and fluid logic means coupled to the sensing means for inhibiting the container filling operation when the sensed air pressure exceeds a predetermined value.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
The control unit of claim 9 further comprising means for purging the second conduit of any residual material subsequent to each filling operation.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
54 words
The control unit of claim 10 wherein the means for purging comprises a high pressure air source and a fluidic valve, the valve output being coupled to the second conduit, the high pressure air source being coupled to one valve input, and the low pressure air source being coupled to the other valve input.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
74 words
The control unit of claim 11 wherein the fluidic valve comprises a spring loaded valve normally biased by the spring to pass air from the low pressure source to the second conduit and responsive to the presence of air of a higher pressure at the high pressure source input to pass air from the high pressure source through the conduit and to prevent the passage of air from the low pressure through the conduit.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3589410A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-09-15 | 1979-03-17 | 1979-09-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-09-15 | 1983-03-17 | 1983-09-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-09-15 | 1987-03-17 | 1987-09-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |