Computer operated filling system

Claim 2

A container filling machine comprising a liquid holding tank connected to a distribution manifold therebelow so that liquid may flow from said tank to said manifold by gravity, a plurality of discharge nozzles for simultaneously filling a plurality of containers, each nozzle being connected to said manifold by a discrete flexible hose, each nozzle having a restriction, a discrete means for sensing pressure in each nozzle upstream from its restriction for generating a pressure signal, a discrete valve for controlling flow through each flexible hose, and a programmable means separately connected to the pressure sensing means and valve associated with each nozzle for repetitively monitoring said pressure signal and calculating a number based thereon indicative of the fill time required to fill the associated container with a preselected volume of liquid, said programmable means being operative for counting counts which are collectively indicative of the actual time that has elapsed from the onset of the flow of the liquid into the containers, for comparing the number of counts with said fill time number, and for closing each valve for each nozzle when said number of counts equals said fill time number.

Claim 3

A machine in accordance with claim 1 wherein each sensing means includes a flexible hose connected at one end to a pressure transducer and at its other end to its associated nozzle.

Claim 4

A machine in accordance with claim 2 wherein each flexible hose is removable and disposable whereby only the nozzles and manifold require sanitizing.

Claim 5

A machine in accordance with claim 1 wherein each nozzle restriction is a venturi restriction.

Claim 6

A machine in accordance with claim 1 wherein each valve is a solenoid operated pinch valve for pinching its associated flexible hose for thereby controlling flow without contact between any portion of the valve and the liquid being controlled.

Claim 7

A machine in accordance with claim 1 wherein said programmable means calculates a number indicative of fill time for each container in terms of numbers of program loops, each program loop having a known loop time.

Claim 8

A container filling machine comprising means for holding liquid, a plurality of discharge nozzles for simultaneously filling a plurality of containers, each nozzle being connected to said liquid holding means by a discrete flexible hose, each nozzle havin a discharge outlet, means for sensing pressure in the nozzles upstream from their discharge outlets for generating a pressure signal, valve means for controlling flow through the flexible hoses, and a programmable computer having a stored program and operatively connected to the pressure sensing means and the valve means, for repetitively monitoring said pressure signal and automatically calculating in accordance with the stored program a fill time number derived from said pressure signal, said fill time number being indicative of the fill time required to fill the associated container with a preselected volume of liquid, said computer further having means for counting count numbers which are collectively indicative of the actual time that has elapsed from the onset of the flow of the liquid into the containers, means for comparing the counted count numbers with the fill time number, and means for closing the valve means for the nozzles when the counted count numbers equal said fill time number.

Claim 9

A container filling machine comprising means for holding liquid, a plurality of discharge nozzles for simultaneously filling a plurality of containers, each nozzle being connected to said liquid holding means by a discrete flexible hose, each nozzle havin a discharge outlet, means for sensing pressure in the nozzles upstream from their discharge outlets for generating a pressure signal, valve means for controlling flow through the flexible hoses, and a programmable computer having a stored program and operatively connected to the pressure sensing means and the valve means, for repetitively monitoring said pressure signal and automatically calculating in accordance with the stored program a fill time number derived from said pressure signal, said fill time number being indicative of the fill time required to fill the associated container with a preselected volume of liquid, said computer further having means for counting count numbers which are collectively indicative of the actual time that has elapsed from the onset of the flow of the liquid into the containers, means for comparing the counted count numbers with the fill time number, and means for closing the valve means for the nozzles when the counted count numbers equal said fill time number.

Claim 10

A machine in accordance with claim 7 wherein said programmable computer calculates said fill time number indicative of fill time for each container in terms of numbers of program loops, each program loop having a known loop time.

Claim 11

A machine in accordance with claim 7 wherein said programmable computer calculates said fill time number indicative of fill time for each container in terms of the flow of the liquid, the dimensions of the nozzles, and the pressure head of the liquid in the nozzles.

Claim 12

A machine in accordance with claim 7 wherein said pressure sensing means generates a digital pressure signal, and wherein said programmable computer is a digital computer.