US4911212A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Bottle filling device
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1988-06-27
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Granted: 1990-03-27
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Expires: 2008-06-27
Abstract
Abstract A bottle filling machine is disclosed in which a chamber is provided for receipt of a refillable bottle with a resealable opening through which a probe may extend. Centering means extend into the housing to center the bottle on the base of a chamber. Then a probe extends into the chamber and engages an opening in the refillable bottle to fill and pressurize the bottle. After filling, the probe retracts allowing the filled bottle to be removed from the chamber.
Inventors
- 👤 John W. Burton
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 11:33
CPC Classifications
B; B67; B67D; B67D7/00; B67D7/02; B01; B01F; B01F33/00; B01F33/80; B01F33/84; B01F33/848; B01F35/00; B01F35/40; B01F35/42; B01F35/422; B67C; B67C3/00; B67C3/02; B67C3/06; B67D1/00; B67D1/0003; B67D1/0014; G; G07; G07F; G07F13/00; G07F13/02; G07F13/025; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S261/00; Y10S261/07
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
221 words
A bottle filling machine comprising a. a housing; b. a chamber within said housing having a base on which may be placed a refillable bottle having a top with a resealable opening through which a probe may extend; c. centering means attached to the housing and positioned so that they may extend into the chamber to engage and center a bottle on the base; d. a probe positioned within the housing so that it may extend into the chamber and engage the resealable opening in a refillable bottle on the base of the chamber to fill the bottle and then retract from the bottle, and having at least one opening to which at least one supply tube may be connected; e. probe extender means attached to the housing and to the probe for extending and retracting the probe; f. at least one fluid supply connected to said at least one opening of the probe and attached to the housing; g. at least one selection key attached to the housing; and h. a controller within the housing and connected to said at least one selection key, said at least one fluid supply, probe extender means and centering means for selectively activating the centering means, probe extender means and said at least one fluid supply when at least one selection key is pressed.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
221 words
A bottle filling machine comprising a. a housing; b. a chamber within said housing having a base on which may be placed a refillable bottle having a top with a resealable opening through which a probe may extend; c. centering means attached to the housing and positioned so that they may extend into the chamber to engage and center a bottle on the base; d. a probe positioned within the housing so that it may extend into the chamber and engage the resealable opening in a refillable bottle on the base of the chamber to fill the bottle and then retract from the bottle, and having at least one opening to which at least one supply tube may be connected; e. probe extender means attached to the housing and to the probe for extending and retracting the probe; f. at least one fluid supply connected to said at least one opening of the probe and attached to the housing; g. at least one selection key attached to the housing; and h. a controller within the housing and connected to said at least one selection key, said at least one fluid supply, probe extender means and centering means for selectively activating the centering means, probe extender means and said at least one fluid supply when at least one selection key is pressed.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
72 words
The bottle filling machine of claim 1 wherein said at least one fluid supply includes at least one pump selected from the group comprised of a vacuum pump for drawing a vacuum through the probe, at least one liquid supply pump for pumping at least one selected liquid through the probe, and one of a gas pump and a gas regulator for supplying a gas through the probe to pressurize the bottle.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
The bottle filling machine of claim 2 wherein the controller is programed to activate in sequence the vacuum pump, said at least one liquid supply pumps and one of the gas pump and gas regulator.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The bottle filling machine of claim 2 also comprising at least one gas supply connected to one of the gas pump and the gas regulator.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The bottle filling machine of claim 4 wherein the gas supply is one of carbon dioxide, nitrogen, aerosol propellant and a mixture of carbon dioxide and nitrogen.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
The bottle filling machine of claim 1 also comprising gauge means connected to the controller for determining the orientation of the centering means after it has engaged a bottle in the chamber.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
The bottle filling machine of claim 6 wherein the gauge means is an optical scanner positioned to read markings on for centering means, and the centering means has markings thereon which may be read by the optical scanner.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
51 words
The bottle filling machine of claim 7 wherein the controller is programed to compare the markings read by the optical scanner with said at least one selection key activated to determine if the bottle engaged by the centering means is appropriate to receive the material chosen by the activated selector key.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
43 words
The bottle filling machine of claim 1 also comprising at least one valve attached to said at least one supply tube opening of the probe and connected to the controller in a manner so that the controller may open and close the valve.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The bottle filling machine of claim 1 also comprising at least one pressurized fluid supply tank connected to the probe.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
40 words
The bottle filling machine of claim 1 wherein the probe is comprised of a mixing chamber having radially arranged supply tube openings and a rigid tube extending from the mixing chamber which is sized and positioned to engage a bottle.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
13 words
The bottle filling machine of claim 11 wherein the mixing chamber is conical.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
The bottle filling machine of claim 1 also comprising at least one additional chamber within the housing, each chamber being sized to accomodate a different size bottle.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
49 words
The bottle filling machine of claim 2 wherein the controller is programed to activate said at least one pump in a manner to fill a bottle two-thirds full of liquid and one-third full of a gas to a pressure sufficient to expel liquid contents when the bottle is opened.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
44 words
The bottle filling machine of claim 1 wherein the centering means are positioned within the chamber in a fixed position and are sized so that a consumer may place a bottle against the centering means thereby placing the bottle in alignment with the probe.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
The bottle filling machine of claim 1 also comprising a refrigerator unit positioned to cool said at least one fluid supply.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
134 words
The bottle filling machine of claim 1 wherein the controller is programed to activate said at least one fluid supply, probe extender means and centering means after said at least one selection key is pressed in sequence as follows: a. centering means engages and centers a bottle under the probe; b. probe descends into the bottle through a resealable opening and seals to bottle; c. any gas in the bottle is vented into the filling machine; d. flavor syrup is injected into the bottle; e. club soda is injected into the bottle in sufficient quantity to fill the bottle two-thirds full of flavor syrup and club soda; f. gas is injected into the bottle to pressurize the bottle; g. the probe is removed from the bottle; and h. the centering means releases the bottle.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
124 words
The bottle filling machine of claim 1 wherein the controller is programed to activate said at least one fluid supply, probe extender means and centering means after said at least one selection key is pressed in sequence as follows: a. centering means engages and centers a bottle under the probe; b. probe descends into the bottle through a resealable opening and seals to bottle; c. any gas in the bottle is vented into the filling machine; d. at least one fluid is injected into the bottle in sufficient quantity to fill the bottle two-thirds full of fluid; e. gas is injected into the bottle to pressurize the bottle; f. the proe is removed from the bottle; and g. the centering means releases the bottle.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
The filling machine of claim 18 wherein the sequence includes venting the bottle after the fluid is injected and before the gas is injected.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
19 words
The bottle filling machine of claim 1 also comprising sterilization means attached to the housing for sterilizing the probe.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
38 words
The bottle filling machine of claim 20 wherein the sterilization means is one of a sterilizing bath, a ring encircling the probe which emits sterilizing gas, an ultraviolet light and a resistant heating element attached to the probe.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
27 words
The bottle filling machine of claim 1 wherein the probe is comprised of a ceramic core having a metallic coating and electrical leads connected to the coating.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
29 words
The bottle filling machine of claim 1 comprising a microswitch connected to the centering means in a manner to engage a bottle when the centering means touches the bottle.
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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) | 1993-03-26 | 1993-09-25 | 1994-03-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-03-26 | 1997-09-25 | 1998-03-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-03-26 | 2001-09-25 | 2002-03-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |