DE2154845A1 - Container filling machine - Google Patents

Description

A-T-O Inc., 4420 Sherwin Road, Willoughby, Ohio / USA

"Container filling machine"

The invention relates to a container filling machine for constant filling heights and in particular to a filling machine in which the filling is controlled by individual filling heads which are designed so that they can be inserted axially into the container for filling and in which either the vacuum pressure or a combined Vacuum pressure methods can be used for filling the liquid into the containers.

Filling machines of this type are required for this, a constant Fill levels in bottles, cans, canned food and similar containers with a wide range of liquids for use comes «, especially liquids that have a low to moderate viscosity and that are relatively calm or "Quiet in nature" are, in contrast to liquids like carbonated soft drinks and beer, which have a large amount contained in dissolved gases and which are relatively unstable

There are several types of vacuum and / or gravity filling machines has been developed and is in use for filling

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containers with so-called "still" liquids, as State of the art * U.S. Patents 2,660,357, 3,037,536 and 3,195,585 are referred to “While most of these machines are economical are sufficient and acceptable, these known machines are designed only for a certain, limited one Number of different container types to fill and in many cases these machines with containers of one type or In a style for which they are not specially designed, it is difficult to achieve a high degree of filling accuracy to achieve in the containers and / or to maintain sufficient work performance

Furthermore, in many of these known filling machines, such replacement parts are provided, which are provided for the handling of iftVH 9denATi T ^ en or container training in the machine allow not sufficiently designed to be attached to the machine with the result that the change of Filling machines from one type of container to another one substantial Dead time and a loss in production results.

Another disadvantage of the known filling machines was the lack of good and effective means for emptying the filling head and an associated supply line and overflow line for the liquid at the end of the filling process or in connection with the change of the filling head from one liquid to another known filling machines, the supply lines to the filling nozzles and / or the overflow lines leading away from the nozzle are arranged so that liquid remains in the lines or in certain areas of this line at the end of the filling program, so that to clean these lines it was necessary to remove the lines at least partially dismantled · In some other designs in which this particular condition did not prevail, the lines had to be dismantled in order to thoroughly clean or flush out the residual liquid from the lines as a result of the H. height arrangement

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of the lines or the parts relative to other parts of the machine · Furthermore, was known in these Machines ensure thorough cleaning between the filling of different liquids or at the end of the filling process Time consuming and therefore the cleaning of the machine was considered very valuable both in terms of it on the production downtimes and also with regard to the hours required for the operating personnel. Furthermore, the purifications were not very positive in nature, so that as a result, there was usually no possibility insisted on ensuring a complete cleaning of the filling heads.

The object of the invention is therefore to provide a filling machine which eliminates the above disadvantages and a improved arrangement and design of the individual filling machine parts and mechanisms results in and wherein the parts and mechanisms are brought together in such a way that improved performance and error-free filling result for a wide range of different designs and container sizes and for different types of liquids.

This object is achieved according to the invention in that the Filling machine has a rotatable filling head, which has a number of filling nozzles, which are horizontally around the circumference of a extending container receiving table around for vertical movement between the raised rest position of the table and the lowered working position of the table are arranged. The nozzles are each connected to a closed feed port located in the center of the table in a reduced height position in relation to the filling nozzles, by a pair of flexible pipes which are curved upwards from the manifold to the nozzles, the lines have a trenage property, with the manifold as a pick-up for the liquid. The distributor is through a * conical

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Separation plate divided into a lower liquid chamber and an upper vacuum chamber »with the lines each separate Pair of them are connected to the corresponding chamber, to deliver liquid and vacuum to the nozzles when needed during filling · A vertically extending one Liquid supply line is connected to the upper end of the bottom of the liquid chamber, while the lower end of the Line connected to a higher liquid supply tank to a common low point in the filling head to create against which the liquid chamber of the distributor, the liquid tank and all liquid supply lines Drain «The vacuum chamber is connected to a vacuum source by means of a vertical conduit in the top of the manifold and also with a collection or overflow tank for the Liquid that enters the vacuum side of the filling head. From the containers ctarch an overflow or return line the is arranged centrally within the liquid supply line in connection with a discharge opening in the conical Separating plate for connecting the lower end of the return line to the overflow tank and which is arranged so that another common low point in the filling head is formed by the vacuum chamber, the overflow tank and all associated lines can drain.

The liquid supply tank is arranged so that it is vertically adjustable between an elevated position above Container when this is in the filling position in the filling head and a lowered position that collapses or below the The level of the container in the head is so as to allow the liquid to flow into either with or without a shear aid the container can be filled

The filling nozzles have one of two different basic functions depending on whether the machine * should work gravity or combined gravity-vacuum system and it

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is a special feature of the invention that these two types of nozzles have common parts and that a quick release device is provided on both types of nozzles to keep the parts in the assembled state and for the necessary coupling to the liquid supply and the vacuum lines to ensure the conversion of the machine from the To enable vacuum-to-gravity or vacuum-gravity operation in a precisely fitting, extremely fast manner,

Further features of the invention relate to the formation of the liquid return line within the filling nozzles, which then works when the main filling of the container is completed to bring the liquid level therein to a predetermined one lower the final height in order to achieve increased accuracy and great uniformity of the filling height in the container; furthermore, the arrangement of a special spacer tube for use with the filling nozzle in order to allow the filling nozzle to penetrate axially in the upper section of the container to monitor when this is brought into the filling position with respect to the container and which snap locks with the nozzles to allow easy attachment and removal from the nozzle; further the formation of a number of different optional devices suitable for being connected to the filling nozzles or which can be used separately in order to lift the container with the filling nozzle during retraction to prevent and / or recognize the nozzle from the filling position at the end of the filling process; and finally the Formation of a number of protective devices and mechanisms to prevent overloading of the gear reduction of the filling head and / or the main drive unit in the event of malfunction or irregularities in the operation of the filling head it"

The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the drawings. It shows:

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1 shows the container filling device according to the invention,

Fig. 2 is a partial view of the turntable of the filling machine Bit of the container feed and discharge,

Fig. 3 the liquid and air flow in the machine,

Figure 4 is an enlarged view of the manifold between the individual filling nozzles and the liquid and vacuum source,

FIG. 5 shows an enlarged partial section according to FIG. 4, r Fig. 5a shows an enlarged detail from Fig. 5, 6 the filling head, Fig. 7 the container feed screw, Flg. 8 the sliding arrangement for the filling nozzles, 9 shows a filling nozzle,

FIG. 10 shows an enlarged section of part of the filling nozzle according to FIG. 9,

11 a - c the withdrawal of the filling nozzles from the containers, d shows an enlarged section through the lower part of the filling nozzle

Fig. 12 is an enlarged front view, partly in section

the arrangement for controlling the movement of the nozzle relative to the containers,

13 shows a plan view of the arrangement according to FIG. 12, 14 shows a modified filling nozzle,

15 shows an enlarged longitudinal section through the vacuum part the filling nozzle according to Fig. 14,

15a shows a cross section according to line 15a-15a according to FIG. 15, Flg. 15b shows a cross section along the line 15b-15b of FIG. 15,

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16 shows an enlarged longitudinal section through a shut-off valve,

17 shows a perspective view of a filling nozzle with a centering funnel,

17a shows a cross section through the centering funnel,

18 is a schematic view of the pivotable indicator arm for preventing the container from being raised and

Fig. 19 shows the break-off plug which can be used to attach the nozzle to the filling head.

Referring to the drawing and FIG. ₀ 1, which in particular shows the overall design of the filling machine according to the invention, there a filling head 2 is supported by a base plate 4 in such a way that rotation about a vertical axis running through the center of the filling head is possible Filling head 2 has a horizontally arranged filling table 6, which forms a support surface for the containers that are to be filled (the bottles B being shown here), and which is attached to an upright ring or housing construction 8, which is the storage for a series identically constructed, separate filling nozzle units 10 forms. As described in detail below, the nozzles are arranged so that they can perform a vertical sliding movement in the housings 8, and when revolving around the filling table during the rotary movement they slide vertically in a predetermined or predetermined manner, continuously from or between a raised or inactive position above the bottles and a lowered or active position in which the nozzles are in engagement with the containers during filling

The bottles or other containers to be filled

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are the filling machine for inclusion on the table 6 by conventional conveyor means 12, only partially shown and which are arranged essentially tangentially to the table, fed along the part of the machine to be referred to as the front side, whereby they are guided by guide rails 12 and known feed screw 16. A multi-spoke wheel 18 takes the bottles of the feed screw 16 and passes them to the table at a distance that is predetermined by the augers, a central guide plate 20 is provided, which has opposite concave formed sides, which are arranged near the circumference of the wheel 18 to the bottles in the pockets of the Filling wheel • to hold on during the movement from the feed screw to the filling table «,

The bottles are from the table after the completed Filling removed along the front of the filling machine at a point a little less than 360 ° from the feed point, by a discharge wheel 22, which has an identical structure as the feed wheel 18 and that on one side of the aforementioned central guide plate 20 is arranged directly opposite the feed wheel. A discharge conveyor 24, which is arranged in a longitudinal direction with respect to the feeder 12, takes the filled bottles from the discharge wheel 22 and guides the bottles to a suitable closure or crown cap device (not shown) to · The bottles are guided on the conveyor by a pair of known guide rails 26.

According to the invention, the filling machine is designed so that the filling of the container either by means of gravity or combined by means of gravity and vacuum or by means of vacuum Can be done alone, depending on which way the special Requirement of the container and / or the liquid in the respective filling period is beneficial and it is a special one Feature of the present invention that a relatively faster

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and convenient process when changing the machine from one type of filling to another

Before going into detail on the filling head construction, however, it is advisable to first examine the overall arrangement of the liquid and vacuum system with that of the Filling head is connected to consider

For this purpose, reference is made to FIG. 3, in which it can be seen that a sealed manifold 28 is a pot-like one Part 30 has and a lid or top closure 32 is fixed in the center of the filling table 6 by means of a number Studs 34 which are vertically connected to the table and pass through openings in the flanged part 30 and the Lid or closure 32 extends to receive wing nuts 36 or other threaded fasteners To seal wing nuts

The manifold is inside by a conical partition plate 40 which is horizontal between the part 30 and the cover 32 is fitted divided into a lower liquid chamber 42 and an upper vacuum chamber 44 * The liquid chamber 42 is connected to each of the individual nozzles via a number of corresponding flexible lines 46 which are connected to the one Send to one of a number of nipples 48 arranged around the pot of the manifold and at the other end to a nipple-like connector 50 of the nozzles connected * The vacuum chamber 44 is connected to each nozzle by a corresponding number of flexible lines 52 the at one end with individual connections of a series of connections 54 which are inserted into the cover of the distributor connected and are connected at the other end to both nipple-like connections 56 of each nozzle 10 «

These various connections of the flexible liquid and

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\ of the manifold vacuum lines 46 and 52 to the separate parts N 30 and to The individual nozzles are preferably made using quick-release fasteners 58. For this purpose, fasteners are proposed in the Type of an elastic, flexible C-ring with an inner locking or clamping groove for receiving appropriately designed conical shoulders or flanges that are provided e * tra or the one-piece old the parts where the connection is to be made are shaped and the one arched hole over 180 ° have for opposite gripping arms or Segaente which interact to resiliently and firmly over or between the

W shoulders or flanges to act on the closure

specified embodiment, the necessary flanges or shoulders are part of the flexible lines 46 and 52, for example of the separate connections 60 and provided on the opposite EncUn of each of the lines 46 and 52, while the associated flanges or shoulders on the nozzle and aa manifold in one piece old the aforementioned nipples 50 and 56 of the nozzles and old the connections 48 and 54 of the manifold are formed · Known 0-rings are between themselves The contacting surface of the flanges at each joint is placed to seal the parts against each other when the shutter is closed · These fasteners are preferred as they are not can only be attached and removed extremely quickly which facilitates any necessary maintenance or renewal of the line, nozzles and manifold, but also because the connection created by the closures can be easily cleaned without disassembling it, by simply rinsing the Line with suitable cleaning fluids · The entire This makes cleaning the filling heads cheaper

At this point it should be mentioned that the distributor 28 is located on the filling table in a position or height that is below of the nozzles 10, and that the lines 46 and 52 between the nozzles and the manifold are opposite the horizontal

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zontals are inclined over their entire length · By this arrangement it is achieved that the distributor has a common Represents the lowest point or a drainage device for the individual lines, so that this at the end of the filling period automatically and completely drains from the lines · This drainage property of the liquid and vacuum lines with to which the filling nozzles are connected is of particular advantage, as this makes cleaning the filling machine much easier and the time required for cleaning, between filling periods of different liquids or after completion the filling period could be reduced significantly · The liquid chamber 42 of the distributor is designed so that it can be supplied with liquid through the pipe or line 62 which is arranged vertically in the center of the base plate and which is connected to a part 64 which surrounds the opening in the bottom of the manifold plug · The lower end of the Line 62 is attached to a mounting bracket 68 which is attached to a horizontal bottom plate 70 of the base plate 4 is by a known rotary joint 72 which has a suitable packing gland for sealing the pipe against the Has support, while rotation of the pipe therein is possible «An inlet tee 74 is on the supply line below attached to the rotary joint, wherein the T-piece is connected to the liquid supply line 76 with a connector 74a This supply line can be connected directly to the storage tank or other supply source, but rather the invention contemplates the arrangement of a separate supply source for use with the filling machine which is designed to that it is vertically adjustable to accommodate the gravity of the To take advantage of liquid if necessary. This separate source can take the form of a mobile Stati-vs 78, that has a main column 80 extending vertically from the base plate 82 supporting the wheels and wherein a tank or Reservoir 84 on the column through a U-shaped sliding bracket (not shown) is worn · Appropriate means, either

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mechanical or hydraulic type can be provided to move the bracket vertically on the column to the height of the feed tank to change.

The aforementioned fluid line 76 is at one port 88 connected in the tank bottom by a vertical line 90, the tank bottom preferably in the direction of the connection is inclined in order to facilitate the flow out of the tank after completion of the filling process «, The tank also has a suitable inlet which can be connected to a supply line from the storage tank (not shown) to the To enable the supply of liquid to the tank and, if necessary, during filling, in which case control elements are provided in the tank to keep the liquid level at a constant level «

It should be mentioned that the liquid chamber 42 of the distributor into the line 62 and this in turn runs out into the line 76, while the tank 84 is emptied into the line 90, the is again emptied into the line 76

According to the invention, the line 76 is inclined with respect to the horizontal and is constructed in such a way that a single low point is formed into which all liquid flows from the liquid chamber of the distributor, the tank and / or the various lines and connections connected to it when the filling process is finished; For example, to fill another liquid or at the end of the filling period at all. This arrangement allows the liquid lines and other parts that come into contact with the liquid to be free of liquid, so that the filling machine can be thoroughly cleaned relatively quickly using known flushing methods can wverden cleaned, which is important from the standpoint of performance · at the lowest ^p oint line 76 is a Absperrhah 91 or another valve for draining and provided by this shut-off valve all the liquid can flow when emptying the machine of filling or cleaning liquids ·

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The vacuum part of the manifold is connected to the central part of the cover 32 of the manifold by a line 92, which extends vertically to the hood 94 of the filling machine. The line 92 is stationary and directly connected to the distributor cover to the vacuum chamber 44 by a conventional sealed rotary joint 96 similar to the joint 92 previously described had been, between the liquid supply line 62 and the bracket 68 so that rotation of the manifold relative to the conduit 92 is possible while the parts remain sealed together. The upper end of the conduit 92 is means of a number of additional interconnected lines in the hood and in a connected side part of the filling machine with an overflow tank 98 connected to the Base plate of the mobile device 78 is attached · The tank 98 is - as described below - as an air separator or Air-liquid separator for the liquid entering the

Vacuum side of the filling head enters and is through a lid

\with 1OCa of the inlet side of the vacuum pump 102 via the line 104 connected because the pump is expediently attached to a plate 106 which is located on the side of the base plate 4. on in this way the vacuum chamber is connected to the vacuum pump, so that in the tank above the liquid level and in the Vacuum chamber of the distributor is a vacuum. This in turn leads to the fact that a Vakuuajin the filling nozzles through the Line 52 is present · The vacuum chamber 44 has an additional connection to the overflow tank, which is designed so that the Liquid is passed into the overflow tank, which is withdrawn from the container through the vacuum line at the end of the respective filling process, while it is possible that the air is withdrawn from the container together with the liquid is fed into the tank through the previously described line. For this purpose, the conical partition plate 40 of the Distributor a central bearing bush 108 is provided which surrounds a drain hole 110 in the plate. The bearing bush 108 takes

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the upper end of the reflux line 112, which is arranged centrally within the liquid inlet line 62 and has a diametrically extending slot 114, which enables a transverse pin 116 at the end of the conduit 112 to be axially located in the socket with the End of line flush with drain hole 110.

An O-ring 108 is within an outer groove 120 of the socket and engages the return conduit below pin 116 to releasably attach the conduit to the socket to attach while another O-ring 118 inside the socket is provided in order to seal it with the cable The return line 112 extends the entire length the inlet line 66 and ends below the rotary joint in a position unit 122 which is in the lower vertical nozzle 74b of the tee 74 at the lower end of the line 62 is included. The location unit 122 is off in the usual way built-up inner and outer bearing elements, which are sealed against the T-piece and attached to it, or also opposite the reflux line, whereby the reflux line is mounted in the T-piece. The bearing elements have it one-sided predominant outer ends - as shown - on to an accumulation of liquid when emptying or cleaning the To prevent line 62 * A bend 124 is provided with an end cap 126 and is attached to the flange 74b of the tee attached and is in connection with a line 128 which in turn with the vertical line 129 »which is for connection in the Bottom of the overflow tank is performed, is connected, whereby a flow of liquid between the vacuum chamber and the overflow tank is possible

Another line 130 is arranged at the bottom of the tank 98 by means of a further connection and it leads into the inlet side of the liquid pump 132 on its outlet side Line 134 is connected, which is connected to the tank 84 on the mobile stand 78.

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With this arrangement, the result is that the liquid enters the vacuum line from the individual nozzles Vacuum chamber can, drip onto the partition plate and along this flows into the central drain hole 110 while air or gas is brought into the chamber with the liquid rise in the chamber and are discharged through line 92. The liquid and the air or the gas can thus follow separate paths into the overflow tank 98, with the result that the turbulence in the overflow liquid is reduced and also reduces the time that the air and liquid are exposed to each other at a narrow distance in the conduits · This helps reduce the amount of air or some other gas in the overflow liquid at the point where it enters the overflow tank · At the same time, the liquid that reaches the partition plate 40 is distributed as a thin film, as the vacuum chamber 44 is under a negative pressure, so that what is dissolved in the liquid is released and into the line 92 through the Vacuum pump 102 is sucked off · In this way an initial gas separation takes place in the overflow liquid, so that due to the additional process in the overflow tank of the liquid-gas contact area, a negligible amount of air remains in the liquid when it is returned to the tank 84. To have adequate air-liquid separation To get into the vacuum chamber, the diameter of the upper Line 92 may be slightly larger than that of reflux line 112. Good results have been obtained when the diameter of the Line 92 is twice the diameter of the return line 112.

The lines 130, 134 and the pump 132 are provided to periodically transfer overflow liquid from the overflow tank 98 into the Pull off the feed tank and usually the overflow tank 98 is equipped with floating or other means to determine the Liquid level equipped so that the pump is automatic

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works when the liquid is in above a given value the overflow tank rises and stops when a lower one Mirror is reached. A shut-off valve 136 is in the line 134 provided to prevent liquid from running from the feed tank into the overflow tank "

In the overflow system, the vacuum pump 44 is in communication with the line 112, which in turn communicates with the line 128 through the Manifold 124 is in communication. At the same time the overflow tank flows into the line 129, which in turn flows into the line 128 ″. The line 128 preferably has a slight Incline towards the horizontal, so as to create a single low point in which all liquid is removed from the Vacuum chamber 44, the overflow tank 98 and the numerous lines connected to these collect when the Machine has finished with a certain liquid or when the filling period is completed, which causes emptying and / or the cleaning of the machine parts is made easier. The deepest part of the line 128 is preferably near that of the Line 76 is provided and, as with this, a suitable shut-off valve 137 is provided for emptying,

In the following, the filling machine will now be discussed in detail, in which the filling table, which is made of reinforced cast aluminum consists, has a flat outer edge region and an inner region 14Θ, which is opposite the outer region in the direction is inclined on this to allow a drain. The table areas are preferably covered by lightweight stainless steel plate 142 for enhanced expansion in order to maintain clean, hygienic conditions in this part of the machine. The outer area of the plate 138 is preferably provided with a flange directed downward as shown at 144, so as with one directed upward Plate 146 connected to the radially inner edge of plate 148. To form a kind of labyrinth seal so that

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is prevented that liquid flows into the interior along the outer edge of the filling table.

The table is supported for rotational movement in the filling machine through a number of special storage units 150, which are fastened in the base 4 outside the center axis, and the major related to a gear 152 diameter are provided, which by means of bolts to an annular flange 144 is provided on the underside of the filling table, is attached. This type of storage has already been proposed «

The storage unit 150 is supported by vertical supports 156, which in turn are supported by an intermediate plate 158 of the base plate 4 be supported by the interposition of a profiled ring element 16O large diameter. Every storage unit has an outer, annular bearing member 162 which has a V-shaped periphery that engages a corresponding one V-shaped groove in the interior of the gear 152 and also a conventional ball bearing assembly 164 in the interior of the Part 162. The bearing units 164 are raised in relation to the supports in order to thereby provide a running surface for the unit 150 create, which in turn would create a running surface in the filling machine for the filling head 2 as a whole.

The supports 156 of the bearing elements have an eccentricity with respect to the longitudinal axis of the support with which they are connected. This eccentricity enables the bearing unit to be adjusted radially with respect to gear 152 so as to apply a suitable predetermined preload pressure to the unit by the simple act of loosening the bolts or other fasteners of the bracket to the ring member 160 and then loosening the brackets be rotated relative to the ring to move the bearing unit relatively towards or away from the gear. The pegs 156 may have a flat to facilitate rotation.

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Another feature of the present invention is that the ring member 160 is horizontal relative to the plate 158 is displaceable when the bolts or other fasteners of the element 160 are loosened. Because the filling table is supported by the ring member 160 through the bearing unit 150, any such horizontal displacement will result of the ring element in a corresponding displacement of the table and all associated parts, including of the gear in the filling machine “The gear 152 is in Engagement with a pair of spur gears 166, 168 of the drive and the limited horizontal adjustability of the ring element 160 is provided to bring the gear into engagement with the spur gear with controllable play.

A great advantage of this fastening of the rotatable filling head in the filling machine results from the elimination of the bearings and other additional support and reinforcement means for the table from the center of the machine. This will be the center of the Machine left completely open and unloaded for good and convenient access to the fluid supply and Overflow lines and the previously described connections to be able to take them apart for repair and maintenance work which are necessary or expedient to be able to carry out »these parts. It also results from the arrangement of the layers on the outside of the turntable provides a wider distribution of forces than can be achieved with the conventional one Arrangement of the fastening or bearing parts in the middle, so that the present arrangement is extremely stable Carrier for the table and the filling head results.

According to the invention, the bearings 162 have a material with relative low friction that has the necessary strength, stability and durability on and despite a number of materials Sufficient for this purpose, good results have been obtained using plastics, particularly reinforced fabrics Phenolic plastic, achieved. A motor is used in conjunction with the spur gears 166 and 168 and in the main drive of the filling machine

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with variable speed and a transmission gear 170 attached to the plate 70 is used. The drive shaft 172 of the transmission 170 is by means of a clutch 174 connected to the vertical shaft 176 of the spur gear 166, whereby the gearbox 170 with the filling head and with the other Spur gear 168 is connected via gear 132

The shaft 176 of the spur gear 166 and the corresponding shaft of the spur gear 168 are connected to that of the discharge gear 22 and the guide gear 18 by additional couplings 180 in order to drive the gears in synchronism with the filling head when the motor is working 6, which shows the insertion side of the filling machine. The shaft 178 is interrupted above the spur gear 168 in order to receive a first fixed clutch disc 182 of the aforementioned clutch 180. A tubular support or shaft 186 for the feed wheel 18 is provided within the plate 148, supported by a conventional bearing 184, vertically aligned. The lower end of shaft 186 has a second clutch disc 188 of clutch 180 secured thereto by a key pin assembly 190 that slides in a slide along the well and allows for axial movement of disc 188 with respect to fixed clutch disc 182 , whereby the desired coupling is achieved. A clutch spring 192 is disposed axially within shaft 186 and presses against key pin assembly 190 and against a threaded set screw 194 in tubular upper recess 196 of shaft 186 to bias the clutch disc so that it normally engages fixed disc 182 This engagement is achieved by a pair of ball members 198 which slide in a corresponding pair of radial V-grooves 200 provided in the face of the clutch plate 182 and which, when properly seated in the groove, the shaft 178 for rotation with the shaft 186 of the feed wheel 18 couple. At the same time, however, the balls are able to slide out of the carriage, whereby a separation of the clutch disc 188 from the disc 182 occurs when the rotation of the feeder

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rades 18 inhibited or interrupted for any reason so that the wheel is thereby separated from the drive. The bias of the spring 192 can be adjusted so that a decoupling takes place at any predetermined level or magnitude of the load or force on the shaft, and that takes place the setting by screwing in or unscrewing the screws 194 to the desired extent. One not shown Limit switch can be provided near the clutch disc 188 to interrupt the drive 170 when the Clutch disks have been disconnected due to an unnecessarily large load on the feed wheel 18 or shaft 186. A corresponding construction is the coupling that connects the shaft 176 of the spur gear 166 to the container discharge shaft 22 provided, each clamping to one of the shafts 20 thereby that a container during movement in the or falls off the wheel or due to an error in the correct distance between the containers and the wheels to an automatic Interruption of the transmission 170 resulted

Before going into more detail on the drive, should the details of the design of the container feed and discharge wheels 18, 22 are explained »From Fig. 6 it can be seen that in the case of the wheel 18, a tubular part or a sleeve 202 is toothed with the recess 196 of the support 186. Fixed to the sleeve 202 is a radially extending lower clamping plate 204, which a seat for the spoked wheel 206 which provides the usual pockets for the containers in the feed wheel. The shaft 206 is on the clamp plate attached by an upper clamp plate 208 so that the rotates as a unit with the shaft 186 by a Number of wing nuts and screws · A flexible washer 210 that is connected to the clamping plate by snapping it on Built into the wheel by the radial depth of the pockets for bottles or other containers through the radial spokes of the wheel are formed to influence. In addition to other pro

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Share the above construction, a relatively quick replacement of the spoked wheel can be done, for example if it it is useful to change the number of pockets in the feed wheel and this together with the adjustability the radial depth of the pockets themselves, which enables the flexible snap-on disc 210 to be easily attached Way to set the specific containers to be filled at a given time «The discharge wheel has the same construction as the feed wheel in order to ensure that the discharge part is appropriate and adaptable the machine to achieve

The spur gear 168 of the drive mechanism drives the feed screw 16, which means that it is connected to a coupling 212 lower end of the shaft 278 is connected «The construction of the coupling 212 corresponds to the described coupling 280, with one first clutch disc 214 is axially slidably mounted on shaft 278 by means of a key 216 and a second clutch disc 218 is fixedly arranged on the shaft, opposite to the disk 214, by a pressure ring 220, the by a pin that goes across the shaft and through the central portion of the disc 218. Clutch disc is pressed against the clutch disc 218 by a spring coaxially on the shaft 278 between the clutch disc 214 and an adjustable ring 224 is arranged, which is screwably attached to the sleeve-like part 226 that is attached to the shaft by means of a cross pin »The clutch disks 214, 218 are connected to one another by balls Engaging, which sit in grooves which are provided on the surface of the clutch plate 214, around the clutch plates with one another and to couple with the shaft

In this clutch, the drive element has a pulley 228 which is attached to the fixed clutch disk 218, to rotate with this as a unit and which via an endless belt or chain 230 with a pulley 232 the

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forms part of the feed screw drive, is connected to under normal conditions when the balls are in Sitting in the groove, the shaft 176 drives the pulley 228 while rotating, which in turn drives the pulley 232 and the Feed screw drives while at the same time uncoupling the pulley 228 from the shaft by moving it out the groove against the spring force 222 is possible.

The feed auger pulley 232 is supported by a vertical support shaft 234 which is within a solid, horizontal Plate 236 arranged in the frame of the infeed conveyor 212 is carried. The shaft 234 is in turn connected by means of a known universal connection to a vertical drive shaft 238 on which a Support frame 240 for the feed chord is hinged. Of the Frame 240 has an angle plate 242 on plate 236 which is relative to drive shaft 238 which extends through the Plate extends and forms a pivot axis for it is pivotable. A horizontal bar 244 is at one end of the angle plate 242 and has a pair of guide blocks 246 connected thereto for a slidable one To allow the rod to rest on the plate 236. The end of the rod 244 facing away from the angle plate takes a approximately the same angle plate 248 on and in each of these plates a vertical rod or support 250 is provided, respectively is covered by a block 252. On these blocks 252 plate-like bearings 254 are provided, which the storage for the ends of the feed screw. The drive shaft 238 runs through the block 252 above the angle plate 242 is and has a gear 256. The gear 256 is in engagement with a gear 258 rotated by 90 ° at the end of the feed screw, so that when the shaft passes through the Gears 256, 258 are driven, the feed chord rotated in the bearings 254. A nut 260 holds the gear 258 on the feed screw and enables one

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Adjustability of the screw relative to the feed wheel so that the bottles are properly fed from the screw to ensure the bike.

The frame 240 is moved by a tension spring 262 towards the center of the machine and into a position in which the feed screw comes into engagement with the incoming containers, pulled, on the one hand on the frame and on the other hand at a fixed point is mounted in the machine · The tension on the frame 240 is monitored by the shaft 264, which is in a TUbel 266 of the rod 242 is arranged and which presses against a fixed stop (not shown), so as to the oscillation of the frame 240 under the influence of the spring limit · A knob 268 allows the rotation of the shaft 264, in the peg to move through the Oscillating movement of the frame relative to the drive shaft 238 a accordingly limited displacement of the bottle guide rails in the conveyor in the horizontal plane and to the feed wheel and the middle guide plate, which ensures that the bottles are carefully inserted through the screw into the Feed wheel can be moved »At the same time, the frame allows the feed screw to swing away from the guide rail when a bottle does not enter or pass through the feed screw 16 properly and thereby the rotation of the screw is prevented, thereby relieving the bottle and the screw. A limit switch, not shown, can be provided to detect such an oscillating movement of the screw 16 and to interrupt the drive «,

As can be seen from what has been said so far, the machine contains a number of simple but highly effective devices, which prevent overloading of the drives and drive elements and thus destruction in the event of the Klemaens or other malfunctions prevented · These devices are able to be adjusted very easily to any load and they are absolutely independent of each other, whereby various settings can be made to

209827/0512 -24-

to create the greatest possible protection for the respective part or element with which it is connected «Let it be on pointed out that this device is designed so that the machine is restarted after a response can be.

The structure of the nozzles and their mode of operation will now be described below. The filling table 6 has a housing 8. This housing is provided with a lower ring 270 which is connected to the table via a number of supports 272 which are arranged vertically between the table and the ring 270 and to the table with nuts the ends of the supports are screwed on, is releasably connected. An upper ring 274 is held above the ring 270 by a number of rods 276 and 278 which are arranged in sets around the circumference and which, like the supports 272, have threaded ends that protrude through the rings and have nuts for fastening. A set of rods 276, 278 is provided for each nozzle array and are arranged at the same distance from each other, e around the housing, since the nozzles are equally spaced. " The radially outer rod 276 has a frame 280 to which the nozzles are slidably mounted and allows the frame to be guided in vertical movement in the housing while the other or inner rod 278 slides on one vertical side of the frame so that rotation of the frame and the nozzle as a whole relative to the rod 276 is prevented. The frames 280 are identically constructed of upper and lower bearing blocks 282 and 284 which are connected at an appropriate distance by a pair of plates 286 which are held on opposite sides of the block by screws. The blocks 282 have substantially circular cutouts along their radially inner sides for the inner rod 276 to prevent rotation , as previously described.

The lower bearing block of each frame 280 has a relatively flat, rectangular plate 288 which is screwed onto it.

209827/0512

- 25 -

is fixed and this plate extends radially outward to provide support for the filling head of the nozzles. Sliding movements of the frame on the bars and the corresponding vertical movements of the filling heads relative to the filling table are controlled by a roller 290 which is rotatably attached to the radially outer side or wall of the upper bearing block 282 is, and when revolving around the filling table with the associated nozzles optionally with a main cam plate 292 the provided along the front of the machine and / or a 360 ° ring 294 on the outside and substantially concentric is arranged to the housing 8. The cam plate 292 allows the control of the movement of the nozzle in and between the raised inactive position to the containers and the lowered active position Position to it and it has a substantially trapezoidal shape, by relatively steep or abrupt vertical Side 292a and 292b is identified on each side of an upper horizontal side 292c, and is supported by one horizontal plate 296 in structure 94 of the machine frame by a pair of threaded rods 298 attached at each end the cam plate 292 are arranged. The rods 298 are connected to the plate 296 by conventional bearings and stand in screw connection with brackets 300 on the cam plate so as to create a conventional screw attachment for this, in the the height of the cam plate can be changed This setting is carried out manually using a handwheel 302, that is on a shaft 304 which is connected to the plate 296, and which has a sprocket 306, which via a endless chain 308 is connected to similar sprockets 310 at the upper ends of rods 298.

The ring 294 acts as a support for the cam roller, thereby limiting the downward movement of the frames 280 in the housing for the purpose of checking the axial penetration of the filling nozzles into the container or, in the absence of a container, to prevent it the full lowering in the housing and the impact

209827/0512

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of the lower bearing block 234 on the lower ring of the housing The ring 294, from the structure of the machine through a Number of threaded rods 312 which are connected to a plate 296 of the structure, carried for this purpose four rods, the are on each quadrant of the ring, serve. the Rods 312 are screwed into sockets 314 in ring 294, see above that a conventional screw connection is created, which allows a vertical adjustability of the ring · For this Adjustment a second handwheel 316 is provided on the shaft 318 which is mounted in the plate 296 and which is a sprocket 320, which is connected via a chain 322 to corresponding sprockets 324 at the upper ends of the rods 312 is",

The invention enables the use of two different types of filling heads, one with a sleeve-like one Construction suitable for gravity and / or combined gravity-vacuum filling, and another type that one has an open construction and is only suitable for vacuum filling · The frame is designed so that each of the heads can be used with the minimum of time required to switch from one species to the other and the heads themselves contain common parts and are composed so that rapid conversion and changeover is possible·

The tubular filling head shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 will first be described. This filling head has a housing 326 with a relatively large diameter which is fastened directly to the retaining plate 288 of the frame 280 by union nuts which can be screwed onto column-like projections 278 on the upper end of the housing which protrude through an opening in the plate 288 _{or the like} The housing 326 has a central chamber 330 in communication with the connections or nipples 50 for connection to the liquid inlet lines 46 by means of the previously described C-clamps 58, axially connected

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21 5A8A5

with the lower end of the housing 326 is an elongated fill tube 332. The chamber of the housing is expanded to receive a protrusion on the tube, and the housing and tube are flanged to allow coupling by a C-clamp 334 . An O-ring or the like is provided between the protrusion and an inner shoulder in the chamber 330 to seal the tube 332 from the housing when the C-clamp is closed. The tube 332 provides an axial passage in the filling head for the liquid and protrudes axially into the container when the head is lowered to the active or filling position. Normally the tube is of such a length that the lower end of the tube extends into the upper part of the container, which is filled under the specified conditions, and it is therefore clear that the length is, among other things, a function of the height of the container in question Pipe lengths provided to suit the appropriate. The pipe 332 has a cone-like element 336 in the lower part which is provided with a number of relatively large lateral openings 338 for the flow of liquid in the container. The ends of the cone 336 are radially widened, the lower widened part of the cone having a circumferentially extending groove 340 in which an O-ring 342 is arranged, the mode of operation of which will later become clear.

The filling tube 332 also has a vertically sliding vacuum part which is provided as a whole with the reference number 344 in the drawings. This arrangement 344 has an enlarged one cylindrical vacuum body 346 having an axially extending bore for receiving tube 332 and which is open to an enlarged recess 350 in the top of the body.

28

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A separate lid 352 is releasably connected to the vacuum body by C-clamps that fit over and between the beveled flanges of the lid and the top of the body. The vacuum body 346 is slidably connected to the filling tube by a formation which has a central sliding seal 344 in the recess 350 which, with the inner lip-like edge 356 of the gaping seal, encompasses the tube. An O-ring 358 e is provided between the upper edges of the sealing _{segments to seal the body itself against the cover 352 when the C-clamp is closed 0} The axial bore 348 of the vacuum body 346 is laterally with an opening 362 in the body with the nipples 56 in connection, which are used to couple the nozzles with the flexible vacuum lines from the manifold »

Axially at the lower end of the vacuum body 346, a vacuum tube 364 is provided that has a slightly larger inner diameter than the outer diameter of the filling tube 332. The tube 364 has a flanged upper end and is means of Flanges attached to the lower end of the vacuum body by C-clamps. The flanged end of the vacuum tube is raised and an O-ring 366 bears against a shoulder in the lower one Remove the end of the vacuum body to create a fluid seal between the tube and the body with the C-clamp closed obtain. The vacuum tube 364 terminates above the free lower end of the filling tube 332 and is normally controlled by the weight of the Vacuum body and the tube 344 or held by a spring in an axially lower position, the head of the tube being Found in contact with O-ring 342 in cone 336. The so arranged O-ring 342 creates a valve action between the liquid and vacuum tubes 332, 364 to thereby control the opening and closing of these parts and thereby the flow of liquid through the nozzle. The O-ring 342 also serves to the vacuum body and tube assembly 344 on the liquid

209827/0512 -29-

To hold pipe and therefore the O-ring is sized in particular its inner diameter relative to the groove 340 that an expansion of the O-ring is required during assembly, thereby ensuring that the O-ring remains tight against the cone At the same time, however, the O-ring will not be stretched to the point of expansion, which is relatively easy to remove of the O-ring would exclude from the groove if the O-ring should be replaced or if the vacuum line should be removed from the filling tube,

The outer diameter of the O-ring must correspond to the diameter refer to the vacuum tube, so that the previously described closing of the lower end of the vacuum tube by the O-ring is possible when the vacuum tube is in its normal deep sliding position on the fill tube. The vacuum tube 364 will usually made as large as possible in its outside diameter while still keeping a clearance from the sides of the container into which it is introduced and taking into account the usual tolerances in the opening of the container which is determined by the relevant industry and for this purpose the O-ring 342 is preferably dimensioned so that its outer diameter, measured with the O-ring in the groove and in the stretched state, has a value between the The inner and outer diameter of the vacuum tube is «, The O-ring, dimensioned in this way and arranged on the filling tube, works also so that the vacuum tube end is enveloped while the nozzle is being lowered into the filling position. This is useful because thereby protecting the sealing edge of the vacuum tube from possible damage in the event of incorrect alignment of the container and the nozzle is protected. Such damage must be avoided, as this reduces the sealing effect between the The O-ring and the vacuum tube will deteriorate and cause a malfunction The filling head portions of the nozzle 10 also include resilient, deformable disc-like portions 368 which are intended to seal the container with respect to the nozzle when this is in the filling position in the container. The disc

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- 30 -

or seal 368, which are usually made of an elastic soft Material such as rubber is drawn from vacuum tube 364 held and has a stiffening disk 370 on the rear part, which prevents the seal from deflecting becomes in the unsupported area while engaging the container. The underside of the disc 368 can be provided with a Teflon layer be coated in order to strengthen the protection against the effects of the products to be filled and / or the To reduce adhesion between the seal and the container when the nozzle is withdrawn therefrom.

The seal itself is frictionally engaged with vacuum tube 364 connected by O-rings or other connecting means which are arranged in suitable grooves in the bore of the seal and can be axially slidable on tube 364 to permit axial insertion of the vacuum tube into the container steer. The extent to which the tube is inserted into the container controls the height within the container up to which the Liquid is filled and therefore it is clear that the axial location of the seal 368 on the vacuum tube 364 is a critical one Factor is, and considerable accuracy and care is necessary to the exact fill level for each type of container to ensure «In order to facilitate the exact arrangement of the« seal on the vacuum tube, it is after a Another feature of the invention provided to use a special spacer tube 372 with the vacuum tube, the one Snap fit with the tube 364 and that when applied to the tube forms a stop or hold for the seal 368 The spacer tube 372 is preferably in the form of a longitudinally slotted C-shaped plastic tube, such as it is often used as a wear strip on conveyor guide rails is used and that has sufficient elasticity for easy application and removal by hand to enable. With the tube in place, the seal 368 is in an adjusted position on the vacuum tube opposite the lower free end of the tube, creating a

209827/0512 -31-

exact fit on the tube 364 is guaranteed and a corresponding Accuracy is in the length of the portion of the vacuum tube that is inserted into the container when it is presses against the seal in the filling layer.

A number of pipes of different pre-calculated lengths can be provided where containers of different heights are in one Filling machine must be handled so that when changing containers of any given height, spacer tubes which are suitable for these containers can easily be applied to the vacuum tube.

With these filling heads, the bottles are initially guided on the turntable along what is to be referred to as the front Side of the machine aligned vertically to one by the action of the feed screw and the guide star the corresponding nozzles, which when they are rotated through the table in raised non-obstructed positions for the incoming Containers are brought by the action of the cam roller 290, which rolls on the upper cam track 292c of the cam plate 292. The nozzles 10 are then in the filling position With respect to the container, the cam roller 290 is lowered along the upper cam track 292c of the cam plate 292 and slides downwardly on side 292b of the cam plate. If the bottles are properly aligned when the nozzle is lowered then the head portion of the fill tube 332 and the vacuum tube 364 are inserted into the container opening and moved to the point where the container contacts seal 368 as a unit, at which point the nozzle is still not fully lowered onto the rods as the cam roller 290 is above the ring 294 and consequently this penetrates Filling tube 332 further into the container, by sliding movement against the now fixed vacuum tube 364, whereby the O-ring 342 moves away from the end of the vacuum tube and the filling tube is opened for the filling process. At this point in time the liquid tank 84 is in a position on the column 80, the

»Increased 209827/05 12

is above the filling table 6 so that gravity allows the liquid to flow into the container and on which the vacuum pump 102 also operates, the air sucked from the container through vacuum line 364 and to the same extent as the liquid by means of gravity through the filling tube 332 and the openings 338 in the cone 336 is filled into the container. The air and liquid exchange in the container takes place until the container is filled to a level where the liquid closes the end of vacuum tube 364. When this happens the flow of liquid into the container is abruptly slowed and only such an amount of additional liquid will enter on the fill tube into the container as the air in the head of the container can be compressed to a point where there is an equilibrium between the pressure and the liquid and to replace the amount of liquid that is passed through the vacuum tube is withdrawn from the container. The filling of the container in the manner described is related to the rotation of the filling table in such a way that that the nozzle and the container have moved about 270-290 ° of the circumference of the table in the time required is for lowering the nozzle 10 from the upper to the lower or filling position and for the liquid around the container up to

* Fill to a level where there is equilibrium between container and fluid pressure. After the liquid has risen above the vacuum tube end and the flow of liquid in the container has been interrupted, the nozzle 10 is pulled out of the container by the cam roller 290, which is guided on the side 292a of the cam plate 292 and which is angled upwards in a rugged design as described on page 292b of the cam plate. With this retraction of the nozzle, the vacuum tube 364 remains on the container for the short time required for the O-ring 342 on the filling tube 332 to reach the head of the vacuum tube, with the

209827/0512 -33-

Tubes 332 and 364 are drawn out of the container as a unit when the nozzle unit is driven by the cam roller 290 slides along the cam plate 292.

The container is then free to be removed from the table as soon as the lowest part of the nozzle unit reaches the upper end of the Has left the container. But normally there is still a further movement of the container on the table between them Place and the position in which the containers enter the pockets of the discharge wheel. Usually a Travel of 10 - 20 ° intended for the container from the time the nozzle unit is withdrawn until the start of insertion into the discharge wheel, whereby a total path of the container from the point on the table at which it is below the The nozzle is aligned up to the point at which it reaches the discharge wheel of 280 - 310 °. Will still be the 5-10 ° added by the feed wheel into the filling position, the result is a total filling circle of 285-320 °.

When the nozzle fineness is withdrawn from the container, the liquid level in the container drops slightly due to the displacement of the conical part in the head of the liquid tube, so that the final liquid level in the container is slightly below the initial filling level. The liquid waste is from the container and container essentially constant, so that it is only necessary, in order to obtain a final, desired height of the liquid level in any particular container, to determine the axial position of the seal on the vacuum tube, which affects the filling level, for these containers so that the final desired height the liquid is reached when the cone is fully withdrawn from the container. When this position is determined, a set of spacer tubes of this length may be prepared, so that the tubes can be used with the nozzles in the handling of these containers a) to determine the filling height _o

20982 7/0512

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A modification of this type of nozzle, which is shown in FIGS. 11a 11d is shown, allows an exact or precise control of the level in the container. In this version is the normal head modified so that a flue pipe 374 of relatively small diameter in the center of the filler pipe 326 is provided. This flue pipe has an angled upper portion 376 which thus extends through the fill pipe and is flush with the wall so that a free and open connection between the pipe 374 and the annular gap "is created between the liquid and vacuum pipe.

The lower end of the exhaust pipe 374 is held axially in the lower end of the filling pipe by a modified one Closure 378, which has an elongated head 380 of relatively small diameter, which extends the tube to a desired one Length under the filling tube »

The tube 374 is designed so that it draws liquid from the container above a certain level Completion of the filling process, and when the nozzle unit is partially is pulled out of the container, and this requires an additional cam plate to put the nozzles in an intermediate position. to raise the intermediate position at the time of the filling process »" This cam track, which is designated by 382, is vertical adjustable over and from the ring 394 in a leading position to the cam plate 392 with respect to the direction of rotation of the Filling machine is arranged by a pair of threaded rods 384 which are held in the ring by means of conventional bearings and which screw into a pair of corresponding brackets 386 on each side of plate 382. One of these Rods 384 has a gear 388 which meshes with a 90 ° rotated gear 390 which has a shaft 392 at the end is rotatably mounted in a bracket 394 which is fixedly arranged on the ring. A hand wheel 396 is on the outer end of the shaft for driving the gearwheels 288 and 290 in order, by means of the chain 398, to pass between the lower ends of the rods

209827/0512

a screwing movement is provided between the brackets 386 and to enable the rods to enable the additional cam plate to be raised or lowered accordingly. Together with the additional cam plate, a pair of adjustable links 400 are provided to provide a soft Transitional movement of the cam roller from the ring 294 to the additional cam track 382 and from this to the guide side of the cam track 292 when the nozzle unit rotates the table in and through this area of the cam track 382 is moved · One end of a first link 400 is on the guide side of the additional cam plate 382 attached by a bolt 402, which sits in an adjusting carriage 404 in the backdrop, while the other end of this Link is connected to the inside of the ring by means of a further bolt 402, the ring being cut out, to accommodate the end of the gate so that the cam roller softly from the ring to the upper part of the additional cam track is directed. The other gate 400 is between the adjacent sides of the cam plate 292 and the cam plate 282 fastened by bolts 402 to ensure uninterrupted tracking of the cam roller between the upper side of the additional To enable cam track and along track 292a of the cam plate. The additional cam track 382 is adjusted to the machine or arranged vertically so that the exhaust pipe 374 the nozzle unit is partially withdrawn after the liquid is up to a level and above that at which the vacuum tube ends, has increased, whereby such an additional amount of liquid is withdrawn through the tube from the container wverden, which lowers the liquid level in the container to an exact desired position. It's essential for this withdrawal process that the liquid and vacuum pipes are closed by the O-ring 342 in the plug 378, and also ate the container seal 368 from the container opening is dissolved or lifted, whereby it is achieved that above the liquid level in the container atmospheric pressure

209827/0512 _ ₃₆ _

prevails and it is understandable that the head 380 of the shut-off part 378 must have a sufficient axial length to to allow closure of the nozzle and the lifting of the seals from the container during retraction of the Head 380 from the normal axial position in the container in an intermediate position by the cooperation described above the additional cam track 382 and the cam roller 290. With this drainage pipe, the liquid level in the loading * container set at a height just below the lower one End of the head 378 lies. This is due to the "water jumping" effect together and the exact distance of the fill level from the head depends on the diameter of the exhaust pipe undcter The level of vacuum in the container. This effect can be reduced when the bottom of the head has an internal enlargement, reducing the flow rate of the Air is decreased.

When the vent tube is used, the spacer tube 372 for the seal 368 has a length that is somewhat reduced is than that which would normally be used, so that a filling of the container up to a height above the | i is finally secured when the filling tube and desired the vacuum tube is in the partially retracted or raised position in the container. This is said to be too low Avoid filling the container in order to ensure a constant filling level from container to container when using the modified Secure nozzles.

This control of the liquid level is somewhat at the expense of the output capacity of the filling machine, since it is low Time span and cam track length is required for the drop in the liquid level in the container by the Drain pipe to secure the necessary amount. An example of this effect is the insertion of an additional cam track has reference to a current example at

209827/051 2

- 37 -

in which the additional cam track had an angular length of approximately 45 ° and the filling period was measured from the time at which the seal came into engagement with the container and caused a seal to the time at which the seal was removed from the container, filling time was 17 % less than that achieved with a standard head. The exhaust pipe 374 has a secondary advantage in that it yields a positive influencing of the dripping, during withdrawal from the container and this prevents a committee of labels, product waste and unsightly pack etc _o occurs, characterized in that the liquid external to the the container is dripping. On the other hand, a loss of vacuum occurs in this optional embodiment through the nozzle, while the part of the filling period, in which the nozzle in the retracted position in the filling table are _o A weitrer vacuum loss occurs when a defect in the feed with containers on the filling table is present. Therefore, when using these filling heads, it is necessary that a vacuum pump be used which has a capacity which is greater than normally necessary. However, it is also possible that a vacuum control system according to US Pat. No. 2,785,341 is used with these heads, whereby the vacuum loss is avoided under the above-mentioned circumstances. Such a control mechanism can be used in addition to or instead of the increased capacity of the vacuum pump »

The second, so-called open version of the filling heads is shown in FIGS. These heads instruct upper housing 406, a reversible vacuum body 408 axially attached to the lower end of the housing and a Fill tube 410 axially attached to the lower end of the vacuum body. The housing 406 corresponds in structure the housing 326, of the aforementioned type and may

209827/0512 -38-

The same part as used _therein. Housing 406 is attached to support plate 288 of frame 280 in the same manner as housing 326 and as it is by a side connector and a resilient C-clamp on one of the flexible fluid lines 46 of the distributor connected. The vacuum body 408 has a tubular construction and is provided at its upper end with a beveled flange 412 which is connected to a corresponding flange at the lower end of the housing 406 by another C-clamp, with an O-ring between the contacting ones Faces of the flanges are provided to provide a liquid seal when the C-clamp is closed. The lower end of the vacuum body 408 has a similar flange 414 which is coupled by a further elastic C-clamp to a flange 416 at one end of a locking ring 418 which is connected to the upper end of the filling tube 410, with another there O-ring is provided between the flanges to seal the vacuum body against the iron ring and the filling tube. The vacuum body has a core 420 around the middle between the ends, from which a number of axial passages 422 are formed, which allow a flow of liquid from the housing 406 to the filling tube 410. The core also has a central axial blind bore 424 which is connected by a radial passage 426 to a nipple-like connection 428 on one side of the vacuum body and also to the vacuum tube 430 which extends axially through the filler tube. The tube 430 is held by the core by a tubular connector 432 in the end of the vacuum tube which is in the upper end of the passage by means of a spider 434 which is placed inside the vacuum body at the connection of the body with the locking ring of the liquid pipe, held. The spider, pierced as shown at 436 to permit a plurality of fluid flows, rests on an inner shoulder 438 provided in the top of a locking ring 418,

* upper

209827/0512 -39-

with the tubular part itself being in the reamed center of the spider. An 0-ring 440 is in an outer groove at the upper end of the connection 432 and seals it against the passage.

The connector 428 is configured to connect to one of the flexible vacuum lines 52 extending from the manifold 30 can be connected by means of a C-clamp that is also used elsewhere. The vacuum tube extends straight to below the lower end of the filling tube and has an annular closure part 442, which is used to close the End of the filling tube under a number of relatively small diameter openings 444 in the head of the filling tube As with the previously described filling head, this filling head also has a seal 466 made of rubber or other soft or pliable material on the filling tube with a reinforcement washer to seal the container when the head is lowered to the filling position. The seal is axially fixed to the pipe to the desired vertical To create distance between the seal and the open head of the vacuum tube and thus a desired fill level in the container through a slotted elastic tube 448 that can snap open for easy assembly and disassembly *

With this type of filling head, the filling tube is open to the flow of liquid at all times and therefore it is necessary that this Kind of only used for vacuum filling, as any gravity helps for the liquid to lead to an outflow through the head leads, regardless of whether this is to be filled in a container or not · To further a reflux of the liquid through the Liquid lines and the possible entry of air into these lines during the withdrawal of the nozzles from the To prevent the container after filling is complete, it is necessary that the liquid supply line 46 each one Has shut-off valve or other, only a flow in one direction allowing control elements.

209827/0512

- 40 -

In the embodiment shown, these shut-off valves are denoted by 450 and between the nipples 48 of the distributor and arranged at the ends of the liquid supply lines. The valve 450 has an annular housing 452 with a beveled flange 454 at one end, secured by a C-clamp connected to the end of outlet nipple 48 · The opposite end of the housing 452 receives a locking ring 456 with a flange 458, which by means of a further C-clamp is connected to the previously described connector 60 at the end of the corresponding fluid line 46 · The Fluid flow into the valve 450 is controlled by a ball 460 which is located inside the housing over an annular Ball seat 462 made of Teflon or a similar material is arranged, which has an associated lock 464 the is held in an annular groove 466. The ball 460 is free to lift off the seat 462 by one To allow flow in one direction from the distribution nipple to the supply line, and when lifted it moves between three guide pins 468, which are arranged on the locking ring 456 along the outer circumference of the inside and is in the Upward movement within the pins is limited by a retaining pin 470 which is passed across the locking ring.

From time to time, for example when cleaning or rinsing the liquid lines 46, it is expedient to do the opposite To generate fluid flow in the conduits and outlet nipples, valve 450 further includes a for this purpose Push rod 472, which is slidably arranged in one side of the valve, for optionally pressing against the ball 400. This Push rod is held in a closed sleeve-like part, which is opposite the valve by an O-ring or the like is sealed and which is open at the outer end to release the end of the push rod for actuation, to limit the outward movement by the tension of a coaxially arranged spring around the pressure rod

209827/0512

- 4 1 -

is generated, rib-like projections 476 are provided on the push rod _e When the push rod is pushed fully into the sleeve 476, it causes the ball to lift, so that, as desired, fluid can flow in the opposite direction through the valve. The ball falls back into the seat, allowing fluid control when the push rod is released and recedes under spring pressure.

The operation of this nozzle is as follows, The tank 84 is set on the vertical column 80 of the stand 78 at such a height that the liquid level in the The tank is below the filling table, so that the filling takes place solely through the effect of the vacuum guided along the front of the machine as previously mentioned and the nozzles are in the lowered position through brought the interaction of the cam track 292 and the cam roller. The air that will be in the container sucked through the vacuum line and when the pressure in the container has been lowered to a certain level below the atmospheric pressure (depending on the type of container) the liquid begins to flow through the nozzle into the container. The evacuation of air through the vacuum tube and the inflow of the liquid continues until the liquid is in the container increases and closes the end of the vacuum tube. At this point in time, liquid continues to flow into the container, but to a noticeably lesser extent while the nozzles can and will remain in the filling position for an additional time until the cam roller, the is connected to the filling tube, by means of the cam track the nozzle is withdrawn from the container, whereby the inflowed liquid is withdrawn from the container through the vacuum tube and the liquid level essentially with the end of the vacuum tube coincides. During this withdrawal or lifting of the

- 42 209827/0512

The nozzle closes the liquid in the filling openings due to the surface tension of the tube, and the openings remain closed until the nozzle is sunk back into a container and the necessary vacuum has been generated by the vacuum tube is. The valves provided in the liquid line prevent the liquid from flowing back and it is trapped in the nozzle when withdrawn from the container. The liquid lines and nozzle units are on this Way not only kept free of unwanted air, but) also when another filling period begins, no initial one occurs Surgeon of the liquid and doing this can cause the unwanted splash and turbulence of the liquid to be prevented at the beginning of the filling «

Furthermore, it is achieved with these heads that in the absence of a container on the table when the nozzles are lowered into the filling position, there is no loss of liquid, since under these circumstances the required vacuum for the liquid flow is not present. However, there is a vacuum loss in the absence of containers and even if the containers are there during the time in which the nozzle unit is lifted from the container.This vacuum loss, however, is normally of little or no influence, since a nominal pressure in the invention of Z ₀ B ₀ 5 - 10 cm Hg is used and it is usually easier to allow for this small loss than to incorporate valves.

This type of filling head is sometimes better suited than the other type for filling containers that have a limited capacity Have neck formation, in particular due to the central arrangement of the vacuum tube in the nozzle and the projection of the Vacuum tube from the head of the filling tube can remove the filling by a somewhat reduced penetration of the nozzle into the neck of the container compared to the closed filling pipe .. For this reason * these filling heads are also preferable for containers,

209827/0512
* are - 43 -

which require an unusual fill level

The filling machine according to the invention is designed so that further safety measures are possible, in particular to protect the nozzle from damage in the event that that ZoBo took a bottle from the seal when pulling back the nozzle is taken along · By uncoupling the discharge wheel coupling a remedy can be found here, since the bottle under these circumstances the middle guide plate strips and then clamps. However, the coupling cannot normally be designed to be so sensitive that it is bent of the pipe is prevented under these circumstances and it is therefore advisable to use one of the following options One of these possibilities has the form of the centering bell mechanism 480 which is also used for initial alignment the nozzle unit and the bottles to help when they are moved onto the table by the feed wheel. To this one Mechanism to be able to attach it is necessary that the frame have a slightly larger radial extension and a increased width or girth than normal, but other than these changes no further change to the frame is required is. The modified retainer plate 482 supports the mechanism for vertical sliding movement through sleeve-like bearings 484 the radially outer end of the plate along one side and a guide or groove 486 in a same radial position but on the other side opposite the sleeve. The centering mechanism includes a pair of elongated rods 488 in the bearing sleeves 484 and the groove 486, which are parallel spaced apart by a dowel 490 on the upper ends of the rods and supported by a rectangular plate 492 at the lower ends of the rods. The centering bell 494 is in a relatively large opening in the center of the plate 492 is held by a pair of spring-loaded push rods 498 which are in suitable Openings are provided in opposite sides of the plate. The bell has an upper part 500, the

209827/0512
♦ slot - 44 -

extends upward through the openings and the outside is beveled towards the upper end so that the bell as it is guided into the opening, under increasing Pressure of the spring-loaded push rods is kept acting on this beveled part. The bell is 480 firmly in the plate 492 when pushed all the way into the opening 492 is under the. Engaging the push rods 498 in a couple of notches 502 in the opposite sides are provided, wherein the bell can be rotated to insert the push rods into the notches. The push rods have a protrusion on the inside for receiving the inside of the springs 504 and the push rod openings are closed on their outer sides by a disk 506 or the like to form a support for the outer end of the springs, creating the desired spring action on the push rods when inserting the bell into Plate is made possible.

The main part of the bell 494 is of annular construction, with an outer cylindrical rim 508 and a beveled portion 510 between the rim and the upper part, which is sized to grip the bottle under the crown and along the neck as the filling tube enters the lower one or filling position is lowered. The bottle itself must extend through the bell for the seal with the Bottle mouth can come into contact during the filling period and around a centering without affecting the normal interaction To secure between bottle and nozzle, a special bell is provided for each different container and the bells can vary depending on how they are for the particular one Containers are used, must be changed. This change is relatively easy due to the arrangement and described above it is only necessary to turn the bell 494 in the plate 492 so that the push rods disengage from the notches, to remove it from the plate.

209827/0512 -45-

The raising and lowering of the centering mechanism 480 can be controlled independently of the raising and lowering of the nozzle units and it is desirable that the bell be in a lowered position during retraction of the nozzle from the bottle is held at the end of the filling period to avoid the possibility of the bottle sticking to the seal and to prevent lifting too. To this end, the upper bracket 490 has one or more cam rollers on the rods 480 on, along the radially outer side of the bracket 490 and the filling machine can with an additional cam track 514 may be provided along the discharge portion of the table for engagement with this roller at the time the Cam roller 290 on the frame together with cam track 292 causes the nozzle unit to be withdrawn from the bottle. This additional cam track can also be provided with a beveled guide in order to lift the centering mechanism from the bottle after the momentary hold or - if desired - can also lift the nozzle unit can be used to lift the mechanism. Another An additional device can be built into the filling machine to prevent the nozzle unit from bending to create when a bottle with this is lifted on

/and

End of the filling process, 'has the shape of a container indicator arm 516, which extends horizontally along the discharge part of the Filling machine is arranged on a vertical support 518 to which an actuating arm 520 is attached. The prop 518 is mounted in a stand 522 so that the arm can swing in a horizontal plane in contact with a bottle, thereby causing corresponding rotation of the post in the stand and movement of the actuator arm 520 in conjunction with the trip arm 524 of the limit switch 526 is effected. The switch is connected to the machine in such a way that the circuit will be broken if the switch lever on the trip arm is operated will. The indicator arm 516 is adjusted on the support 518 so that

20982 7/0512 -46-

that he usually walks over the bottle that is from the table is moved into the discharge wheel and at the same time passes under the nozzle units that are being withdrawn from the bottle «Therefore, under normal regular conditions, the indicator arm remains in the Rest position and the actuating arm 520 is free of the trigger arm 524 of the limit switch 526. However, if a Bottle is lifted off the table together with the nozzle, then the display arm is touched by the bottle and swivels thereby from the rest position. In this case, the limit switch 526 is triggered and the machine turns on automatically stopped before any damage occurs to the nozzle that has not detached from the bottle can ο

Another modification to eliminate the problems that occur when the bottle with the nozzle unit while of the withdrawal, provides that a special break fastening of the filling head on the support plate of the frame. One of these break attachments is shown in FIG. 19, the filling head being an upper one Housing 528 has a recess for receiving a plastic pin 530 on the upper side. This cone has a vertically extending threaded stud-like protrusion 532 extending vertically through the support plate 288 is guided, and the nozzle unit is fastened to the plate via a nut 534. As a fracture zone a neck portion 536 with a significantly reduced diameter is provided in the pin 530, which can be used in the event of a lateral load of the filling head of the nozzle unit breaks, but at the same time it has high strength and load-bearing capacity for has direct axial forces on the head. With this pin in the filling head, all bending forces are applied to the head, which can occur, for example, when the bottle adheres to the nozzle unit when it is pulled out, and when

209827/0512 - 47 -

Entering the drive wheel in this elevated position causes the neck to break and thereby relieve the load on the filling head.

The container filling machine described here contains a large number of special features and advantages that were not previously described in These devices were used and, when they are used individually or together, the machine to one wide range of different designs, sizes and shapes of the containers and liquids also different Allow properties to be adjusted. This enables the filling machine to do so, either in a vacuum or by gravity or combined vacuum / gravity mode of operation and still allows the machine to be easily operated from one Change the filling technique to the other.

The arrangement of the liquid and air or vacuum line in and between the nozzles of the liquid and vacuum sources and the overflow tank is particularly useful both from the standpoint of producing extremely smooth, relatively turbulence-free handling of the liquid during filling, as well as from the standpoint of minimal air-liquid mixing and air absorption by the liquid into the overflow or Reflux lines while maintaining a good separation between the liquid and air or gas dissolved in it are done.

Furthermore, there is a new arrangement in the nozzle unit to ensure a particularly accurate filling of the container up to one predetermined or desired height and to control the dripping of liquid during retraction of the nozzle has been created from the container.

These features result together with the other features mentioned according to the invention, which relate to the possibility of cleaning the various parts in contact with the Liquid come in and on the safety devices and

209827/0512

- 48 -

optional devices to protect the machine from damage in the event of malfunctions or other irregularities relate to a very efficient, convenient filling machine that accurately fills containers over fill periods to maintain enables.

- Claims - 49 -

209827/051 2

Claims (1)

Patent claims: Μ Λ Container filling machine for liquids, which has a horizontally arranged, rotatable table for receiving the containers during filling, and in which a number of radially extending filling heads are slidably arranged above the table between a raised inactive position towards the containers and a lowered active position , and means for feeding the liquid into the filling heads, characterized in that a liquid distributor (30) is arranged in the center of the turntable, that a number of flexible lines (46) between the distributor (30) and the corresponding filling heads for feeding the Liquid are provided in the container during the filling process, that the lines (46) are angled upwards from the distributor (30) to the filling heads and that the distributor acts as a sump into which all the lines flow out when the machine is emptied of liquid. 2, container filling machine according to claim 1, characterized in that that the liquid supply tank (78) is arranged elevated, that between the tank (78) vertical lines (76, 90) are provided for supplying the liquid that the lines a first vertical line (90), which with the bottom of the tank (78) and a second vertical conduit (76) connected to the bottom of the manifold (30) and that a line is arranged between the first and second lines such that a single low point between the tank (78) and the distributor (30) is formed into which all liquid flows out during emptying «, 3ο Container filling machine for liquids one of them horizontal arranged, rotatable table for receiving the container 209827/0512 -50- during filling, and in which a number of radially extending filling heads above the table slidably disposed between a raised inactive position towards the containers and a lowered active position are and means for feeding the liquid into the filling heads, characterized in that a distributor (28) is arranged in the middle of the filling table below the filling heads that the distributor (28) through a horizontal plate (40) in a lower liquid chamber (30) which is connected to a liquid source and an upper vacuum chamber (32) connected to a vacuum source is partitioned that a pair is more flexible Lines (46, 52) are connected to each of the filling heads, one of these lines (46) to the liquid chamber (30) of the manifold (28) and the other (52) to the vacuum chamber (32) is connected that the lines (46, 52) angled upwards from the manifold to the filling heads run in such a way that the lines flow out into the distributor when emptying. 4. Container filling machine according to claim 3, characterized in that for feeding liquid into the filling heads a first liquid line (62) is provided which is vertically in direct connection with the distributor base is attached to the liquid chamber (30), and a second liquid line (76) at the lower end of the Line (62) is fixed and is inclined to the horizontal at one end so that the liquid, the flows from the flexible line (46) into the distributor (30), through the line (62) into the line (76) the inclined end flows out, and that an air and liquid separation tank (78, 79) for collecting the liquid and Air, which passes through the vacuum side of the filling machine during the filling of the container, is provided that a 209827/0512 Vacuum line (92) is connected to the tank (84) and the top of the manifold and the vacuum chamber (32) that a return line (112) is provided vertically within the first liquid line (62), which at one end through the liquid chamber with the vacuum chamber (32) is connected, that a reflux line (128) at the lower end of the reflux line (112) is attached inclined to the horizontal at one end in such a way that the liquid from the flexible line (52) through the vacuum chamber (32) and through the reflux line (112, 128) drains into the inclined end _o 5. Container filling machine according to claim 4, characterized in that that the horizontal support surface (40) of the manifold is conical and towards a central opening is inclined, and that the return line (112) is connected to the vacuum chamber (32) through the opening. 6. Filling head for vacuum filling machines with a housing for Installation in the machine and a connection for the liquid inlet line, the housing being opened internally for connection of the connector to the lower end of the housing, a fluid tube releasably connected to the lower end of the housing and extending axially therethrough to To form an internal passage for the liquid to the containers, a cylindrical valve body concentrically around arranged the liquid line and connected to a connection for the vacuum line, this valve body opened internally for connection of the connector to the lower end of the body, a vacuum tube releasably attached to the lower End of the valve body is arranged and extends axially therethrough, surrounding the first tube and thus forms a passage for air flow from the container and wherein an intermediate piece is provided for deflecting the flow of liquid and air, characterized in that a second cylindrical valve body (408) with the lower end 209827/0512 of the housing (406) is connected to the removal of the liquid pipe from the fact that this valve body (408) has a side connection (428) for the vacuum line, that a valve core (420) with a central blind hole (424) which extends against the lower end of the Body opens, it is provided that an opening (426) extends radially from the recess (424) to the side port (428) for connecting the port (424) to the vacuum line and that a number of openings (422) through the core (420 ) and are provided concentrically to the recess (424) that the valve body (408) is open on both sides of the core (420), that a vacuum tube (430) is arranged axially and axially in the recess (424) of the core (420) protrudes from the lower end of the valve body (408), thereby forming a passage for the air from the container, and that a liquid conduit (410) is disposed axially at the lower end of the valve body (408) and coaxially with the vacuum tube (430) u nd axially protrudes from the lower end of the valve body (408) by φ. with the vacuum tube (430) to form an external passage for the flow of liquid into the container. 7ο filling head according to claim 6, characterized in that the lower end of the valve body (408) and the corresponding End of the liquid pipe (410) have flanges (414,416) and that an elastic resilient clamping ring which is open at the end is provided which has an inner groove for receiving it which has flanges. 8 _β filling head for container filling machines, characterized in that a pair of coaxially arranged tubes are provided which form separate paths for the liquid in the container and for the run out of the container, that the outer tube is axially slidable to the inner tube, that the lower end of the inner tube has a shut-off part in the tube that the inner - 53 20982 7/0512 re pipe above the shut-off part to the annular gap between the inner and outer pipe is opened that the Shut-off part protrudes axially from the lower end of the inner tube and has radially enlarged end parts between form an annular groove that an annular elastic seal is arranged in the annular groove and extends radially to seal the lower end of the outer tube when in the lower position of the axial sliding movement with respect to the inner tube, thereby closing both tubes and that the seal has an inside diameter that is smaller than the diameter of the groove «, 9 · Filling head according to claim 8, characterized in that the outer diameter of the elastic seal of the annular groove in the area between the inner and outer diameter of the outer tube so that the outer tube forms the radially outer extension of the lower end of the filling head o Container filling machine for combined gravity / vacuum filling and for vacuum filling with a rotatable filling table for receiving the containers during filling, one Number of radially arranged filling heads, which are above the table between an elevated inactive position to the containers and a lowered filling position, characterized by a distributor in the middle of the table inside is divided into a liquid chamber and a separate vacuum chamber, one connected to the liquid chamber of the manifold Liquid tank that is adjustable in height between an elevated position to the filling heads for gravity / vacuum filling the container and a low position to the heads for the vacuum filling, a vacuum source with connected to the manifold vacuum chamber, a set of flexible lines for each filling head with a first line between head and liquid chamber and a second line between head and vacuum chamber and through a frame for each 209827/0512 - 54 - Filling head and a first series of filling heads of the open Made for vacuum filling and an interchangeable second series of closed heads for the gravity / vacuum filling of the containers. 11. Container filling machine according to claim 10, characterized in that that the first and second filling heads have identical housings and that the heads in! two cases by means of of the housing are attached to the frame, so that when changing from the gravity ZVakuumfüll on the vacuum filling Housing remain on the frame 12. Container filling machine according to claim 11, characterized in that that the housing is connected to one of the flexible lines of each separate set. 13. Container filling machine according to claim 12, characterized in that the flexible line which is connected to the housing comes from the liquid chamber of the distributor, and that with a closed filling head an inner tube is arranged axially at the lower end of the housing as a unit to form a passage in the head for the liquid to the container, and an outer tube fcoaxially supported on the inner tube by a cylindrical valve that is provided for connection to the flexible line from the vacuum chamber of the manifold to provide an outer passage in the head for to form the air from the container, and that with an open filling head as a unit which is interchangeable with the closed filling head, a cylindrical valve body is provided which is attached to the housing and the one connection for the flexible line from the vacuum chamber of the distributor comprises that the valve body has a valve core, which with a Blindbo Guide is provided which is open radially to the connection, and a number of axially extending passages vm the bore 209827/0512 -55- to connect the ends of the valve body together through the valve core that an inner tube axially in the bore of the Valve core is disposed and extends axially from the lower end of the valve body to an inner passage in the head to provide the air from the container, and that an outer tube axially attached to the lower end of the valve body and extending axially thereto, surrounding the inner tube, about an outer passage for the liquid to form the container 14. Filling head for container filling machines for constant filling, characterized in that a liquid pipe and a discharge pipe coaxially one inside the other and to be received as a unit in the Upper end of the container are provided when the head and container are in the filling position that a seal is on the outer tube is provided for sealing the container in the filling position, that the tubes work together in such a way that a liquid flow into the container takes place through an air-liquid exchange in the container that the liquid flow in the container is interrupted when the liquid in the container has risen to a height that closes the flue pipe, so that the container seal is axially displaceable on the pipe is to adjust the relative axial position of the tubes in the container so that the Gewür & hte filling level in the Container is adjustable, and that means for adjusting the seal in a given axial position which corresponds to the filling level are provided on the tube, and that a number of such means for the different containers that are to Filling are provided, and that this means for adjusting the different axial positions of the container seal are provided on the outer tube. 15. Filling head according to claim 14, characterized in that these means have a longitudinally slotted tubular structure and axis consist of a resilient flexible material for attaching by snapping onto the outer tube. 209827/05 1? 16, container filling machine with rotatably attached filling head and a horizontal filling table for receiving the containers during filling and with a number of separate radially filling heads arranged above the table, which between a raised inactive position to the containers and a lowered filling position are vertically displaceable and relative to the reception of containers at a first circumferential position to the filling heads and for moving the containers through the filling circle and with a discharge station at a second circumferential position relative to the filling heads and means for controlling the vertical sliding movement of the filling heads during rotation, characterized in that a cam roller is connected to each filling head, that a cam plate extending fixedly along the outer periphery of the filling head assembly and relatively between the feed and discharge stations, it is provided that this cam plate has opposite vertical sides and an upper horizontal side between has these, which cooperate with the cam rollers of the filling heads to the filling heads in a filling layer along the Lower the infeed station, and into a raised inactive position along the discharge station during rotation in the fe filling circle to move, and that a ring horizontally above the The table is arranged concentrically to the center to limit the downward movement of the cam rollers and that the ring is arranged so that it allows free movement of the filling heads in the low position with respect to the container below the influence of the cam plate, while an unlimited lowering can be prevented in the absence of a container under the head is. 17. Container filling machine according to claim 16, characterized gekennzeicnnet, that the ring is arranged vertically adjustable in the machine and that a screw mechanism is provided which is connected to a hand-operated chain and sprockets, 209827/0 5 1? - 57 - about the lowered filling position of the filling heads for each Set container « 18. Container filling machine according to claim 17, characterized in that that the cam plate is arranged vertically adjustable in the machine, and that a second screw mechanism is provided, which is connected to a hand-operated chain and sprockets to the raised inactive position adjust the filling heads vertically for each container, 19 · Vacuum container filling machine with a rotating filling table for receiving the container during filling, a number of separate filling heads radially above the table, which between a raised inactive position to the containers and a lowered filling position are movable, characterized in that, that the filling heads have an inner liquid tube and an outer vacuum tube axially slidable in the liquid tube, a valve at the lower end of the liquid pipe between the lower end of the liquid and vacuum pipe for control the opening and closing of the tubes comprises that this valve closes the tubes when the vacuum tube is lowered in a first axial sliding position on the liquid pipe is that a seal is provided on the vacuum pipe, which the container seals when the filling heads are lowered into the filling position that the seal on the container during the further Lowering of the filling heads in the container and acts during the lifting of the heads from the filling position that loosen the valve at the end of the vacuum tube to open the liquid and vacuum tubes and close the vacuum tube again, that a second vacuum tube is provided centrally in the liquid tube is the top of which extends through the side of the liquid pipe to the vacuum tube opens that the second vacuum tube has an elongated head extending from the liquid tube and the vacuum tube to an open passage 209827/0512 -58- to create between the vacuum tube and the containers when the end of the vacuum tube is closed by the valve during the initial lifting of the filling head, and that Means for holding the filling head in a partially raised position relative to the container are provided to feed the liquid in the containers above the end of the expansion of the second vacuum tube from the containers. 20 · Vacuum container filling machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the up and down movement of the filling heads is controllable by the interaction between a mock roller on each filling head and an almost arranged mocking plate, that for holding the filling heads in a partially raised position to the containers an additional cam plate is provided in the filling machine in a leading position with respect to the rotation of the machine to the main cam plate, with a vertical path for moving the cam roller of the filling heads from the lower filling position to a partially raised position and a horizontal track for holding the filling heads in the partially · raised position »during φ. «In a predetermined path of the filling heads in the filling kraia. 21. Vakuuabahlltarfullaaaohina according to claim 2O _9, characterized in that the additional cam plate is vertically adjustable by means of a screw mechanism connected to a hand-operated chain and sprockets in order to adjust the partially raised position of the filling heads to the containers depending on the filling level. 22 · Vacuum container filling machine according to claim 21, characterized in that a ring which extends around the entire filling circle of the filling machine is provided above and concentrically to the filling table so that the ring forms a support for the cam roller of the filling head when it closes in the lower filling position the container is that a first adjustable connection for guiding the cam roller of the filling heads from the ring to the 209827/0512 - 59 - BADORiSfNAL additional cam plate and a second adjustable link for guiding the cam roller from the additional Cam plate is provided to the main cam plate «, 23. Vacuum container filling machine with a rotating filling table To receive the container during filling, a number of separate filling heads are arranged movably above the table for a movement between a circular inactive position to the containers and a lowered filling position, characterized in that the filling heads with an inner liquid pipe, an outer vacuum tube are provided axially slidable on the liquid tube, that a valve is provided at the lower end of the liquid tube for opening and closing the lower ends of the liquid tube and the vacuum tube, that the valve closes the tubes when the vacuum tube is lowered in a lower axial position The sliding position on the liquid pipe is that a seal for the container is provided on the vacuum tube when the filling heads are lowered into the filling position, that the seal acts on the container during the lowering of the filling heads from the partially to the fully lowered position to the Containers, and that the valve from the end of the vacuum raw res is released to open the liquid and vacuum tube for filling the container and while lifting the filling heads from the lower filling layer to a partially raised position so that the valve with the end of the vacuum tube comes into engagement to the liquid and To close vacuum tube that a second vacuum tube is centrally located in the liquid tube, that a bent upper end that opens through the side of the liquid tube to the vacuum tube is provided, that the second vacuum tube has an elongated lower head around an open passage to form between the container and the vacuum tube when the vacuum tube is closed by the valve when the filling head is partially raised and that means for holding the filling head in a partially raised position to the B- ^j - 2 0 9 8 2 7/0512
BATH Containers is provided to keep the liquid in the container can be withdrawn from the container above the level of the extended lower head of the second vacuum tube 24 ", filling head for container filling machines, characterized in that a pair of axially arranged tubes form separate passage paths in the head for the liquid into the container and for the air from the container, that the outer of the tubes is arranged to slide axially on the inner tube, that the lower ψ end of the inner tube can be closed by a shut-off part in the lower ends and above the shut-off part is opened to an annular gap between the inner and outer tube, that the shut-off part protrudes over the lower end of the inner tube and an intermediate annular groove comprises that in the groove an annular resilient seal is arranged which extends radially outwardly from the shut-off part for sealing with the lower end of the outer tube when this is in the lower position of sliding movement to the inner tube, whereby both tubes when they are so arranged to each other, are closed that the seal disengaged from the inner end of the outer tube can be brought when this is in the raised position of the axial sliding movement to the inner tube, whereby both tubes are opened, that the seal for holding the outer tube is provided axially in the inner tube, and has an inner diameter which is smaller than the annular groove is at its narrowest point so that the seal sits in tension on the shut-off member to prevent accidental removal of the seal from the groove by axial forces from the outer tube g 25β filling head according to claim 24, characterized in that the outer diameter of the elastic seal measured in the Anger is no larger than the outer diameter of the outer tube, 20982 7/0512 -61- 26o container filling machine with a filling head structure of the in a fixed base portion of rotation is arranged about a vertical axis through the center of the machine and wherein the The filling head assembly has a horizontal table for receiving the containers during filling and with the filling heads extending radially over and from the periphery of the filling table for vertical sliding movement between a raised one inactive position to the containers on the table and a lowered active position and being the base part of the Filling machine has a first fixed plate which cooperates with the filling heads in order to lift the individual heads from one to bring in a lowered position to initiate the filling circle in which the heads in a first circumferential position be rotated in the circle and with the heads from the lowered to a raised position to complete of the filling circle can be brought, the heads being movable into a second circumferential position in the circle, characterized in that that a centering bell device is connected to the filling heads for centering the heads in relation to the container, when the heads are movable to a lowered active position, that the device is vertically slidable is, and that a bell-like part is arranged so that it surrounds the head and is connected to it that the so is adapted to engage over and around the top of the container when the filling heads are in the lowered position are moved to center the container and the means for retaining the bell device in temporary engagement with the Container when the filling head is moved from the lowered active position to a raised inactive position at the end of the filling, are provided, in order to prevent the container from being lifted with, that these means comprise a second fixed cam plate, which is connected to the base part of the filling machine and a cam roller on one or each bell device - 62 - 209827/0512 27. Container filling machine according to claim 26, characterized in that that in the centering bell device provided with a central opening holding block for the bell comprises that the block has a pair of counteracting spring-loaded push rods which are in recesses extend in the block to hold the bell that the bell with an inwardly beveled end portion the one Has pair of diametrically arranged notches, is provided, and is insertable into the block from below progressively around the push rods into the block to push outwards by the clamping action of the beveled parts of the bell against the inner ones Ends of the push rods, which are placed in the notches to hold the bell when it is fully inserted into the block is, with its notches rotated in alignment with the push rods, and that the bell is removable from the block by rotating is, the push rods slide out of the notches, so that the bell can be exchanged for a different container diameter is 28 ο Container filling machine with a filling head structure which is arranged in a fixed block part for rotation about a vertical axis through the center of the machine and wherein the filling head structure has a horizontal table for receiving the containers during filling and in which the filling heads extend radially over and from the periphery of the filling table for vertical sliding movement between a raised inactive position to the containers on the table and a lowered active position and wherein the base part of the filling machine has a first fixed plate which cooperates with the filling heads to the individual heads of a raised to bring in a lowered position to initiate the filling circle when the heads are rotated in a first circumferential position in the circle and in which the heads wan the lowered are brought into a raised position to complete the filling circle when the heads are in a second circumferential position moved in the circle are characterized in that 209827/0512 - 63 - a switch to »turn off the filling machine when a container with the filling head in a raised inactive Position is raised at the end of the filling, it is provided that the switch has a vertical support in the Base plate is mounted near the second circumferential position in the filling circle that a horizontal rod on the vertical Support is arranged such that the free end between the upper end of the container and the filling head with the Container was engaged, slides along in moving the container a given distance after the second circumferential position In the filling circle and that means for displaying the rotational movement of the vertical support when pivoting the horizontal Rod from normal position when striping a container due to failure to separate from the filling head are provided at the end of the filling period. 209827/05 1? ι ^m · ♦ Blank page