GB1453216A - Container filling method and apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

1453216 Filling containers DEL MONTE CORP 29 May 1974 [4 June 1973] 23847/74 Heading B8C Apparatus for filling containers 17 with food comprises a vertical tube 41 through which the food moves under gravity as a column, and cut-off means 84 for recurrently cutting off portions of the column to provide measured masses for filling the containers 17. For canning spinach, the leaves are raised by a conveyer 58 and pass via a fluffer 44, comprising a rotor on oscillated levers 53, into a hopper 42, to build up the column in the tube 41, whose diameter corresponds with that of the cans 17. At the bottom of the tube 41, which is shaken on levers 46, 47, a measuring chamber 66 is defined by adjustable telescoped parts (66a), (66b), Fig. 6 (not shown), and portions of spinach, compressed under gravity, are released recurrently from the chamber 66 as the cutting blade 44 and a blocking plate 86, mounted out of phase on a common shaft 77, are rotated by an hydraulic motor 82. Injection of compressed air above each cut-off mass through a pipe (90), Fig. 6 (not shown), ensures its release from the chamber 66, the air being supplied in bursts which are synchronized with the cut-off means, and the cans 17 are supplied on a conveyer 93, stop fingers (97), Fig. 5 (not shown), being provided to position the cans 17 in turn below the tube 41. An alternative apparatus for canning cut peaches includes an input conveyer 124, Fig. 9, for processed peaches, a tank 126, means 128 for heating the peach/syrup slurry for sterilization, and a shaker feed device 122 for draining excess syrup back to the tank 126, the fluffer 44 being omitted.