GB2224014A - Container filling - Google Patents

Abstract

Apparatus for filling and lidding a container C comprises means for charging the container at a filling station and means for applying a lid to the container at the filling station. In one embodiment a container (C) at a filling station is stationary beneath a ringed pressure plate (32) whilst a filling nozzle (17), displaceable by a mechanism (18 to 21) lowers the nozzle through the ring pressure plate (32), charges the container (C) and retracts the nozzle (17). A mechanism (23 to 30) causes a vacuum element (22) to lift a lid (L) from a magazine (31) and displace the lid (L) to a position directly above the opening in the container. The vacuum element (22) releases the lid (L) and is retracted by the mechanism (23 to 30). The ring pressure plate (32) is then lowered to press the lid (L) into firm engagement with the container (C) and the plate (32) is then elevated to release the filled and lidded container. <IMAGE>

Description

"IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO CONTAINER FILLING ARRANEEMENTS" This invention relates to container filling arrangements and, more specifically, to arrangements for filling widenecked containers.

Containers are used for a multiplicity of purposes and may be separated into two general groups, so-called narrownecked containers which are generally closed by a cork or cap and relatively wide-necked containers which are closed by a lid.

A problem with conventional wide-necked filling arrangements resides in the fact that the lid is applied to the container at a location displaced from the container filling arrangement and, in being displaced from the filling arrangement to the lidding arrangement, container contents can slop out of the container whereupon the container contents are underweight and the exterior of the container, and any other container which contacts the spilt container contents, can be contaminated thereby.

The present invention seeks to provide apparatus for charging and lidding a container without spillage of the contents.

According to the present there is provided apparatus for filling and lidding a container comprising a filling station, means for charging the container with its contents at said filling station and means for applying a lid to said container at said filling station.

Preferably said means for charging the container comprise nozzle means arranged to deliver a pre-determined quantity of container contents to a container located at said filling station.

Preferably the apparatus includes container displacing means arranged to successively deliver empty containers for charging to said filling stations and to displace charged and lidded containers from said station.

Preferably the container displacing means is arranged to displace containers intermittently to and from said filling station, whereupon each container is stationary at said filling station whilst it is being charged and lidded, but in another arrangement said container displacing means may displace the containers at substantially uniform speed and the said means for charging the container and for lidding the container are displaceable in the direction of containerdisplacement at a speed commensurate with the rate of displacement of the containers.

Preferably the apparatus comprises means for displacing a lid from a lid supply source to a location directly above a charged container at said filling station and for releasing the displaced lid when said lid is directly located above the container opening.

Preferably also said lidding means include means for at least temporarily securing the lid on the container.

The invention will now be described further by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 shows, diagrammatically, a front view of a container filling and lidding arrangement in accordance with the invention, Fig. 2 shows a view of the apparatus of Fig. 1 in the direction of the arrow "A".

Fig. 3 shows, diagramnatically, a front view of a second container filling and lidding arrangement in accordance with the invention Fig. 4 shows, diagramnatically, a plan view of the arrangement shown in Fig. 3, Fig. 5 shows a plan view of a lid displacing means for the arrangement illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 and Fig. 6 shows an end view of the lid displacing means shown in Fig. 5.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 a plurality of containers C, between guide rails 11 and 12, are conveyed to a dead plate 13, by a conveyor 14. A sensor 15, arranged to sense the leading upper regions of a container C on the dead plate 13, disengages the drive to the conveyor 14 when actuated.

A second conveyor 16 is provided for conveying charged and lidded containers away from the filling station.

The conveyer 16 has a faster speed than that of conveyor 14 and conveyer 16 and may run continuously.

A filler nozzle 17 is located above the dead plate 13, the nozzle 17 can be of any conventional container- filling nozzle form and is connected to a supply source (not shown) for container contents by a flexible conduit 18. The nozzle 17 is supported by a frame 19, at its end remote from nozzle 17 the frame 19 is pivoted to a fixed part of the machine frame F by a pin 20, and a piston and cylinder arrangement 21, with its cylinder 21a secured to the fixed frame F and its actuating member 21b connected to the frame 19, serves to angularly displace the frame 19 and thereby nozzle 17, about the pivot pin 20.

A lidding arrangement comprises a vacuum element 22 mounted on a hollow rod 23, and that end of rod 23 remote from the vacuum element 22 constitutes the actuating rod for a piston and cylinder arrangement 24, the cylinder 25 of which is pivotally connected by a pin 26 to the machine frame F. A piston and cylinder arrangement 27 has its cylinder pivotally attached by a pin 28 to a fixed part of the machine frame F and its actuating member 29, pivotally attached to the cylinder 24, at a location remote from the pivot pin 26, by a pin 30.

The vacuum element 22 is in open communication with the bore of hollow rod 23 and said bore is connected by a flexible conduit 23a to a vacuum source (not shown).

A lid magazine 31 is located between the dead plate 13 and the piston and cylinder arrangement 24 and, as will be seen from Fig. 2, the stroke of the cylinder and piston arrangement 25 is such that the vacuum element 22 can be displaced between a location centrally above a container C on the dead plate 13 and the central axis of the lid magazine 31.

A ring pressure plate 32 is supported by arms 33 and 34 connected by a bridge 35 and is vertically displaceable by the action of a piston and cylinder arrangement 36.

The apparatus described above operates as follows: With the sensor 15 de-activated, indicative of the absence of a container C in the filling station, the piston and cylinder arrangement 36 is retracted so that the ring pressure plate 32 is elevated to its highest position, the piston and cylinder arrangement 21 is retracted so that the nozzle 17 is in its elevated position, the piston and cylinder arrangement 27 is retracted so that the axis of the hollow tube 23 is substantially horizontal, and the piston and cylinder arrangement 24 is retracted so that the vacuum element 22 is directly above the lid magazine 31.

When the sensor 15 is actuated by the leading regions of a container C at the filling station the drive to conveyor 14 is terminated so that the container C on dead plate 13 becomes stationary, the piston and cylinder arrangement 21 is extended to lower the nozzle 17 through the opening in pressure plate 32 ready for discharge into the container C on deadplate 13 and container contents are supplied to the duct 18 and through the nozzle 17 to charge the container C on deadplate 13.

Simultaneously with the actuation of piston and cylinder arrangement 21 the piston and cylinder arrangement 27 is extended so that the pressure element 22 contacts the uppermost lid L in the lid magazine 31, low pressure is extended to the hollow rod 23 and thereby to the vacuum element 22, via the flexible conduit 23a and the piston cylinder arrangement 27 is again actuated to elevate the piston and cylinder arrangement 24, rod 23 and the vacuum element 22 with the uppermost lid L of the lid magazine 31 retained therewith.

When the container C on deadplate 13 has been fully charged with container contents the piston and cylinder arrangement 24 is extended so that the vacuum element 22, with the lid attached thereto, is advanced between container C on deadplate 13 and the lid pressure plate 32. In its position most remote from cylinder arrangement 24, the vacuum element 22 is supporting the lid directly above the open neck of the container C on deadplate 13. At this point the piston cylinder arrangement 27 is extended to lower the piston and cylinder arrangement 25, rod 23, vacuum element 22 and the lid L supported thereby until said lid L is closing the neck of the container C, at which stage the vacuum to vacuum element 22 and rod 23 is terminated to release the lid L from vacuum element 22, and the piston and cylinder arrangement 27 is again actuated to elevate the piston and cylinder arrangement 24, rod 23 and vacuum element 22. The piston and cylinder arrangement 24 is then actuated to retract the vacuum element 22 until it is again located above the lid magazine 31.

With a lid L closing the container C on deadplate 13 the piston and cylinder arrangement 36 is extended to lower bridge 35, arms, 33 and 34 and the ring pressure plate 32, said pressure plate 32 is lowered onto the lid L on the container C and said lid L is driven home by the ring pressure plate 32.The piston and cylinder arrangement 36 is then retracted, to elevate the bridge 35, arms 33 and 34 and ring pressure plate 32, and, at this stage, the displacement of conveyor 14 is initiated to advance the containers C thereon, thereby to push the container CLi on deadplate 13 towards and onto the faster running conveyor 16, whereupon the charged and lidded container L CLi is displaced to the left (as viewed in Fig. 1.) As conveyor 16 has a speed greater than that of conveyor 14 a gap will open up between the filled and lidded container CL and the adjacent and empty container C being driven onto the deadplate 13 by conveyor 14, and as the trailing edge of the charged and lidded container CL loses engagement with the actuated member of sensor 15 said actuating member of sensor 15 drops into the path of the leading regions of the container C being pushed over the deadplate 13 by conveyor 14.

When sensor 15 is actuated by said leading regions of the container C the above defined cycle is repeated.

It will be noted that with the arrangement described above the container C is filled through the ring pressure plate 32 and said plate 32 can be arranged to apply a pressure to a lid L simply to ensure engagement of the lid L in the container neck or opening to prevent container contents slopping from the container when the container is being displaced and conveyed from the filling station to a final lid sealing mechanism, such as a lid sealer apparatus or, when the lid L is to be frictionally retained in the container neck the ring pressure plate 32 may drive the lid L home so that no further lidding operation are necessary.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6 containers C to be charged are successively displaced along a or conveyor or slideway 51, the containers C are successively displaced transversely by a pusher 52 actuated by displacing means, such as a piston and cylinder arrangement (not shown) and which pusher 52 locates each transversely displaced container C accurately in position on a platform 53.

Charged and lidded containers CL are displaced from the platform 53 to a conveyor or slideway 54 via a pusher 55, arranged for reciprocation by a piston and cylinder arrangement (not shown).

The platform 53 is supported by a piston and cylinder arrangement, generally indicated by reference numeral 56, and in a retracted condition for the piston and cylinder arrangement 56 the platform 53 is in a low condition, to allow containers C to be displaced by pusher 52 from the slideway 51 onto the platform 53. In an extended position the piston and cylinder arrangement 56 elevates the platform 53 and any container C thereon.

Six columns 57 support a roof plate 58 upon which a lid magazine 59 is supported. The lid magazine 59 is arranged to dispense lids from its lower regions via four scrolls 60 and each lid delivered by the scrolls 60 drops through an aperture 58a in roof plate 58 on to a lid delivery mechanism, generally indicated by reference numeral 61. The lid delivery mechanism 61 is slideably displaceable on a base 62 rigidly supported from roof plate 58.

A nozzle 63 is supported above roof plate 58 and is located to discharge container contents through an aperture 58b in roof plate 58 into a container C supported on platform 53. The nozzle 63 is supplied with container contents from a container contents source 64 and valve means (not illustrated) are be provided to control the discharge of container contents from nozzle 63.

The apparatus described thus far operates as follows: In the absence of a container C on platform 53, and with the piston and cylinder arrangement 56 retracted, the pusher 52 is actuated to push a container C from the slideway 51 onto the platform 53. Container contents are then supplied from source 64 through nozzle 63 and from the outlet of nozzle 63 the container contents fall through the aperture 58b in roof plate 58 into the container C supported on platform 53. When the container C on platform 53 has been fully charged with its contents the discharge from the nozzle 63 is terminated.

Whilst the container C on platform 53 is being charged with its contents the lid displacing mechanism 61 is in a retracted position (to the left as viewed in Fig. 3), the scrolls 60 are actuated to displace the lowennost lid in the stack 59 and to release said lid L so that it falls onto the lid displacing mechanism 61.

When the container C on platform 53 has been fully charged with its contents the lid displacing mechanism 61 is displaced towards the right (as viewed in Fig. 3) until the lid L delivered thereto is approximately above the neck of the container C on platform 53, the lid is delivered to the container C on platform 53, the lid delivering mechanism 61 is retracted (moved to the left as viewed in Fig. 3) and piston and cylinder arrangement 56 is then extended to elevate theplatform 53 and the container C thereon until the lid L delivered to the container C engages the undersurface of the roof plate 58. Further pressure applied by the piston and cylinder arrangement 56, secures the lid L firmly on the container C. Thus, the roof plate 58 acts as an anvil.

With the lid L firmly secured on the container C the piston and cylinder arrangement 56 is retracted, to lower the platform 53 and the lidded container CL thereon, the pusher 55 is operated to push the container CL from platform 53 onto slideway 54 and pusher 53 can then advance a new container C onto the platform 53 to allow the above cycle to be repeated.

Figs. 5 & 6 show one lid displacing mechanism 61 suitable for use with the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 and comprising a plate displacing plate 61a with a pusher 61b mounted thereon.

The leading regions of the lid displacing plate 61a includes a recess 61c in the upper surface of plate 61, the recess 61c extends from said leading edge with uniform width a short distance in a direction of the longitudinal axis of plate 61a and blends into a semi-circular configuration. The width of the recess is slightly greater than the diameter of a lid L to be delivered and the recess 61c has a depth smaller than the thickness of the lid L to be delivered.

The lid displacing plate 61a is arranged to be displaced by means (not shown but which may comprise a piston and cylinder arrangement) between a retracted position, wherein the recess 61c lies directly beneath the lid magazine 59, and a forward position wherein a lid L in the recess 61c lies directly above the neck or opening of the container C on platform 53.

The pusher 61b is slideably mounted on plate 61a and a pin 62, presented by plate 61a, extends upwardly into a slot 63 in the pusher 61b and serves to guide the pusher 61a.

The pusher 61b is arranged for reciprocation by a mechanism (not shown) but which may conveniently comprise a piston and cylinder arrangement.

The lid displacing mechanism 61 illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 operates as follows: With the pusher 61b and the lid displacing plate 61a fully retracted (towards the left as viewed in the drawings) a lid L delivered from the lid magazine 59 by the scrolls 60 drops through the opening 58a in plate 58 and is deposited in the recess 61c. When a container C on platform 53 has been fully charged the lid displacing plate 61a and pusher 61b are mutually displaced towards the right (as viewed in the drawings) until the lid L in the recess 61c lies directly above the neck or opening to the container C on platform 53.

At this stage the pusher 61b is advanced to its extreme position to the right (as viewed in the drawings) and makes contact with the edge of the lid L in recess 61c. The lid displacing plate 61a is then retracted towards the left (as viewed in the drawings) whilst the pusher 61b remains stationary and thereby retaining the lid L located above the container opening so that as the support afforded by plate 61a is removed the lid falls onto the container C correctly located for securement.

The pusher parts 61a and 61b are then displaced to their "start" positions ready to receive the next lid L.

Whilst the present invention has been described by way of example with reference to specific embodiments the invention is not restricted thereto and many modifications and variations will be apparent to persons skilled in the art.

Claims (14)

Claims,

1 Apparatus for filling and lidding a container comprising a filling station, means for charging the container with its contents at said filling station and means for applying a lid to said container at said filling station.

2 Apparatus according to claim 1 characterised in that said means for charging the container comprise nozzle means arranged to deliver a pre-determined quantity of container contents to a container located at said filling station.

3 Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the apparatus includes container displacing means arranged to successively deliver empty containers for charging to said filling stations and to displace charged and lidded containers from said station.

4 Apparatus according to claim 2 characterised in that the container displacing means is arranged to displace containers intermittently to and from said filling station,

5 Apparatus according to claim 5 characterised in that each container is stationary at said filling station whilst it is being charged and lidded,

6 Apparatus according to claim 1 2 or 3 characterised in that said container displacing means displace the containers at substantially uniform speed and, whilst charging and lidding a container, the said means for charging the container and for lidding the container are displaced in the direction of container displacement at a speed commensurate with the rate of displacement of the containers.

7 Apparatus according to any preceding claim characterised in that said means for applying a lid to a container comprises means for displacing a lid from a lid supply source to a location directly above a charged container at said filling station and for releasing the displaced lid only when said lid is directly located above the container opening.

8 Apparatus according to any preceding claim characterised by means for at least temporarily securing the lid on the container.

9 Apparatus according to claim 8 characterised by a pressure plate arranged to secure a lid on a container at said filling station

10 Apparatus according to claim 9 characterised by means for lowering the said pressure plate into pressure contact with a lid on a container at said filling station.

11 Apparatus according to claim 9 characterised by means for elevating a lidded container into pressure contact with said pressure plate.

12 Apparatus according to claim 9, 10 or 11 characterised in that said pressure plate includes an aperture and the container is charged with its contents through said aperture.

13 Apparatus according to claim 12, when dependent upon claim 2, characterised by means for lowering the said nozzle through the said aperture when the nozzle is to discharge container contents to a container at said filling station.

14 Apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings