US2805688A

US2805688A - Filling machines and heads and stems therefor

Info

Publication number: US2805688A
Application number: US567157A
Authority: US
Inventors: Edward F Rowekamp
Original assignee: CLIMAX PRODUCTS CORP
Current assignee: CLIMAX PRODUCTS CORP
Priority date: 1956-02-23
Filing date: 1956-02-23
Publication date: 1957-09-10
Anticipated expiration: 1974-09-10

Description

Sept 10, 1957 F. ROWEKAMP FILLING MACHINES AND HEADS AND STEMS THEREFOR Filed Feb. 23, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. fDWARD ROWE/ AMP lllll Sept 10, 1957 RQWEKAMP 2,805,688

FILLING MACHINES AND HEADS AND STEMS THEREFOR Filed Feb. 23, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Q) h w (q x A %'s 1 Kg x M @Q m R \Q g Q a :5 k: S2 3 I Ma y 3%; 7V sw i 5* l n 4; x A v ,3. 88 a INVENTOR. q \o EDWARD E RowEKAMP u,

Sept 10, 1957 E. F. ROWEKAMP 2,805,688

FILLING MACHINES AND HEADS AND STEMS THEREFOR Filed Feb. 23, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. EDWARD E ROWEKAMP United States Patent M FILLING MACHINES AND HEADS AND STEMS THEREFOR Edward F. Rowekamp, Cincinnati, Ohio, assignor to Climax Products Corp., Green Township, Hamilton County, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application February 23, 1956, Serial No. 567,157

8 Claims. (Cl. 141-59) This invention relates to filling machines, and more particularly to improved head and filling stem assemblies therefor.

An object of this invention is to provide a filling machine having a head and filling stem assembly which is easily and readily cleanable, easily adjustable, and adapted to fill containers to a predetermined level by evacuating the fluid content of the container to effect filling thereof with the desired quantity of a particular product.

Another object of this invention is to provide a filling stem for such a machine, the stem having a valve for preventing loss of prime and back-siphoning of air into the product lines of the filling machine.

A further object of this invention is to provide a filling machine head in which a valve is provided for reliably controlling passage of fluids through the evacuation lines and providing a tight shut-ofi of such lines at all times except during that portion of the filling cycle necessary to effect filling of the containers as desired.

A further object of this invention is to provide a filling stem which may be easily and quickly removed from the machine and disassembled for easy cleaning.

Another object of this invention is to provide a' filling item in which the filling tubes forming the filling spout may be removed and replaced with other tubes of the same or different length with a minimum of effort, minimum operating time loss and minimum disassembly of the machine.

The above and other features and objects of this invention will be obvious to those having ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains, from the following description and the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a view in front elevation partially broken away to show details of construction, the filling mechanism and other elements of a fluid-handling system associated therewith being shown in schematic form;

Fig. 2 is a view in section of a filling head and a filling stem shown in co-operative relation to a fragmentary portion of the filling machine illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view in section of the filling machine head taken along line III-III in Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is an exploded view of the several parts of the anti-back-syphonage valve provide in the filling stem.

What presently appears to be a preferred form of filling machine embodying this invention is illustrated in the drawings.

The filling machine illustrated in Fig. 1 comprises a base member suitably supported in fixed position by supporting surface 11. A hollow shaft 13 extends vertically through the central bore provided in base 10 in rotatable co-operation with

bearings

14 and 15.

Bearings

14 and 15 co-operate with seats provided in base 10 annularly of the bore through which shaft 13 extends and may be of the anti-friction or ball bearing type adapted to carry the loads imposed thereon during operation of the machine, as hereinafter explained. Means for rotating shaft 13, such as a gear 16, may be secured in fixed rela- 2,805,688 Patented Sept. 10, 1957 tion to shaft 13 by any suitable means such as key 17, or the like. The gear 16 may be rotated by suitable means such as pinion gear 18 mounted upon the rotatable shaft of electric motor 19. The upper face of the hub of gear 16 may be adapted to co-operate with bearing 14 in subjacent relationship thereto. A turntable 20 is secured to shaft 13 and comprises a main element 21 and a top element 24. Main element 21 embraces hollow shaft 13 above bearing 15 with which it is adapted to co-operate. Main element 21 is secured in fixed relation to hollow shaft 13 by means such as set-screw 22 shown. Gear 16 and element 21 are secured to hollow shaft 13 and as shown in Fig. l, co-operate with

bearings

14 and 15, respectively, to preclude axial displacement of shaft 13 relative to base 10.

Table top portion 24 of turntable 20 serves as a supporting surface over which receptacles may be moved and also as a guide for receptacle elevating stages 25. The stages 25 are regularly spaced in a circle concentric with turntable 20. Each stage 25, may, as shown, be right cylindrical in form and have a leg 26 extending axially downwardly through the respective guide apertures provided in flange portion 23 of main element 21. The guide apertures in table top 24 and flange 23 are arranged in pairs, each pair having a common, vertical axis, and being adapted to guide stage 25 and leg 26 along a vertical axis when same are reciprocated. To efiect reciprocation of the stage and associated leg a suitable cam 27 is provided. Cam 27, shown in Fig. 1, is a ring-like member retained in co-axial relation with shaft 13 by abutment 28 provided on base 10. The cam 27 may be secured in fixed relation to base 10 by any suitable means. Thus the cam ring 27 remains stationary upon stationary base 10, while turn table 20 rotates with shaft 13, causing the foot of each leg 26 to travel along in engagement with the upper face of cam 27. Such relative movement of leg 26 over cam 27 effects controlled raising of the stage 25 to an elevated position, as illustrated at the left of Fig. 1, and permits lowering thereof by gravity to a lowered position, with the top of stage 25 flush with the upper surface of table 24 as illustrated at the right in Fig. 1. To protect the cam surface from foreign matter I have provided an upstanding guard wall 29 secured to base 10 and a depending peripheral skirt 30 on turn table 20. Skirt 30 extends in outward overlapping relation to the upper portion of guard wall 29 to effect substantial encasement of cam 27.

A column 31 having an axial bore 32 is mounted upon hollow shaft 13 above and spaced from turn table 20. The upper portion of shaft 13 is received in bore 32 with the upper end of shaft 13 spaced below the upper end of bore 32. Column 31 and shaft 13 are secured in fixed relation to each other by any suitable means such as set screws, keys, pins, or the like (not shown). When so assembled, the column 31 serves to reinforce hollow shaft 13 in its upper extremities. Adjacent its upper end, column 31 extends radially outwardly to form a rigid annular flange 33. A product supply tube 34 extends through the hollow shaft 13 and at its lower end is connected to product supply line 35 by a suitably packed coupling or union 36. The product supply line 35 conducts product 37 from product reservoir 38 to coupling 36; Coupling or union 36 is of the type which permits rotation of tube 34 relative to stationary supply line 35 and simultaneously prevents loss of product conducted by

members

35 and 34. Adjacent its upper end tube 34 is unitarily joined to a head base bushing 39 having an annular lip 40 co-operatively received in an enlarged upper portion of bore 32 as shown most clearly in Fig. 2. I prefer to provide an aligning base 41 on the upper end of bushing 39 and disposed annularly of the mouth of tube 34.

A head 42 is supported upon head bushing 39 and comprises product distributor 43, vacuum distributor 44, valve member 45, valve retainer 46, bushing 47, and vacuum tube 48. The product distributor 43 comprises a substantially cylindrical inverted cup having an axial bore or cavity 49. Boss 41 co-operates therewith, projecting into cavity 49 to effect proper alignment of distributor 43 relativeto product. tube 34 and base bushing39.i As shown most clearly in Fig. 2, I prefer to provide an annular groove 50 in distributor 43 adapted toreceive and co-operate with an O-ring 51. The Oring maybe made of :neoprene or other suitable resilient material and of such a size as to partially project from groove 50, so that a fluid-tight seal is produced when member 43 is urged toward head base bushing 39. A plurality of regularly spaced radial ports 52 are provided in the wall of product distributor 43 and have their axes lying in a common diametral plane passing through the axis of body 43. Each port 52 communicates with the base of a respec tive nipple 52' secured to distributorbody 43 in fluid-tight relation to body 43. The ports 52equal in number the filling stems 71. The upper end or top of member 43 has an upwardly projecting central aligning boss 53. Asealing washer or gasket 54 fabricated from a:suitable resilient sealing material such as neoprene or the like, is supported upon the top face of 43 annularly of and held in position by aligning boss 53 which projects upwardly through an aperture provided therein. Cylindrical vacuum distributor body 44 has a wall the lower portion of which is thick and surrounds vacuum well 55 and the thinner upper portion of which surrounds a valve chamber contiguous to and communicating with the vacuum well 55. Member v44 rests upon gasket 54 and is retained in proper alignment by boss 53 which projects upwardly into vacuum well 55. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, a plurality of passages 56 .extend vertically through the thickwalled section of member 44 communicating with the valve chamber and gasket 54. Each of the passages 56 has one mouth which serves as a port disposed in valve seat face 59 of member 44. Passages 56 are regularly arranged in a circle and equal in number to the filling stems 71. Passages 57 communicate between passage 56 and the bore of a corresponding nipple 58. When assembled, as shownin Fig. 2, the respective nipples 58 cooperate with member 44 to provide a substantially unitary assembly which is fluid-tight. The respective nipples 58 may be attached byfrictional engagement, by

welding, or in other suitable way, to member 44 to provide a fluid-tight joint between those parts. Valve may be formed from a suitable material, such as Teflon, tetrafiuoroethylene resin, or other material which preferably has a low coefircient of friction, high stability, resists sticking and is inert to the product.

The valve 45 may be cut from a sheet or slab of material having substantially parallel faces, and asshown particularly in Fig. 3, is in plan a portion of a disc of such material. The valve member 45 illustrated in Fig. 3, is a half disc and thus closes one-half of the ports in valve seat 59 or closes each of the ports during one-half of each revolution or cycle of the machine. Valve 45 is held in fixed position relative to machine supporting surface 11 and thus the valve illustrated in Fig. 3 would provide application of vacuum as hereinafter described dur ing one-half cycle or revolution of the filling machine. By simply substituting another valve member 45 adapted to cover each of the ports in valve seat 59 during a greater or smaller portion of a machine cycle, the ratio of nonvacuum phase to vacuum phase of the machine cycle may be determined.

A valve retainer 46 is provided for holding valve 45 in face-to-face sealing relation with its seat 59. As shown, retainer 46 is provided with an O-ring 60 received in an outer annular groove on the portion of the retainer adapted to be received within the thin-walled section of member 44. The resilient O-ring 60 is so confined by the structure as to effect a fluid-tight seal between the thinwalled portion of member 44 and the valve retainer 46. A radially projecting lip 61 forms an integral part of retainer 46 and serves to limit advance of retainer 46 toward valve seat 59 and thus also limits the forces applied to the valve member 45 urging same into seating relation on valve seat 59. Vacuum tube 48 extends through an axial aperture provided in valve retainer 46. As shown, the upper portion of the axial bore in member 46 is larger in diameter than the lower portion thereof. A radially extending surface is adapted to support and cooperate with a resilient sealing member such as an 0- ring 64. Bushing member 47 has a projection 65 adapted to advance into engagement with O-ring 64 urging same toward face 63 for effecting distortion of ring 64 into fluidtight sealing engagement with vacuum tube 48. An annular flange 66 of bushing member 47 is adapted to cooperate with the upper face of retainer 46 and limit advancement of projecting boss 65 toward face 63 to obtain predetermined distortion of O-ring 64. Clamp yoke 67 is adapted to engage the upper face of flange 66.

A plurality of studs 68, secured in fixed relation to column 31 by means such as threads 69, are, adjacent their upper ends, engaged by suitable means such as wing nuts 70 which may be rotated to engage clamp yoke 67 and draw same toward column 31 effecting sealing between the several parts comprising the head, as well as for applying forces to valve 45, urging same into seating contact with seat 59. As shown in Fig. 2, a portion of vacuum tube 48 is cut away to provide a tongue-like projecting portion 48b which engages an edge face of valve 45. The flange or collar 48' is secured to tube 48 by means such as welds 48". Collar 48 serves to index positioning of tube 48 in co-operative relation to valve 45. The relationship of tongue portion 48b to valve 45 is also illustrated in Fig. 3. A split clamp bracket 12 having a clamp screw 12' is secured to a fixed support and co-operates with vacuum tube 48, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. The bracket 12 serves to support vacuum tube 48, and clamp screw 12' may be tightened to lock tube 48 against rotation. As appears most clearly from Fig. 3, locking of vacuum tube 48 in fixed position relative to the support 12 also serves to lock valve member 45 in the fixed position determined by the position of angular orientation corresponding to the particular position in which tube 48 is locked. Thus, through use of an appropriate valve member 45, the ratio of vacuum on to vacuum off. portion of the cycle may be determined, and by orientation of valve 45 by rotation of member 48 and locking same in position as desired, the phase of the cycle in which the vacuum on and 01f portions of the cycle occur, may be determined.

A plurality of filling stems are provided. Each filling stem 71 is secured to and supported by flange 33 in a position above and with its filling tube in axial alignment with the respective stage 25. As shown in Fig. 2, the filling stem 71 may be secured to flange 33 by providing a notch in filling stem body 72 adapted to co-operate with and receive a portion of flange 33. A stud 73 extends through an aperture provided in body 72 into a socket or blind bore provided in flange 33 parallel to the axis of column 31. I

prefer that stud 73 be in threaded engagement with body 72 in order that suitable rotation of stud 73 will serve to advance same into co-operative relation with the cavity provided in flange 33 to'eifect secure fastening of body 72 to flange 33. T o facilitate rotation of stud 73 a transverse slot or suitable recess (not shown) may be provided in the exposed end thereof for engagement with a screw driver or other suitable manipulating tool. The filling stem body 72 has a vertical bore extending therethrough outwardly of the periphery of flange 33. This bore 74 is coaxially aligned with the subjacently positioned stage 25. A second bore or chamber is also provided, and communication between the two bores is established through port 75. A vacuum tube or line 76 is attached to a corresponding nipple 58 adjacent one of its ends and to thetubular projecting portion 77 of plug 78. Tube 76 may be fabricated from rubber, metal or any suitable material. The selection of the material and design of the tube is accomplished in view of several considerations, among which are inertness to the product being handled and resistance to collapse under atmospheric pressure when vacuum or low pressure conditions prevail within the bore of the tube.

The plug 78, as shown, may be tapered at 79 and have an annular groove adapted to receive and co-operate with an O-ring 80 which serves to provide a resilient frictional fluid-tight seal between plug 78 and the walls of bore 74. Since the unbalanced fluid pressures imposed upon plug 78 would tend to advance same further into bore 74, I prefer to provide an annular flange 81, which serves to limit advance of plug 78 into body 72. A vacuum or suction tube or spout 82 is fixedly secured to plug 78 and extends axially therethrough. Spout 82 is preferably of metal and in most instances I have found stainless steel a satisfactory material therefor. Tube 82 extends axially through bore 74 with its free end located at a point intermediate stage 25 and filling stem body 72.

Second plug member 83 has a tapering portion 84 adjacent its one end, an annular groove in which O-ring 85 is received in co-operating relation for providing a resilient frictional fluid-tight seal between plug 83 and the walls of bore 74, and an annular flange 86 which serves to limit advancement of plug 83 into bore 74. An ear-like portion of flange 86 is indicated by reference character 87. An aperture extends through ear 87 adapted to register with the threaded aperture in body 72. As shown in Fig. 2, stud member 73 extends through the aperture in car 87 parallel to bore 74, and suitable means such as wing nut 88 in threaded engagement with stud 73, serves to clamp car 87 in flatwise engagement with the co-operating surface of body 72 retaining plug 83 in co-operative relationship with body 72. A product delivery tube 89 extends axially through plug 83 and coaxially surrounds tube 82.

Tubes

82 and 89, as shown in Fig. 2, may have their free ends lying in a common diametral plane. A sleeve-like member 90 surrounds .a portion of tube 89 adjacent plug 83 and frictionally engages same. At least a portion of the sleeve 90 has external threads 91 which may be co-operatively engaged by lock nut 92 and cup 93. A resilient pad or washer 94 surrounds tube 89 adjacent cup 93. Washer 94 may be held in abutting relation to cup 93 by frictional engagement with tube 89 or by suitable adhesives co-acting upon resilient washer 94 and cup 93. The internally threaded cup 93 may be rotated relative to sleeve 90 to adjust the distance between the free end 95' of the filling stem spout and face 96 of washer 94. Cup 93 serves as a positive mechanicalstop precluding movement of washer 94 beyond a point a determined distance from end plane 95. Lock nut 92 may then be placed in locking co-operation with cup 93 and sleeve 90 to preclude shifting of cup 93 from the setting so determined, thereby providing a fixed firm support for sealing washer 94 in order that advancement of a receptacle into abutment therewith,,as shown in dot-dash lines in Fig. 2, effects sealing of the mouth of the receptacle against washer 94 with the coaxial tubular spout (82, 89) extending into the interior thereof. Other tubes may be substituted for

tubes

82 and 89 when receptacles to be filled are of different size or other adjustment means may be provided to adapt the machine for filling receptacles requiring a different spacing of member 94 from stage 25.

The chamber 95 provided in filling stem body 72 is shown in perspective in Fig. 4 and in longitudinal cross section in Fig. 2. The chamber 95, as shownin Fig. 4, is cylindrical having a wall 196, an abutment 97, and recessed end face 98. A flexible valve member 99 is formed from flexible sheet material such as neoprene, Pliofilm, or similar materials. The valve member 99 has a central aperture 100 adapted to register with port" 75 communi-: cating between chamber and bore'74 and has a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of chamber 95 in order that the periphery fits snugly against the wall 196 when a portion of its face lies in face-to-face sealing engagement with abutment 97 Orifice plate 101 may be fabricated from any suitable material, and, relative to member 99, is a rigid disc having one or more orifices extending therethrough. The orifice plate 101 lies in face-to-face engagement with valve member 99, and each of the orifices 102 in plate 101 is so positioned as to be covered by that portion of member 99 which is not supported directly by abutment 97. To retain

members

99 and 101 in position in chamber 95, I provide a plug 103. Lip 104 extends axially from plug 103 and surrounds the recessed end plug face 105. Lip 104 is adapted to abut orifice plate 101 adjacent the periphery thereof and opposite abutment 9'7, with the orifices 102 in communication with the recess or cavity in the end of plug 103 surrounded by lip 104. An annular groove 106 is provided in the plug 103 adapted to re ceive and co-operate with an O-ring 107. The O-ring 107 also co-operates with chamber Wall 196 to effect a fluidtight seal between plug 103 and body 72 and also to frictionally retain plug 103 in firm engagement with orifice plate 101. If desired, to facilitate removal of plug 103 from engagement with body 72, an annular rib 108 may be provided thereon, care being taken that rib 108 is spaced a sufficient distance from lip 104 as to preclude contacting of body 72 by rib 108 when plug 103 is in cooperative relation with body 72 .and orifice plate 101. An axial bore 109 extends through plug 103 and the tubular extension thereof 110. A tube 111 is secured in fluid-tight relation to a nipple 52' and the tubular extension 110 of plug 103.

Bore 109 is in closed communication with a port 52 in product distributor 43. When plug 103 is in co-operativ'e engagement with body 72, as shown in Fig. 2, and pressure conditions are favorable to movement of product, product may flow from chamber 49 through a port 52, nipple 52, tube '111, bore 109, at least one orifice 102 provided in plate 101, between orifice plate 101 and valve member 99 when the latter is drawn out of sealing contact with the cooperating face of orifice plate 101 as a result of unbalanced fluid pressure imposed on opposite faces thereof, through aperture and port 75 into bore 74 from whence it may travel through tube 89 into the receptacle 96. To produce conditions for movement of product from chamber 49 to the interior of the receptacle 96 in the position shown in dot-dash lines in Fig. 2, the fluid contained in vacuum tube 48 is withdrawn by a suitable pump means such as vacuum pump 134 effecting a lowering of pressure and consequent movement of fluid in the direction of the pressure gradient established from the interior of receptacle 96 through

tubes

82 and 76, nipple 58, passages 57 and 56, into vacuum well 55 from whence it is withdrawn through tube 48. Movement of fluid along this path is regulated by valve member 45 which is adapted to preclude such fluid flow from the respective passages 56 into vacuum well 55 during predetermined portions of the machine cycle. When fluid flows out of receptacle 96 the fluid pressure in receptacle 96 is reduced. A pressure gradient or differential exists along the path of product advance from the product supplyreservoir to receptacle 96. Valve 99 is unseated from orifice plate 101, by the product moving in response to the pressure conditions from chamber 49 to receptacle 96. When suflicie'nt fluid product has moved into receptacle 96 so as to fill the same to the level at which end 95 of the coaxial filler tube is disposed, any additional product introduced is withdrawn through tube 82. Thus the valve 45 is designed or selected so as to permit a product flow period long enough to accomplish filling of the receptacle 96. The period during which fluid moves through tube 82 is preferably slightly greater than the period required for movement of the desired quantity of fluid product into receptacle 96.

As illustrated schematically in Fig. 1, I prefer to provide a product t'rap 112 which serves to recover product drawn over into the exhaust portion of the machine and as shown, a suitable pump 125 may be used to transfer the product so recovered by the trap 112 Ito the supply reservoir for recycling of same.

A receptacle to be filled is moved into the position shown at the right of Fig. 1 upon a stage 25 and as the machine rotates, the leg 26 of stage 25 travels along the face of cam 27 such that stage 25 rises bringing the mouth of the receptacle 96 into sealing engagement with sealing. member 94, as illustrated at the left in Fig. 1. Valve 45 then'opens the mouth or port of the corresponding passage 56 toeifect reduction of fluid pressure within the interior of receptacle 96. The reduction in pressure results in the flow of fluid product intoreceptacle 96, as described above, until the level of product introduced rises to the level of plane 95' and is withdrawn into the exhaust system through tube 82. It should be noted that product in foam form which floats upon the liquid product would be withdrawn from the receptacle as the level of liquid product rises toward end plane 95 of the vacuum tube. Valve 45 closes or obstructs the mouth of passage 56 at or shortly after the time at which fluid product commences to flow from the filled receptacle 96 upwardly through tube 82. Thereafter, the stage 25with receptacle 96supported thereon descends under control of stationary cam 27 breaking the seal between receptacle 96 and member 94 to the position as shown at the right of Fig. l in which the end plane 95' of

tubes

82 and 89 is no longer within the receptacle. The receptacle 96 is then removed by suitable means and an empty receptacle is placed upon the stage and the filling cycle is repeated. When the seal betweenreceptacle 96 and member 94 isbrokentthe'product, in the conducting passage communicating between the reservoir 38 and tube 89, tends to flow toward reservoir 38 or remain in static condition. Valve 99 seats preventing backflow of product and thereby precludes introduction of air into the product passage. In the machine illustrated in the drawings, eight stages. are provided for passing a plurality of receptacles through the filling cycle in substantially uninterrupted sequence. It is to be noted that in the construction of the machine disclosed the product contacting portions of the machine are readily disassemblable and easily cleanable with a minimum amount of effort.

1 Having thus described the invention, it will be apparent to those having ordinaryskillin the art to which this invention pertains, that various modifications or changes may be made in the disclosed embodiment without departing from either the spirit or the scope of the invention. Therefore, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A vacuum control mechanism which comprises a hollow cylindrical body, a diametral annual shoulder face inside said ody, there being at least one inlet port in said diametral shoulder face, a valve disc of substantially fiat, sector-shape mounted for relative rotation inside the body in sealing engagement with the diametral shoulder face, a tube extending axially through one of the ends of the body into the hollow body, means on the tube engaging the disc, the body being rotatable about the tube and the disc to alternately expose and close the inlet port in the diametral annular shoulder face and means for closing the ends of the cylindrical body.

2. Avacuum control mechanism in accordance with claim 1, characterized by the fact that the means for closing the one of the ends of the body through which the tube extends includes a plug engaging the valve disc, means for forming seals between the plug, the tube, and the body, and means for urging the plug against the valve .disc to hold the disc in firm sealing engagement with the ldiametral shoulderf ace.

- 3. Fluid conducting means, for a receptacle filling machine which comprises a filling spout, a vacuum line, means for sealing themouth of a receptacle with the open ends of the, filling spout and the vacuum line inside the .receptacle, a supply line for supplying fluid product from a source of supply to the spout, means for withdrawing fluid through the vacuum line from the receptacle for drawing fluid product into the receptacle through the supply line, and a valve between the supply line and the spout, the valve comprising a hollow body, means for conmeeting the hollow body to the spout, an annular shoulder inside the body, a flexible valve member engaging the shoulder, said valve member having an opening therethrough, a substantially flat rigid disc overlying the valve member, the edge of the disc engaging the edge of the valve member, there being an opening through the disc spaced from the opening in the valve member, and a plug closing the hollow of the body, said plug having an annular rib engaging the disc around the opening in said disc, there being an opening in the plug communicating with the opening in the disc, the valve member being engageable with the disc to prevent backflow of fluid product from the filling spout past the valve member and through the opening in said disc.

4. A filling machine comprising a filling stem, a body adapted to be mounted thereon, a first bore through said body, a first plug closing one end of the first bore, a product tube extending through said first plug for conducting product from said first bore into a receptacle to be filled, a sealing member for effecting a seal between said product tube and a receptacle, to be filled, a second plug closing the other end of said first bore, an exhaust tube extending through said second plug, said first bore and said product tube, said exhaust tube being adapted for co-operation with exhaust means, a second bore in said body, a port communicating between said first and second bores, a flexible valve member supported in said second bore in spaced relation to said port, an orifice plate abutting said valve member, non-registering ports in said orifice plate and said valve member, a retaining member having a concave end face the edge of which is adapted to engage the orifice plate, said retaining member having a bore extending therethrough for communicating between a source of product supply and the space defined by said retaining member and said orifice plate, whereby the fluid content of a receptacle to be filled may be exhausted through the exhaust tube to cause product to flow past the valve for filling the receptacle, said valve serving to preclude back flow of product toward the source of product supply.

5. A vacuum control mechanism which comprises a hollow body having a cylindrical bore therein, an annular shoulder therein having at least one shoulder bore extending through said hollow body parallel to said cylindrical bore, a lateral bore extending from said shoulder bore outwardly through the wall of said body and adapted to communicate between the shoulder bore and means for evacuating fluid from receptacles during filling thereof, a valve member rotatably mounted in said body and adapted to co-operatively engage said shoulder, a tube extending into said cylindrical bore, said tube being secured against rotation with said body and having means' engaging the valve member and retaining same in fixed relation relative to said tube, a first end cover for said body adapted to engage said body and said tube to eflect a fluid tight seal therewith and being adapted to urge said valve member into sealing engagement with the opposing diametral face of said shoulder, a second member adapted to close the other end of said body and preclude transfer of fluid between the adjacent endsof the cylindrical bore and shoulder bore, whereby rotation of the valve body in unison with a filling machine effects movement of the valve member for effecting control of communication between said cylindrical bore and said shoulder bore in relation to the phase of the filling machine cycle.

6. A head for a filling machine of the rotating type having a product supply duct extending axially through said machine, said machine being adapted to co-operatively support a head annularly of the discharge mouth of the product supply duct, said head comprising a first member adapted to be supported in fluid-tight relation to and upon the machine annularly of said duct, said first member having a cavity in communication with and adapted to receive product from said product supply duct, at least one bore extending through the wall of said first member and communicating with means for conducting product to a receptacle, a sealing member supported upon said first member, a hollow second member having first and second ends and a bore extending therethrough, an integral shoulder of said second member extending annularly into and reducing the diameter of said cylindrical bore adjacent the second end of said second member, at least one shoulder bone extending through said shoulder parallel to said cylindrical bore, a radial bore extending from said shoulder bore outwardly through the wall of the second member and adapted for communication with means for conducting fluid from a receptacle incident to filling thereof, the second end of said second member being adapted to rest in sealing co-operation upon the sealing member supported by said first member for precluding transfer of fluid between the mouths of the cylindrical and shoulder bores adjacent the second end of said second member, a valve member supported on the annular shoulder, a tube extending into the cylindrical bore toward the second end of the second member, said tube being secured against rotation and having means adapted to secure said valve member against rotation relative to said tube, a cover plug for the first end of said second member, said cover plug having a flange adapted to abut the first end of said second member for limiting advance of said plug toward said annular shoulder, said cover plug having a portion extending into said cylindrical bore into co-operation with said valve member for holding same in fluid-tight sealing relation to said shoulder, means for effecting a fluid-tight seal between said plug and said second member, means for effecting a fluid-tight seal between said plug and the tube extending therethrough, said tube being adapted for connection with means tending to withdraw fluid from said cylindrical bore, whereby fluid may be withdrawn from a receptacle to cause product to fill same.

7. A filling machine comprising a hollow body, a filling tube, a suction tube adapted to be connected to means for sucking fluid therethrough, said suction tube extending into the filling tube, means for eflecting a fluid tight seal between the filling tube and a receptacle to be filled for limiting movement of fluid to the path defined by the filling tube and suction tube, into and out of the receptacle, the filling tube being secured in fluid-tight communication with the cavity defined by the hollow body, an annular ledge in said hollow body adjacent a mouth thereof, a flexible valve member having a port therethrough, the marginal portion of said valve member being supported by said ledge, a substantially fiat rigid disc overlying the valve member and having at least one port therethrough spaced from the port in the valve member and from the ledge-supported portion of the valve member, a plug for closing the adjacent mouth of the hollow body, said plug having an annular rib adapted to oppose the ledge and engage the margin of the disc to hold the marginal portions of the disc and valve member in fluid-tight relation to the rib and ledge, respectively, and to each other, an opening in the plug communicating with the port in the disc and a source of fluid supply, the valve member being adapted to engage the disc to prevent back flow of fluid through the port therein, and to disengage therefrom to permit fluid to flow therethrough into the hollow body, whereby fluid may be withdrawn from a receptacle through the suction tube producing an inflow of fluid from the hollow body while the sealing means are in engagement with a receptacle and whereby the filling tube contents are precluded from back flow into the hollow body when said sealing means 'are disengaged from a receptacle.

8. In a receptacle filling machine the combination which comprises a product spout, a vacuum spout having an intake end, a hollow body supporting said spouts, means for sealing the mouth of a receptacle to be filled with the interior of said receptacle in communication with said spouts, said product spout being in communication with the interior of said hollow body, a rigid member having at least one aperture and being disposed in said hollow body, a flexible valve member in said hollow body, said valve member being disposed between and supported by said rigid member and said hollow body and between said rigid member and said product spout, at least one aperture in said valve member, spaced from all apertures in said rigid member, a plug adapted to co-operate with said body and rigid member for securing said rigid member in a predetermined position in said body in co-operative relation to said valve member, a bore extending through said plug and communicating with a source of fluid product supply and the aperture in said rigid member, and means for drawing fluid from said receptacle through said vacuum spout whereby fluid product flows through said product spout and fills the receptacle to the level of the intake end of said vacuum spout.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,763,240 Kiefer June 10, 1930