US3570556A

US3570556A - Method of an apparatus for filling bottles

Info

Publication number: US3570556A
Application number: US759274A
Authority: US
Inventors: James B Anderson
Original assignee: Heinz Co H J
Current assignee: Kraft Heinz Foods Co
Priority date: 1968-09-12
Filing date: 1968-09-12
Publication date: 1971-03-16
Anticipated expiration: 1988-03-16

Abstract

There is disclosed a method of and apparatus for filling bottles with a liquid, particularly a cold and/or viscous liquid such as ketchup into bottles at high speed and without breaking. The bottle is first filled with steam, also preferably in a surrounding atmosphere of steam, and then pressed against a valved filling head to open the valve. The cold liquid immediately condenses the steam in the bottle, creating a partial vacuum that pulls the liquid into the bottle at high velocity. If there is a surrounding atmosphere of steam, heat stresses in the glass will be largely eliminated.

Description

United States Patent Inventor James B. Anderson Cleveland, Ohio Appl. No. 759,274

Filed Sept. 12,1968

Assignee H. J. Heinz Company Pittsburgh, Pa.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR FILLING BOTTLES l1 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

U.S. Cl 141/11, 141/4, 141/47 Int. Cl B67c 3/14 FieldofSear-ch l41/l1,35, 4, 5, 7, 8, 47, 48, 49, 59, 85, 51

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS l/ l 957 Fechheimer et al. l4l/'48X 2,862,528 12/1958 Geisler 3,393,491 7/1968 Burtonetal....

Primary Examiner-Laverne D. Geiger Assistant Examiner-Robert T, Smith Attorney-Parmelee, Utzler & Welsh ABSTRACT: There is disclosed a method of and apparatus for filling bottles with a liquid, particularly a cold and/or viscous liquid such as ketchup into bottles at high speed and without breaking. The bottle is first filled with steam, also preferably in a surrounding atmosphere of steam, and then pressed against a valved filling head to open the valve. The cold liquid im-.

mediately condenses the steam in the bottle, creating a partial vacuum that pulls the liquid into the bottle at high velocity. lf there is a surrounding atmosphere of steam, heat stresses in the glass will be largely eliminated.

Patented March 1s, 1971 3,579,525@

3 Sheets--Shevei'l 1 Inventor 38 James B. Anderson BQM, @ha CONIINER OUT CONTAINER IN Attorneys.

Patented March 16, 1971 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 :I Inventor James Anderson. By

Attorneys Patented March 16, 1971 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR FILLING BOTTLES T his invention is for a method of and apparatus for filling bottles with a liquid, and particularly with a liquid which is relatively thick, viscous, or normally sluggish or slow flowing, as for example ketchup.

While automatic bottle-filling machines have been extensively used in the filling of bottles with various liquids, such machines, when used with viscous liquids, or thick, heavybodied liquids, must be operated quite slowly because of the difficulty of forcing the liquid into the bottle, even under pressure.

This invention is for a method and apparatus for the rapid filling of such bottles, andfit comprises generally a method and apparatus wherein the bottles are initially filled with steam under pressure, which expels the air from the bottles. Having filled the bottles with steam, the necks of the bottle are sealed against a valved filling head through which the liquid introduced into the bottle. The liquid product, generally being cool or relatively cold, initially causes a condensation of the steam, creating a high vacuum in the bottle. The liquid which is at atmospheric pressure will then flow or be sucked at high velocity into the bottle, the entrance of air being excluded at that time. As the bottle approaches a full condition, the flow will diminish. At the proper level the bottle is moved away from the filling head and is ready to be capped.

Also when the bottle is hot, as it is after it has been filled with steam, andcold liquid is introduced, the glass is stressed, and this is conducive to cracking or breaking. According to the present invention an atmosphere of steam is maintained about the bottle while it is being filled. The condensation of the surrounding steam against the bottle supplies heat thereto more rapidly than it is conducted into the liquid which is filling the bottle, tending to relieve the sudden stress on the glass and prevent breakage.

A preferred form of machine for accomplishing the method has a rotary table with a number of vertically movable bottle supports adjacent the periphery thereof. The lower ends of these supports below the table travel on an annular stepped cam which lowers and raises the bottles and lowers them again in a proper sequence. Over the rotary table is a rotating reservoir to which the product is supplied. This reservoir is supplied with an annular series of equally spaced filling heads. Each filling head comprises a tube depending from the rotating reservoir with a fitment at its lower end that normally cooperates with a valve to prevent the flow of liquid therefrom, but which is movable vertically against a spring relative to the valve to open the valve and allow a flow of liquid therefrom. The operation of this fitment is effected by bottles carried on the supports which are positioned directly under the filling heads, and which, at the proper time, are raised to press the aforesaid fitment upwardly. Concentric within the first tube is a small diameter steam inlet tube which terminates at the discharge end thereof in the valve element itself, and which extends up through the reservoir. Along one arc in the cycle of rotation of the reservoir and table, these steam pipes are successively moved into communication with the steam chest whereby high-pressure steam is blown down through the tube into a bottle positioned beneath it, and prior to the time when the bottle is raised to a position to be filled. After the injection of steam through this tube into the bottle and the displacement of air from the bottle, the steam inlet pipes are sealed against the inflow of air, so that when the bottle has been raised to a position to be filled and the steam in the bottle condenses, air cannot be drawn in through the steam inlet tubes.

The invention may be more fully understood by reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment thereof, and in which:

FIG. 1 represents a partial vertical section through a machine constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is a somewhat schematic projection taken along the line III-III of FIG. 2 illustrating the sequence ofthe operations of the machine in a flat elevation;

FIG. 4 is a vertical section on a larger scale through a single filling head, and with a single bottle support therebeneath showing the position of the parts of the filling head when steam is being introduced into the bottle; and

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 showing the next stage of the operation where the supply of steam has been cut off and the liquid is starting to enter the bottle.

Referring to the drawings, in which like reference numerals designate like parts throughout, 2 designates a circular turntable having a depending shaft 3 with a drive gear 4 thereon, which may be driven from a suitable source of power as indicated by the pinion 5. The table 2 has a series of equally spaced bottle supports 6 around the periphery thereof, each bottle support 6 being carried on a vertical rod 7 that slidably passes through a bushing 8in the table. At the lower end of each rod there is a cam follower or roller 9 that engages an annular track 10. The track l0 has a series of steps therein so that as the table rotates, the cam followers 9, riding upl or down these steps, raise or lower the bottle supports 6 in predetermined sequence.

In the construction here shown, the cam 10 is supported on the bottom 11 of an enclosure having sidewalls 12 that surround the table 2 and extend up to the top of the machine.

Centrally positioned on the table 2 is a vertical column 13- that rotates with the table 2, and which supports a circular vessel or reservoir 14 in which the product to be put into the bottles is retained. Thisl product is preferably maintained at a constant level through a product supply line 15, the flow of which can be adjusted to suit the outflow of product from the reservoir.

As best shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, there is a filling head assembly designated generally as 16 attached to and depending from the reservoir 14, and positioned directly above a bottle support 6. There is one such filling head for each bottle support around the table 2. Each filling head comprises a tube 17 having a threaded upper end screwed into the bottom of the reservoir 14 and sealed thereto as indicated in the drawings. Telescopingly received within the tube 17 is a second tube 181 having a fitment 19 at its lower end. There is a compression spring 20 surrounding the tube 18, and the tube 17, whichis confined between a flange 17a on the tube 17 and the fitment 19 for resiliently urging the fitment and the telescoping tube 18 downwardly. The terminal fitment 19 of the tube has a depending sleeve 21 around which is a rubber or other resilientcollar 22. There is a ring 23 around the fitment 19 having diametrically opposed webs 24 that support a bottle guide 25.

Centrally positioned inside the

tubes

17 and 18 is an axially extending tube 26 on the lower end of which is an enlargement 27 constituting a fixed valve element against which the lower end of the sleeve 21 normally bears and is held by the pressure. of the spring 20, andwhich limits the fitment 19 from moving below the position shown in FIG. 4, in which position the valvel is sealed against the end of the sleeve 21.

On the upper end of the tube member 17 there is a U- shaped support 30 on which is a nipple 31 into which the tube 16 is screwed, and onto which an extension of the tube 26, designated 32, is coupled. The upper inlet end of the tube 13"is bent over horizontally as indicated at 33 and terminates in an opening at 34 in the sidewall of the reservoir 14a.

At one area around the periphery of the reservoir there is an arcuate steam chestl 35 that is sealed against the side of the rotating reservoir, and which has an arcuate slot that is in register with the ports 34 at the inlet ends of the pipes 33 as they move in succession past the steam chest. 36 designates a steam supply pipe for the reservoir. Extending around the periphery of the rotating reservoir in the plane of the ports 34 from one end of the steam chest to the other, or at least a substantialy distance from the steam chest around the reservoir is a fixedl sealing strip 37 supported against the sidewall l2 of the enclosure. The arrangement is such that when a port 34 at the end' of a pipe 33 moves in front of the steam chest, steam may enter the pipe 33 and flow down through it, and discharge through the lower end of the valve 27. When, however, the

port moves beyond the steam chest 35, it is immediately sealed by the sealing strip 37 bearing against the outside of the rotating reservoir. It remains sealed in the arrangement shown for the full travel around to the other end of the steam chest, although the sealing strip 37 could terminate at some point in the revolution of the reservoir beyond which the bottles are filled.

The operation of the apparatus may now be followed by particular reference to FIG. 3. As indicated by the dotted lines 38 and 33a in FIG. 2, the sidewalls ofthe casing l2 are folded in at these points to provide an opening through the fixed outer casing. At the point marked CONTAINER IN, bottles pass through this opening onto the machine, and at the point marked CONTAINER UT,vthe bottles are removed at the opposite side of the same opening. The usual mechanism associated with bottle-filling machines for filling the bottles into the machine and taking them away is not shown, and of course could be accomplished manually.

As shown in FIG. 3, when a bottle initially is put into the machine, it is located on one of the platforms 6 in an upright position. This is the position shown in the left end of FIG. 3 of the drawing where the cam roller 9 for the first bottle is on the lowest portion of the annular cam track 10. This level will be convenient for automatic machinery for feeding bottles to the filling machine and removing them therefrom, although this operation may be performed manually. At station 02 a preceding bottle support will have moved up the incline lila to the next higher level llb of the cam. This is the second position from the left in FIG. 3, and at this point the steam for its steam pipe 33 will just be moving in front of the steam chest. lmmediately as the port 34 comes in front of the steam chest, high-pressure steam will discharge through the valve 27 in the manner previously described, and will vblow down into the bottle as indicated in the drawing, and more particularly FIG. 4. This will displace the air in the bottle, since the top of the bottle is then spaced below the filling valve. Steam will continue to flow into the bottle as the bottle is carried around as shown in station 03 where the next-preceding bottle and support is traveling along the level 10b of the cam. The bottle support ahead of this one is at station 04, and here its cam follower is approaching the top of the second incline 10c of the cam 10 raising the top of the bottle into engagement with the compressible or resilient bottle sealing bushing 22 surrounding the sleeve 2l to a form a seal between the top of the bottle and the rubberlike bushing 22. When the bottle has been fully raised, which is the position shown at station 05, and which is also shown on a larger scale in FIG. 5, the bottle will have pressed the bushing upwardly to raise the fitment 19 with the tube 18 telescoping inside the tube i7 against the compression of the spring 20. This lifts the end of the sleeve 2l sufficiently clear ofthe valve 27 to enable product which of course fills the tube 18 at all times, to enter the bottle. As soon as the cold product starts to flow into the bottle, the steam will be condensed, creating a vacuum which will suck the material down into the bottle, causing it to flow very rapidly into the bottle to fill it. As the bottle becomes increasingly full, the degree of suction will diminish. During the filling stage, of course, the port 34 at the steam inlet end of the steam tube for the particular bottle or bottles being filled will be sealed from the entrance of air by the stationary sealing element 37 around the periphery of the rotating reservoir. During the filling stage the cam followers will be riding on the high part Mld of the cam track 10, and at the proper time they will ride off the high part llild down an incline (not shown) to the lowermost level l0, and the filled bottle will have been carried around to the position where the filled container can be removed. The term cold as here applied to the product is relevant, meaning ordinarily about room temperature, or lower or higher, depending on where the product has been stored, or has been freshly prepared, and therefore warm to the touch but below the condensation temperature of steam.

When a cold product is discharged into a hot glass bottle as above described, thermal stresses are set up in the bottle which may cause cracking or breaking-of the bottle. l have discovered that if, when the cold prmiuct enters the bottle, there is an atmosphere of steam enveloping the bottle, the heat transfer from the steam into the bottle will exceed the rate at which the heat is removed from the interior of the bottle Ato an extent sufficient to prevent such breakage. The liquid in the bottle being a relatively poor conductor of heat, and the condensation of steam on the outside of the bottle releasing the latent heat and steam at the surface of the bottle, appears to account for the fact that the bottle does not break.

While the glass bottles have been specifically referred to for purposes of illustration and describing a preferred embodiment, glass jugs and even metal containers with inlet spouts may be filled by the process and apparatus by properly proportioning the various parts.

This process is utilized in the present invention where a.

steam pipe 40 leads from a source of steam (not shown) into the interior of the housing l2 so as to continuously supply an atmosphere of steam into the housing in the area through which the bottles are moving. To better confine the steam within the housing, there may be a cover 4l attached to the top of the housing l2 and extending into the periphery of the reservoir 14 above the sealing strip 37.

lt will thus be seen that the invention provides a unique method and apparatus for the rapid filling of containers, and especially bottles, with a liquid which has a sluggish flow characteristic, or is thick or viscous in nature.

Iclaim:

l. The method of aseptically filling a cold sluggish flowing liquid product into a container wherein the container has a filling opening through which the product is introduced into the container which comprises:

a. heating the container and filling it with steam and displacing air therefrom;

b. then sealing the filling opening of the container while the container is full of steam to the outlet terminal of a product supply tube and opening a valve to effect an initial flow of product from said tube into the container whereupon cold product initially entering the container condenses the steam to thereby create a vacuum in the container which accelerates the flow of product from the outlet terminal into the bottle and the subsequent filling of the container with product relieves lthe vacuum in the container;

c. separating the filled container from the outlet terminal and simultaneously closing the said valve for cutting off the discharge of product from the outlet terminal.

2. The method of filling a container as defined in claim l wherein the container is a glass container and the inlet opening thereof is the open top of the container.

3. The method defined in claim l wherein an atmosphere of steam is maintained about the container while it is being filled with steam and then with product and the outlet terminal of the product supply tube is also exposed to an atmosphere of steam before and after the container is sealed thereto and separated therefrom. 'A

4. Apparatus for aseptically filling a container with a cold product comprising:

a. a product holding reservoir;

b. a discharge tube leading from said reservoir and arranged to be kept full of product from the reservoir;

c. the tube having a terminal with an end closure against which it normally seats to prevent the discharge of product therefrom and from which the tube is arranged to minal whereby the container is full of steam when it is sealed against the terminal whereby product discharged from said terminal condenses steam in the container and thereby forms a vacuum to accelerate `the f'low of product into the container; and

f. means providing a steam-filled enclosure in which said tube terminal and support are located and through which the containers move during the foregoing operations.

5 Apparatus for filling containers as defined in claim 4 wherein said means for discharging high pressure steam into the container comprises a steam discharge tube extending into the fitment and terminating at the end of the fitment.

6. Apparatus for filling containers as defined in claim 5 wherein said valve is concentrically positioned within said fitment, the valve having an exterior surface:

a. said steam tube passing through the valve and terminating in the exterior surface thereof;

b. said fitment normally bearing against said valve for closing the flow of product past the valve; and

c. the fitment being movable axially upwardly relative to the valve and discharge tube when the top of a container is pressed against the sealing means.

7. Apparatus for filling containers as defined in claim 6 wherein there is a spring for resiliently urging the fitment against the valve when the filled container is removed from engagement with the sealing means.

8. Apparatus for filling containers as defined in claim 7 wherein:

a. said reservoir is circular and is supported for rotation about a vertical axis;

b. said means for moving the container comprises a vertically movable container support positioned directly below the discharge tube on the reservoirv and rotatable with the reservoir; and

c. a cam follower on said container support and a fixed vertically stepped cam over which said cam follower is arranged to move as the container support revolves with the reservoir for raising and lowering the container support with respect to said fitment and discharge tube.

9. Apparatus for filling containers as defined in claim 8 wherein:

a. there is a steam chamber with a connection to a source of steam having a sliding seal against the reservoir through an arc of rotation of the reservoir with an outlet port extending along the greater portion of its arcuate length;

b. said steam discharge tube having an inlet terminal that registers with said steam chamber outlet by the rotation of the reservoir;

c. a fixed air seal arranged to cover the inlet terminal of the steam discharge tube for a portion at least of its travel immediately following said steam chamber; and

d. said cam being so arranged that a container on the container support is moved with its open end spaced below the fitment when steam is admitted to the steam discharge tube when the inlet terminal of said tube is in confronting relation to the outlet port of the steam chamber and the container support is raised immediately following the travel of the steam discharge tube inlet terminal into register with said fixed air seal.

10. Apparatus for filling glass containers as defined in claim 9 wherein there is a fixed enclosure surrounding the circle of revolution of the container support, and means for supplying steam to said enclosure.

1l. Apparatus for filling containers with a liquid product comprising:

a. a rotary table with a number of vertically movable container supports thereon, the lower ends of said supports extending below the table;

b. a fixed circular cam track below the table on which said lower ends of the supports move as the table rotates, said cam track having steps therein for effecting a lowering and raising movement of the bottle supports in progressive sequence; c. a reservoir supported above the table and connected therewith for rotation with the table;

d. a series of equally spaced filling heads carried by the reservoir, one over each container support;

e. each filling head comprising a tube depending from the rotating reservoir with a fitment at its lower end;

f. said tment being movable vertically relatively to the tube;

g. means for resiliently urging the fitment downwardly with respect to the tube;

h. a valve element centered in the fitment and against which the fitment normally seats to close the tube against the escape of product therefrom;

i. a steam tube extending upwardly through said first tube opening to atmosphere through said valve and on which said valve is fixed;

j. sealing means on the fitment against which the top of a container may be sealed when the container is pressed thereagainst;

k. means at one point in the cycle of rotation of the reservoir and table for admitting steam to said steam tube in succession; and

l. means on the cycle of rotation of the reservoir for sealing each steam tube in succession against the inflow of air or the escape of steam immediately after it is removed from the steam supply means and until the container has been filled, said cam means being so arranged with respect to the rotation of the table that a container on each support is in turn brought into close spaced relation to said valve at the time steam is admitted to said steam tube and being so arranged that each bottle is successively sealed against the sealing means on the fitment immediately above it after the fiowof steam through said steam tube is terminated and the fitment simultaneously lifted out of seating engagement on said valve, whereby product may flow through vsaid first-named tube and the fitment into the container, the cam means being so arranged as to lower the container out of contact with the fitment after the bottle has been filled.

Claims

1. The method of aseptically filling a cold sluggish flowing liquid product into a container wherein the container has a filling opening through which the product is introduced into the container which comprises: a. heating the container and filling it with steam and displacing air therefrom; b. then sealing the filling opening of the container while the container is full of steam to the outlet terminal of a product supply tube and opening a valve to effect an initial flow of product from said tube into the container whereupon cold product initially entering the container condenses the steam to thereby create a vacuum in the container which accelerates the flow of product from the outlet terminal into the bottle and the subsequent filling of the container with product relieves the vacuum in the container; c. separating the filled container from the outlet terminal and simultaneously closing the said valve for cutting off the discharge of product from the outlet terminal.

2. The method of filling a container as defined in claim 1 wherein the container is a glass container and the inlet opening thereof is the open top of the container.

3. The method defined in claim 1 wherein an atmosphere of steam is maintained about the container while it is being filled with steam and then with product and the outlet terminal of the product supply tube is also exposed to an atmosphere of steam before and after the container is sealed thereto and separated therefrom.

4. Apparatus for aseptically filling a container with a cold product comprising: a. a product holding reservoir; b. a discharge tube leading from said reservoir and arranged to be kept full of product from the reservoir; c. the tube having a terminal with an end closure against which it normally seats to prevent the discharge of product therefrom and from which the tube is arranged to be unseated when said terminal is pressed into sealing engagement with the open end of a container to be filled; d. a container support and means for effecting relative vertical movement between said support and tube terminal arranged to press the open end of a container on the support into sealing contact with said terminal and thereby unseat the tube from said closure; e. means for replacing air in the container with steam immediately before the container is pressed against said terminal whereby the container is full of steam when it is sealed against the terminal whereby product discharged from said terminal condenses steam in the container and thereby forms a vacuum to accelerate the flow of product into the container; and f. means providing a steam-filled enclosure in which said tube terminal and support are located and through which the containers move during the foregoing operations. 5 Apparatus for filling containers as defined in claim 4 wherein said means for discharging high pressure steam into the container comprises a steam discharge tube extending into the fitment and terminating at the end of the fitment.

6. Apparatus for filling containers as defined in claim 5 wherein said valve is concentrically positioned within said fitment, the valve having an exterior surface: a. said steam tube passing through the valve and terminating in the exterior surface thereof; b. said fitment normally bearing against said valve for closing the flow of product past the valve; and c. the fitment being movable axially upwardly relative to the valve and discharge tube when the top of a container is pressed against the sealing means.

8. Apparatus for filling containers as defined in claim 7 wherein: a. said reservoir is circular and is supported for rotation about a vertical axis; b. said means for moving the container comprises a vertically movable container support positioned directly below the discharge tube on the reservoir and rotatable with the reservoir; and c. a cam follower on said container support and a fixed vertically stepped cam over wHich said cam follower is arranged to move as the container support revolves with the reservoir for raising and lowering the container support with respect to said fitment and discharge tube.

9. Apparatus for filling containers as defined in claim 8 wherein: a. there is a steam chamber with a connection to a source of steam having a sliding seal against the reservoir through an arc of rotation of the reservoir with an outlet port extending along the greater portion of its arcuate length; b. said steam discharge tube having an inlet terminal that registers with said steam chamber outlet by the rotation of the reservoir; c. a fixed air seal arranged to cover the inlet terminal of the steam discharge tube for a portion at least of its travel immediately following said steam chamber; and d. said cam being so arranged that a container on the container support is moved with its open end spaced below the fitment when steam is admitted to the steam discharge tube when the inlet terminal of said tube is in confronting relation to the outlet port of the steam chamber and the container support is raised immediately following the travel of the steam discharge tube inlet terminal into register with said fixed air seal.

11. Apparatus for filling containers with a liquid product comprising: a. a rotary table with a number of vertically movable container supports thereon, the lower ends of said supports extending below the table; b. a fixed circular cam track below the table on which said lower ends of the supports move as the table rotates, said cam track having steps therein for effecting a lowering and raising movement of the bottle supports in progressive sequence; c. a reservoir supported above the table and connected therewith for rotation with the table; d. a series of equally spaced filling heads carried by the reservoir, one over each container support; e. each filling head comprising a tube depending from the rotating reservoir with a fitment at its lower end; f. said fitment being movable vertically relatively to the tube; g. means for resiliently urging the fitment downwardly with respect to the tube; h. a valve element centered in the fitment and against which the fitment normally seats to close the tube against the escape of product therefrom; i. a steam tube extending upwardly through said first tube opening to atmosphere through said valve and on which said valve is fixed; j. sealing means on the fitment against which the top of a container may be sealed when the container is pressed thereagainst; k. means at one point in the cycle of rotation of the reservoir and table for admitting steam to said steam tube in succession; and l. means on the cycle of rotation of the reservoir for sealing each steam tube in succession against the inflow of air or the escape of steam immediately after it is removed from the steam supply means and until the container has been filled, said cam means being so arranged with respect to the rotation of the table that a container on each support is in turn brought into close spaced relation to said valve at the time steam is admitted to said steam tube and being so arranged that each bottle is successively sealed against the sealing means on the fitment immediately above it after the flow of steam through said steam tube is terminated and the fitment simultaneously lifted out of seating engagement on said valve, whereby product may flow through said first-named tube and the fitment into the container, the cam means being so arranged as to lower the container out of contact with the fitment after the bottle has been filled.