US3682207A

US3682207A - Container filling apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3682207A
Application number: US83389A
Authority: US
Inventors: Donn J Rickard; Robert F Rohm; Franklin K Holbrook
Original assignee: Brown International Corp
Current assignee: Brown International Corp
Priority date: 1970-10-23
Filing date: 1970-10-23
Publication date: 1972-08-08
Anticipated expiration: 1989-08-08

Abstract

Container filling apparatus includes a first constantly moving conveyor belt for empty containers and a second parallel constantly moving conveyor belt for filled containers. Filling stations are located in the space between the belts and each filling station includes apparatus for rotating a can during filling and for subsequently depressing the articles loaded into the can so that none of them project above a certain level in the can. Pusher devices push empty cans laterally from the first conveyor belt and the empty cans push the filled cans laterally from the filling stations onto the discharge conveyor belt. Each pusher device automatically retracts if an empty can fails to move properly to the filling station within a predetermined time interval, and thereafter the pusher immediately moves forward again, to avoid shutoff of the supply of empty cans to filling stations downstream from the can which failed to move properly. A device for selectively marking the outside surface of cans at certain of the filling stations avoids the requirement of a separate can supply for filling stations handling different products.

Description

United States Patent Rickard et al.

[ 51 Aug. 8, 1972 [54] CONTAINER FILLING APPARATUS [72] Inventors: Donn J. Rickard, Glendora; Robert F. Rohm, Fullerton; lh'anklin K.

Holbrook, Whittier, all of Calif.

[73] Assignee: Brown International Corporation,

Covina, Calif.

[22] Filed: Oct. 23, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 83,389

[52] US. Cl. ..l4l/98, 98/24, 98/33 AB, 141/104, 14l/l70 [51] Int. Cl ..B65b l/04, B65b 3/04 [58] FieldofSearch ..l4l/l29-191,94, 141/98, 104; 33/131; 198/24, 33 AB [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,082,567 6/1937 Blearn ..'l4l/l70 2,333,232 ll/l943 Bleam etal .l4l/l70 2,695,123 11/1954 Suellentrop' 141/170 2,922,445 1/ 1960 Osmond et al ..l4l/ 170 3,219,070 ll/l965 Nowak ..l41/l70 3,405,500 10/1968 Rupert 141/170 Primary Examiner-Houston S. Bell, .lr. Attorney-Lyon & Lyon ABSTRACT Container filling apparatus includes a first constantly moving conveyor belt for empty containers and a second parallel constantly moving conveyor belt for filled containers. Filling stations are located in the space between the belts and each filling station includes apparatus for rotating a can during filling and for subsequently depressing the articles loaded into the can so that none of them project above a certain level in the can. Pusher devices push empty cans laterally from the first conveyor belt and the empty cans push the filled cans laterally from the filling stations onto the discharge conveyor belt. Each pusher device automatically retracts if an empty can fails to move properly to the filling station within a predetermined time interval, and thereafter the pusher immediately moves forward again, to avoid shutoff of the supply of empty cans to filling stations downstream from the can which failed to move properly. A device for selectively marking the outside surface of cans at certain of the filling stations avoids the requirement of a separate can supply for filling stations handling different products.

5 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures Patented Aug. 8, 1972 5 Sheets-sheaf 1 K INVENTOR5.

Patented Aug. 8, 1972 5 Shuts-Shoot 2 pdA/A/ J ,Z/CL AZD 305637 E 50/77 4 FEA/VKL/A/K HOCBZUOK INVENTORS- Patented Aug. 8, 1972 5 Shuts-Shut 4 Dav/v J 5/6/9429, 505667 E E0 nfvy g Patented Aug. 8, 1972 5 Shoots-Sheet 5 CONTAINER FILLING APPARATUS This invention relates to container filling apparatus and is particularly directed to improvements which permit each container filling station to operate on demand and without any predetermined order or sequence. As soon as the filling operations relating to a particular can are completed, a pusher device engages one of the series of cans resting on a moving conveyor belt and moves it laterally off the belt toward filling position. The movement of the empty can brings it into contact with the previously filled can and moves the latter onto a discharge belt. The pusher devices operate independently. Can-contacting fingers and gates are employed in connection with pusher fingers for holding the empty can against tilting movement in any direction while it is being trans-ferred from the supply belt to can-filling position.

This invention also contemplates the provision of means for retracting the pusher assembly in the event that the empty can which it pushes fails to reach the filling position after a predetermined time interval, for example one-half second. The pusher retracts to free the can, then immediately advances to trap the same or another can in the series and to push it to filling position, displacing a filled can in the process. Another feature of this inven-tion relates to apparatus for moving the grapefruit sections down into the can at the conclusion of the filling operation, to insure that the filled can has an empty space near the top end thereof for subsequent closure by a lid and injection of steam into the space.

Another feature of the invention resides in the provision of apparatus for marking the cans which exit from certain of the filling stations. For example, it is desirable to package all of the unbroken spherical wedgeshaped grapefruit sections in one series of cans and to package the broken grapefruit section in another series of cans, the two series of cans being readily distinguishable after completion of the filling operation. This is readily accomplished by marking the cans containing broken sections as those cans are rotated as a part of the filling process.

Other objects and hereinafter.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a plan view partly broken away, showing a preferred embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation thereof partly broken away.

FIG. 3 is a sectional elevation partly broken away, taken substantially on the lines 33 as shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a plan view taken substantially on the lines 4-4 as shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a plan view constituting an enlarged portion of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing a portion of FIG. 3 on an enlarged scale.

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a sectional detail taken substantially on the lines 8-8 as shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 8 showing the parts in a different position.

FIG. 10 shows a portion of FIG. 1 on an enlarged scale.

FIG. 1 l is a side elevation of the apparatus shown in FIG. 10.

advantages will appear FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram showing mechanism for operating the can pushing plunger assembly.

Referring to the drawings, a conveyor belt 10 for empty containers 20 extends over pulleys 11 and 12 and is driven by sprocket 13. A conveyor belt 14 for filled containers 23 extends over pulleys l5 and I6 and is driven by sprocket 17. The belts l0 and 14 are parallel, and their upper surfaces lie in substantially the same horizontal plane. Container filling stations A, B and C are positioned in the space between the belts. While three filling stations are shown in the drawings, it will be understood that this is by wayof illustration only and that any number of container filling stations could be employed.

In the general plan of operation, empty open-top cans 20 are delivered by the continuously moving belt 10 and are pushed laterally ofl the side edge of the belt 10 to a filling station A, B or C by means of one of the pusher assemblies 22. In moving laterally to the filling station, the empty can 20 pushes a previously filled can 23 laterally onto the continuously moving discharge belt 14. The pusher 22 at each filling station operates independently of other pushers at other stations, so that there is no fixed sequence of operation of the pusher assemblies 22.

Since the pusher assemblies and related apparatus at each of the filling stations are substantially duplicates, a

description of one will suffice. As shown in FIG. 2, the

stationary frame 25 carries supports 26 and 27 for slidingly supporting the upper and lower reaches of the belt 10 and carries

supports

28 and 29 for the upper and lower reaches of the belt 14. A vibratory filling chute 30 has a nozzle 31 provided with acircular guard 32 at its discharge end, and this chute delivers weighed loads of fragile articles such as grapefruit sections into an open-top can 20a in filling position. Apparatus for deliverying the weighed loads is shown and described in the copending application of Donn J. Rickard for Apparatus for Filling a Container with a Weighed Load of Fragile Articles, Ser. No. 83,390 filed of even date herewith.

A stationary stop 33 is fixed to the frame 10 and is engaged by the first empty can 20 in the series of cans resting on the continuously moving belt 10.

Guide rails

34 and 35 prevent lateral movement of the cans 20 except at locations opposite the container filling stations. The pusher assemblies 22 include vertically spaced pairs of contact fingers 36 and 37 shaped to engage the side cylindrical surface of a can 20 above and below its center of gravity, and these contact fingers are provided on vertically spaced

plates

38 and 39 mounted on a bracket 40 fixed to carrier bar 41. Parallel stationary guide bars 43 are fixed to the frame 25 by means of

stationary blocks

44 and 45. The movable carrier bar 41 is fixed to spaced

slide bearings

46 and 47 which slide axially on the stationary guide bars 43. A double-acting power cylinder assembly 49 supported on the stationary block 45 has a piston rod 50 connected to the bearing block 47 for reciprocating the carrier bar 41 and

finger plates

38 and 39. These parts are movable between the retracted position shown in FIGS. 2 and 4 and the extended position shown in FIG. 5. It will be noted in FIG. 5 that the width of the finger support bracket 40 is substantially the same as the diameter of one of the cans 20, so that the bracket 40 in extended position serves as a stop to limit motion of cans upstream on the traveling belt 10.

The forward motion of the carrier bar 41 and

finger plates

38 and 39 is arrested by contact between the slide bearing and the adjustable stop 48 (FIG. 2). The empty can, moved laterally to filling position, pushes a previous filled can 23 away from filling position onto the discharge belt 14.- Can control plates 51 are mounted on the stationary frame and serve as a support for the guides 57, gates 102 and 103, trip finger 92, and movable stop 53. Each of these plates has a face 52 extending at an angle and which causes the filled cans 23to move diagonally on the discharge belt 14. Overtravel of the empty can 20a toward filling position is prevented by vertically spacedstop fingers 53 pivotally mounted at 54 and held resiliently in position against adjustable stop 55 by means of spring 56. Stationary guide rails 57 guide the can 200 to a central position over the vertical axis of the can rotating mechanism generally designated 58.

As best shown in nos. 3,6 and 7, the can rotating mechanism 58 includes a stationary sleeve 60'fixed to the frame-25 and having axially spaced bushings 61 for rotary support'of the tube 62. A thrust washer 63 supports the upper flanged portion 64 of the sleeve 62. A

. rotary platform 65 is provided with three radial notches 66 to provide clearance for grip fingers 67 which may be projected through the notches 66 to grip the can 20a just above its chime 68 and to hold the can in central position. A drive pulley 69 keyed to the lower portion of the rotary tube 62 has a V-belt groove 70 to receive a portion of the length of a V-belt 71 (FIGS. 8 and 9). The belt 71 is brought into driving relationship with the groove 70 by moving it laterally by means of spaced rollers 72 carried on a common support 73 actuated by a power cylinder assembly 74. When the assembly 74 is energized, the rollers 72 move from the position shown in FIG. 9 to the position shown in FIG. 8, thereby causing the belt 71 to drive the pulley 69. The belt 71 receives power from drive pulley 59 driven by motor 75 through chain 81 and gear box 91. The same belt 71 selectively drives each of the can rotating assemblies, one at each container filling station.

An axially movable rotary stem 76 projects through the interior of the rotary tube 62 and is connected by key 81 for rotation therewith- The stem 76'may be moved axially by means of the power cylinder assembly 77 which has a piston rod 78 connected through thrust bearing 79 to the bearing housing 80 fixed on the lower end of the stem 76. An enlarged head 82 is provided on the upper end of the stern, and this head has three equally spaced radial slots 83 each traversed by a pin 84. An elongated opening 85 in one arm of each finger 67 slidably receives the pin 84. Each finger 67 is pivotally mounted on a pin 86 carried on the rotary platform 65. From this description, it will be understood that the platform 65 and fingers 67 rotate whenever the pulley 69 is driven, and the fingers 67 move from the inoperative position shown in phantom lines in FIG. 6 to the full line operative position when the shape of a spherical wedge and hence rotation of the can and contents is desirable to achieve optimum above the top of the can immediately after the can receives the weighed load of grapefruit sections.

Means are provided for pushing the grapefruit sections down below the level of the upper end of the can 20a, after the filling operation. purpose of this procedure is'to insure that the extreme upper portion of the interior of the can is empty when the can leaves the filling station. In a subsequent operation, not shown, the can lid is applied after injecting steam into the space at the upper end of the can. The steam condenses and the can is said to be vacuum-packed. A plunger 87 is carried on the lower end of a piston rod 88 extending vertically downward from the double-acting power cylinder assembly 89. This assembly is supported on brackets 90 fixed to the frame of themachine. The plunger 87 is slightly smaller in diameter than the guard 32 carried on the filling end of the nozzle 31. The plunger 87 may be moved downward fromthe full line position shown in FIG. 3 to the dotted line position in which it occupies a small portion of the upper end of the can 200. The plunger 87 is normally inserted into the upper end of the can 20a after the rotation operation has ceased, and the plunger is im-' mediately withdrawn to its upper retracted position. I The filled can remains in place on the rotary table 65 until the plunger 87 moves upward out of the upper end of the can. a

The next adjacent can 20 on the belt 10 is then moved laterally by means of thepusher assembly 22 comprising the

finger plates

38 and 39, bracket 40, carrier bar 41 and power cylinder assembly 49. These parts move forward from the retracted position shown in FIG. 2. The empty can pushes the filled can onto the discharge conveyor 14. The arrival of the empty can at the filling station is signalled by means of the trip lever 92 which is fixed to the hub 93 mounted on stationary pivot pin 94. A lever 95 also fixed to the hub 93 carries a magnet 96 at its swinging end. When the can 20 depresses the lever 92 in its movement toward the filling position the lever 95 and magnet 96 are moved to the phantom line position shown in FIG. 5. In this position, the magnet 96 lies closely adjacent a magnetically operated electric switch 97 of conventional design. This switch energizes an electrical circuit, not shown, to cause discharge of another weighed load of grapefruit sections through the chute 30 and nonle 31. Tension spring 98 connected to the hub projection 99 returns the parts against an adjustable stop 100.

U-shaped swinging gates 102 and 103 are mounted on vertical pivot pins 94 and 104, respectively.

Springs

105 and 106 act to move the gates 102 and 103 to the position shown in FIG. 4. When one of the empty cans is thrust laterally toward filling position, it moves the gates 102 and 103 from the position shown in FIG. 4 to the position shown in FIG. 5, and in the latter position the finger plate 38 holds the gates in fully open position. The resilient retarding action of the gates 102 and 103, contacting the transversely moving can 20 above and below its center of gravity, cooperate with the fingers 36 and 37 to maintain the can upright against tilting movement during the transfer from the belt. to the filling position above the turntable 65.

Since the pusher assembly 22 including the

finger plates

38 and 39, bracket 40 and carrier bar 41 move forward as soon as the can filling cycle is complete, it is possible that the empty cans on the traveling belt 10 may be moving at the instant that the fingers 36 and 37 move forward toward can-contacting position. Experience has shown that, on rare occasions, one of the empty cans may be pinned against the guide by one or more of the fingers 36, 37, instead of being automatically centered between the fingers and pushed into filling position. In such event, the empty can which is pinned between the fingers and some other part of the machine, prevents upstream cans on the conveyor belt 10 from reaching positions opposite the filling positions, with the result that container filling stations downstream from the pinned empty can cease to operate. In order to avoid this difficulty, means are provided for automatically retracting the carrier bar 41 and associated

finger plates

38 and 39 in the event that a predetermined time interval, for example one-half second, elapses after the carrier bar 41 begins its movement and until it reaches the far end of its stroke. If a greater lapse of time occurs, the power cylinder assembly 49 retracts the carrier bar 41 to return the

finger plates

38 and 39 to retracted position, freeing the pinned can. The carrier bar 41 and associated parts is immediately advanced again, and the same or another can is pushed by the fingers 36 and 37 laterally to filling position. Observation has shown that seldom, if ever, is the same or a different can pinned in an inoperative position on two successive strokes of the same pusher assembly 22.

The time delay is achieved in the following manner: The pusher assembly 22 includes a magnet holder plate 101 secured to the

slide bearings

46 and 47 and supporting axially spaced

magnets

107 and 108. Stationary

electrical switches

117 and 118 of conventional design are mounted upon a stationary panel 119 carried on the frame. Switch 118 is actuated by proximity of magnet 108, and switch 1 17 is actuated by proximity of magnet 107. If more than one-half second elapses after magnet 107 passes switch 117 and before magnet 108 reaches close proximity to switch 118, the power cylinder 49 retracts the assembly 22 to starting position, and then advances again. As show in FIG. 12, the pusher assembly 22 is actuated by means of a four-way valve 120 which is in turn operated by an electrical solenoid 121 and a return spring 122. A relay switch 123 for energizing the solenoid 121 is operated by by the relay 124 having a coil 125 and another coil 126. This relay is of conventional construction and it serves to open the switch 123. Accordingly, when the energizing switch 127 is closed, the coil 125 of the relay 124 closes the switch 123 and causes the solenoid 121 to move the four-way valve so that the plunger assembly 22 is advanced toward the right, as viewed in FIG. 12. If the plunger assembly 22 completes its stroke, the switch 118 is closed, thereby energizing coil 126. Coil- 126 being then energized, the effect is to open the switch 123, thereby allowing the spring 122 to return the fourway valve to its initial position and causing the plunger assembly 22 to retract. If, however, the plunger assembly 22 does not complete its stroke within one-half second, the time delay relay switch 128 closes, thereby energizing the coil 126 to open the switch 123. This causes the plunger assembly 22 to move to retracted position. a

Means are provided for marking the cans 200 at one or more of the filling stations. As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the marking pen or pencil is received in a swinging head 111 pivoted at 112 on the plate 51. A power cylinder assembly 113 operates a crank arm 114 fixed to the pivot pin 112 so that the tip 115 of the marking pencil or pen 1 10 may be moved into or out of contact with the outer cylindrical surface of the can 20a as it rests on the turntable 65. An adjustable stop 116 is provided to limit the travel of the pen tip 115 in the direction toward the outer surface of the can 20a. If desired, the head 111 may be provided with a second marking pen or pencil 1 10a, as shown by phantom lines in FIG. 10. Marking of the cans as they turn at the filling station enables these particular cans to be identified later, after closing, and this has been found to constitute a very valuable feature. One or more of the filling stations may be employed to fill broken grapefruit sections, whereas all of the other containerfilling stations may be supplied with whole unbroken grapefruit sections of spherical wedge shape. If it were not for the ability to mark the cans containing the broken sections an entire separate supply line of empty cans would be required.

In operation, empty cans 20 are supplied to the conveyor belt 10 and the series of cans stops forward motion when the first can in the series reaches the stop 33. The conveyor belt 10 continues to move. Articles to be placed in the cans, for example grapefruit sections of generally spherical wedge shape, are delivered through the vibratory tray 30 and nozzle 31 in groups each comprising a weighed load. Timing control mechanism including the trip lever 92 and its associated lever 95 and magnet 96 swing to a phantom line position as shown in FIG. 5 when an empty can is moved into place on the turntable 65, and the grip fingers 67 actuated to grip the chime 68 and rotate the can. In this phantom line position of the magnet 96, its proximity to the magnetically operated electrical switch 97 closes a circuit, not shown, which results in delivery of grapefruit sections from the nozzle 31 and guard 32 into the rotating can in filling position. This rotary movement assists in distributing the spherical wedge-shaped grapefruit sections so that they are more closely packed within the can. After completion of the filling operation, the rotation is stopped, and the plunger 87 moves downward through the interior of the guard 32 and into the upper end of the can 20a to displace any grapefruit sections extending into this region. The plunger 87 is then retracted. At this point in the cycle of operation, the can 200 has been spun, filled, and the contents have been moved out of the extreme upper region of the can. It is ready to be removed from filling position and carried away on the discharge conveyor belt 14.

Upward retracting movement of the plunger 87 energizes a circuit, not shown, which results in pressurizing the pneumatic cylinder assembly 49 associated with the container filling station from which the plunger 87 has just been retracted. The pusher assembly 22 which includes this power cylinder 49 then moves forward so that the fingers 36 and 37 on the assembly engage an empty can 20 and move it laterally off the side edge of the belt 10 toward the filling position. During this lateral movement, the outer surface of the cylindrical can engages the swinging gates 102 and 103 which cooperate with the fingers 36 and 37 to hold the can upright against tilting as it is moved laterally. During the lateral motion, the can also strikes the trip lever 92 to swing it to the phantom line position shown in FIG. 5, and to bring the magnet 96 in close proximity to the electrical switch 97. Lever 92 swings back after the can is advanced. Motion of the can 20 toward filling position is limited by engagement with the swinging 'arm53.

As pointed out above, the container filling stations operate independently on demand and do not have any fixed sequence of operation. Accordingly, it is possible that, at the instant the pusher assembly 22 begins its advance to move an empty can laterally off theconveyor belt 10, another'pusher assembly 22 downstream may have just completed its cycle and moved back to retracted position, resulting in movement of all of the empty cans upstream therefrom on the conveyor 10..I'hus, at the instant of movement of the first-mentioned pusher assembly 22, the series of cans in front of the pusher assembly may be moving. In such case, the fingers 36 and 37 may not contact the empty can symmetrically, and instead of moving the empty can directly through the swinging gates 102 and 103, the can may become stuck or lodged or pinned so that it does not reach filling position and does not contactthe trip lever 92. in such event, the pusher assembly 22 retracts after a time delay of approximately one-half second, and immediately moves forward again. On this second stroke, the pusher assembly 22 traps the same or different can 20 between the fingers 36 and 37 and moves the can through the swinging gates 102 and 103 into contact with the previously filled can at the filling station. The empty can moves the previously-filled can onto the traveling discharge belt 14 and the empty can comes to rest in the filling position directly over the axis of the rotary turntable 65. While the pusher assembly 22 is in advanced position, as shown in FIG. 5', the lateral side edge of the bracket serves as a stop for all upstream empty cans on the conveyor belt 10, and upon retraction of the pusher assembly 22'to the position shown in FIG. 4, the empty cans move up to fill the vacant space or spaces.

Having fully described our invention, it is to be understood that we are not to be limited to the details herein set forth but that our invention is of the full scope of the appended claims.

. We claim:

1. Container filling apparatus,comprising in combination: a conveyor belt for delivering empty containers, container filling means at one side of the conveyor belt, said container filling means having means for supporting a container while it is being filled from the top, a pusher assembly operable at right angles to said conveyor belt, said pusher assembly having vertiagainst tilting during such lateral movement.

2. The combination set forth in claim 1 in which said gates are each U shaped and each contacts the container above and below its center of gravity.

3. Container filling apparatus, comprising in combination: a conveyor belt for delivering empty containers, container filling means atone side of the conveyor belt, said container filling means having means for supporting a container while it is being filled from the top, a pusher assembly operable at right angles to said conveyor belt and adapted to push an empty container laterally off the side edge of the conveyor belt onto the supporting means of one of said filling means, and means including electrical switches operated by travel of the pusher assembly for retracting the pusher assembly away from the empty container after a predetermined time interval in the event that the empty container fails to reachsaid supporting means.

4. Container filling apparatus, comprising in combination: a conveyor belt for delivering empty containers, a stationary stop engaging the first empty container in the series on the conveyor belt, a plurality of container filling means spaced along one edge of the conveyor belt, each of said container filling means having means for supporting a container while it is being filled from the top, a pusher assembly operable at right angles to said conveyor belt, the pusher assembly having a portion thereof of substantially the same width as the outside transverse dimension of each container and positioned so that in advanced position said portion is engaged by a container upstream on said conveyor belt, and said pusher assembly being adapted to push an empty container laterally oh the side edge of the conveyor belt onto the supporting means.

5. Container filling apparatus, comprising in combination: a conveyor belt for deliving empty cylindrical containers, a plurality of container filling means spaced along one edge of the conveyor belt, each of the container filling means having a turntable for supporting a container while it is being filled from the top, selectively operable means for rotating the turntable to distribute material from the filling means to within the container, a pusher assembly operable at right angles to said conveyor belt and adapted to push an empty container laterally off the side edge of the conveyor belt onto the turntable, and a resiliently-urged marker adapted to contact the outer cylindrical surface of the container as it is being rotated on the turntable to produce a distinctive mark on the container.

l t t

Claims

1. Container filling apparatus, comprising in combination: a conveyor belt for delivering empty containers, container filling means at one side of the conveyor belt, said container filling means having means for supporting a container while it is being filled from the top, a pusher assembly operable at right angles to said conveyor belt, said pusher assembly having vertically spaced pairs of horizontally spaced container-contacting fingers for engaging the outer surface of the empty container both above and below its center of gravity, said pusher assembly being adapted to push an empty container laterally off the side edge of the conveyor belt onto the supporting means, and spring-urged pivoted gates positioned to contact the empty container to resist lateral movement of the container toward the supporting means, said gates cooperating with said fingers to hold the empty container upright against tilting during such lateral movement.

2. The combination set forth in claim 1 in which said gates are each ''''U'''' shaped and each contacts the container above and below its center of gravity.

3. Container filling apparatus, comprising in combination: a conveyor belt for delivering empty containers, container filling means at one side of the conveyor belt, said container filling means having means for supporting a container while it is being filled from the top, a pusher assembly operable at right angles to said conveyor belt and adapted to push an empty container laterally off the side edge of the conveyor belt onto the supporting means of one of said filling means, and means including electrical switches operated by travel of the pusher assembly for retracting the pusher assembly away from the empty container after a predetermined time interval in the event that the empty container fails to reach said supporting means.

4. Container filling apparatus, comprising in combination: a conveyor belt for delivering empty containers, a stationary stop engaging the first empty container in the series on the conveyor belt, a plurality of container filling means spaced along one edge of the conveyor belt, each of said container filling means having means for supporting a container while it is being filled from the top, a pusher assembly operable at right angles to said conveyor belt, the pusher assembly having a portion thereof of substantially the same width as the outside transverse dimension of each container and positioned so that in advanced position said portion is engaged by a container upstream on said conveyor belt, and said pusher assembly being adapted to push an empty container laterally off the side edge of the conveyor belt onto The supporting means.