US3845791A

US3845791A - Universal filling head

Info

Publication number: US3845791A
Authority: US
Inventors: K Friendship
Original assignee: Continental Can Co Inc
Current assignee: Continental Can Co Inc
Priority date: 1970-10-15
Filing date: 1973-03-12
Publication date: 1974-11-05
Anticipated expiration: 1991-11-05

Abstract

An apparatus for filling carbonated liquids into containers which is characterized by a tubular housing with a downwardly opening upper member in which a lower member is mounted in slidingly telescoping relation. The lower member has a container top engaging and sealing bell on the bottom end and houses a hollow fluid product distributor in which there is a product control valve depending from an air operated piston which is slidable in the lower housing member above said product distributor. A valve controlled counterpressure line is connected to a side wall inlet port wbich leads to a space between the piston and the product distributor and which connects with passageways leading through the product control valve and into the container. A cam operated valve controlled product supply line is connected to an inlet port in the lower housing member and through a passageway in the product distributor to a recess in which the product control valve operates. A light compression spring normally holds the product valve closed and the product also exerts closing pressure on the valve when the product line is opened until counterpressure operating on the valve piston overcomes the combined pressure of the spring and product and opens the valve. A probe associated with the valve operates a relay circuit when a predetermined level of fill is reached and opens the air pressure line for closing the product valve while the counterpressure line is closed by cam operation of its control valve. A flow restrictor device is placed in the product supply line immediately adjacent the inlet port for producing extreme turbulence and high pressure drop in the liquid which minimizes foaming. A provision for a universal filling machine is found in further embodiments.

Description

United States Patent I [191.

Friendship 1 Nov. 5, 1974 1 UNIVERSAL FILLING HEAD A [75] 'lnventorz Kenneth Francis Montague Friendship, l-linsdale, 111.

[73] Assignee: Continental Can Company, lnc.,

New York, N.Y.

[22] Filed: Mar. 12, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 340,625

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 80,895, Oct. 15,

1970, Pat. N0. 3,720,242.

141/91, 141/198, 141/286, 141/302, 137/170.1 [51] Int. Cl. B670 3/06 [58] Field of Search 141/4-7, 37,

Primary Examinerllouston S. Bell, Jr. Attorney, Agent, or FirmDiller Brown, Ramik & Wight [57] ABSTRACT An apparatus for filling carbonated liquids into containers which is characterized by a tubular housing with a downwardly opening upper member in which a lower member is mounted in slidingly telescoping relation. The lower member has a container top engaging and sealing bell on the bottom end and houses a hollow fluid product distributor in which there is a product control valve depending from an air operated piston which is slidable in the lower housing member above said product distributor. A valve controlled counterpressure line is connected to a side wall inlet port which leads to a spacebetween the piston and the product distributor and which connects with passageways leading through'the product control valve and into the container. A cam operated valve controlled product supply line is connected to an inlet port in the lower housing member and through a passageway in the product distributor to a recess in which the product control valve operates. A light compression spring normally holds the product valve closed and the product also exerts closing pressure on the valve when the product line is opened until counterpressure operating on the valve piston overcomes the combined pressure of the spring and product and opens the valve. A probe associated with the valve operates a relay circuit when a predetermined level of fill is reached and opens the air pressure line for closing the product valve while the counterpressure line is closed by cam operation of its control valve. A flow restrictor device is placed in the product supply line immediately adja cent the inlet port for producing extreme turbulence and high pressure drop in the liquid which minimizes foaming. A provision for a universal filling machine is found in further embodiments.

18 Claims, 18 Drawing Figures PAIENIEDNBV slam 3.845791 sum GDP 1 lUNlVERSAlL FJILMNG HEAD This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 80,895, filed Oct. 15, 1970, now US. Pat. No. 3,720,242 entitled Container Filling Apparatus by Kenneth F. M. Friendship.

This invention relates to the filling of containers with liquid products and is more particularly concerned with improvements in an apparatus for filling containers in a substantially automatic manner with a uniform quantity of a beverage or similar liquid product.

Machines have heretofore been developed which are particularly designed for packaging carbonated beverages and similar products. These machines provide for a build-up of counterpressure in the container, by one means or another, and flowing in the product under a low manometric head from a receiver incorporated in the machine in which a product supply is maintained at pressure similar to the counterpressure in the container, the low head pressure being relied upon to minimize foaming normally caused by high velocity flow or mechanical handling. These machines are based on the assumption that the handling of this type product gently and at low velocities avoids foaming and such machines have had limited filling speeds. Automatic filling machines for this purpose have been employed which have generally included a product supply vessel or bowl with a plurality of filling heads incorporated in the bottom wall and arranged to draw the product directly from the supply vessel and feed the desired amount thereof downwardly through a valve and into the containers while counterpressure and product pressure are maintained substantially equal. Generally, it has been necessary to provide for exhausting gas from the head space by a special venting valve or shifting device prior to breaking the seal with the container top when the container has been filled with the desired amount of the product. Also, the need for maintaining a relatively large supply of product under pressure in the machine has complicated the problems of preserving the quality of the product, maintaining sanitary conditions and minimizing product loss when shutdown or change of product is required. More recently, it was found that by raising the product pressure and including a flow restricting device in the product valve so as to create a pressure drop between the elevated pressure of the product and atmospheric pressure when the desired flow through the valve was achieved, carbonated products could be handled with a lesser degree of foaming and at a higher filling speed. it was felt that the flow restricting device should be of a character to produce a thin film of liquid, on the order of 0.005 inch to 0.006 inch thick, and the terms Laminar and Capiliary flow have been frequently used in describing the flow condition produced for successful operation of such devices. These devices have been used commercially, particularly in conjunction with vending machines for carbonated products and similar dispensing equipment.

It is a general object of the present invention to pro vide an improved system or apparatus for filling containers with liquid products which is capable of substantially automatic operation, with minimum control, and which will achieve uniform filling at high filling speeds, particularly, when handling beverage products of a carbonated nature.

lt is a more specific object of the invention to provide an apparatus, particularly designed for filling containers with carbonated beverage products, which is capable of high speed operation and which will fill the containers with uniform amounts of the product and with a minimum of foaming.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for filling containers with a liquid product which is carbonated wherein the product is delivered to a filling head which has a product tllow container valve and a means for providing counterpressure in a container sealed to the head and wherein means is provided in the product delivery line, which is external of the head, for creating extreme turbulence and high pressure drop in the product line so that it fiows through the product control valve at relatively high filling speed and little or no foaming results.

A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for filling containers with a carbonated liquid product wherein a filling head is provided in which there is incorporated a product flow control means including a valve and associated structure which enables counterpressure to be delivered through the valve and built up in a container having its mouth sealed to the head, with the product flow control valve being operable to admit a liquid product which has passed through a restrictor device prior to entering the filling head and which restrictor device is not required to produce laminar flow of the product for filling without excessive foaming.

Another object of the invention is to provide a filling head for beverages or similar carbonated products which normally tend to foram when. submitted to turbulence caused by rough handling or high velocity flow wherein the product is supplied to the filling head through a pressurized line in which line there is provided a restrictor for creating extreme turbulence and boosting the pressure of the product so that when it enters the filling head and flows into the container which has been supplied with a counterpressure forming gas there is a pressure drop which results in filling the container with a minimum of foaming.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a filling head for carbonated beverages which incorporates a product valve with an arrangement for supplying counterpressure through the valve to a container, the mouth of which is sealed to the filling head by a sealing bell, with the counterpressure operative to open the product valve for entry of the product and with means to activate a relay circuit through which the product valve will be closed when a probe triggers the relay upon predetermined rise of liquid in the container to the desired height.

Another object of the invention is to provide a filling head for carbonated beverages which can be easily cleaned and sterilized by in-place cleaning methods.

Another object of the invention is to provide a filling head particularly adapted for handling carbonated beverages wherein a product valve is arranged in the head to control the flow of the product, delivered through a supply line from a source which may be remote from the head, into a container, the mouth of which is sealed for a filling cycle to the bottom end of the head, with the valve operable by a fluid actuated piston and with a connection to a line for supplying counterpressure through the valve, so that, the product valve will be opened by the counterpressure when this is established in the container to fill the container, and with the product valve having an associated probe which activates a relay circuit, the relay being operated automatically, upon the liquid in the container reaching a predetermined level, to supply a fluid to the piston for closing the product valve which cuts off the product flow after which the counterpressure line is closed mechanically.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from a consideration of the filling apparatus which is shown by way of illustration in the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view showing a filling head mounted on a filling machine for carbonated beverages which has incorporated therein the principal features of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view showing an adjoining side of. the filling head of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a vertical section taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 1, to an enlarged scale and with portions broken away;

FIG. 4 is an elevational view showing the product valve body and associated parts which are incorporated in the filling head, the view being to a large scale and showing the assembly removed from its housing, with portions broken away;

FIG. 4A is a fragmentary sectional view, taken on the line 4A-4A of FIG. 3, to a large scale, showing the probe guide and cleaning fluid restrictor;

FIG. 5 is a partial cross section taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 3, to a larger scale, showing the bottom face of the product distributor member, the housing and valve body portions being omitted;

FIG. 6 is a partial cross section taken on the line 66 of FIG. 3, to a larger scale and with portions omitted;

FIG. 7 is a partial cross section taken on the line 7-7 of FIG. 3, to a larger scale and with portions omitted;

FIG. 8 is a partial cross section taken on the line 8-8 of FIG. 3, to a larger scale and with portions omitted;

FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the filling head of FIG. I, with adjacent heads being indicated in phantom line;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 10-10 of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of the product valve and associated parts removed from the housmg;

FIG. 12 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the control circuit for the filling head;

FIG'. 13 is a vertical section taken along a center line of a second embodiment of my invention;

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary sectional view of a third embodiment of my invention;

FIG. 15 is an expanded perspective view of the product valve, distributor and piston of the embodiment shown in FIG. 13;

FIG. 16 is an expanded perspective view of the product valve, distributor and piston of the embodiment shown in FIG. 14; and

FIG. 17 is an electronic relay circuit with a built in time delay for electrically inactivating the probe.

Referring to the drawings, there is illustrated an apparatus for filling containers, such as cans, with a beverage product, particularly beer, soft drinks or the like,

which is carbonated and normally subject to foaming action when exposed to the atmosphere at normal temperatures. The apparatus comprises a filling head 10 which is adapted to be mounted, generally in multiples, on a turret or other conveyor means. The head 10 is illustrated as mounted on a post 11, or the like. The conveyor will have associated supporting means for cans C and a means for delivering the empty cans in approximately vertical alignment beneath each of the filling heads 10.

The head 10 comprises an upper or outer cylindrical member 12 which is in relatively fixed position on the supporting post 11 and a lower or inner cylindrical member 14 which telescopes partly within the upper member 12 and which is mounted for vertical sliding relation therein. The vertical movement of the inner cylindrical member 14 is controlled by a cam track on a box cam forming member 16 and a cam follower roller 17, the latter being carried on the lower end of the vertically sliding member 14. A cam follower roller 18 on the member 12 also rides in the box cam 16 and serves to relieve pressure on the member 12. The two

telescoping members

12 and 14 constitute a two-piece housing for the filling valve and associated elements.

The cylindrical bottom housing member 14 carries at its lower end 19 a combination product guide cone and container top engaging sealing bell assembly 20. A seal ring 21 of rubber, or similar material, is seated in a recess 22 formed in the lower end of the guide cone forming portion 23 and held therein by a flange forming ring 24 in threaded engagement with the guide cone 23. The cone member 23 has its upper end telescoped within and is in threaded engagement with the lower end 19 of the member 14. An 0 ring seal 25 is seated in a side wall groove near the upper edge of the cone member 23. The interior of the guide cone 23 has the shape of an inverted funnel, as indicated at 26, so as to guide the product into the container C and into engagement with the inner side walls of the container. A cylindrical product distributor member 27 is seated in the lower portion 19 of the member 14 immediately above the top edge of the guide cone member 23 and locked in position by the cone member 23. The bore 28 has an enlarged portion at the lower end which forms a recess 31 for a flange portion 32 on the valve member 30. In the lower face of the flange portion 32 there is mounted on O ring 33 which is seated in a downwardly opening circumferential groove. The O ring is adapted to engage the inner top margin or edge 34 of the guide cone 23 which forms a valve seat for cooperation with the O ring 33. The product distributor 27 has a circumferential groove or slot 35 forming a passageway for receiving product from the product supply line 36. The supply line 36 is connected by the nipple 37 with an entrance passageway 38 extending through the side wall of the housing member 14. Short passageways 40 extend axially downwardly from the circumferential groove 35 into the recess 31 so as to provide for entrance of the product into the guide cone 23 when the valve member 30 is lifted and the valve forming O-ring 33 is spaced above the valve seat 34 in a valve opening position. The valve body 30 is provided with a pair of O ring seals 41 and the distributor valve is likewise provided with a pair of O ring seals 42, these seals in each pair thereof being spaced above and below a circumferential groove and the latter being adapted to be positioned to communicate with

exhaust passageways

43 and 43 extending through the wall of the distributor member 27 and the housing member M in the event there is a failure of the seals.

The valve member 36 has an axial passageway, or bore, 44 in which there is received a probe 45, the latter being of smaller cross sectional diameter than the bore 66 and being mounted with the lower end in a guide member 45' (FIGS. 3 and 4A) in the bore 44 so as to provide a passageway 66 between the confronting walls of the two members. The valve body 30 has an upper end portion 47 which is seated in threaded engagement in a downwardly opening bore 67' in the bottom end of a piston forming member 46, the latter being received in sliding relation in the upper end of the bottom section 49 of the housing member 14. The housing member M is made in two sections, that is, a bottom section 49 and a top section 49, with the top margin of the bottom section 69 being reduced in cross section and threadedly engaged in the bottom end of the top section 69 so as to function as one member. The bottom section 69 has its top end closed by inwardly extending flange 50 and a cap or plug member 51. A compression spring 52 is seated in an upwardly opening recess 53 in the top face of piston 46 and bears against the bottom face of the flange 50 so as to urge the piston downwardly. The vertical movement of the piston 68 is relatively small, being limited by the vertical movement of the flange 32 which carries the valve seal ring 353 in the recess 31. The piston 48 has a dimension in the direction of the axis of housing 14!- which is less than the corresponding dimension of the housing section 69 in which it operates so that there is spaced between the top and bottom faces thereof and the confronting faces of the flange 56 and the product distributor member 27. The piston 48 has a pair of O ring seals 54 in side wall grooves above and below an exhasut groove which connects with an exhaust passageway 55 in the side wall of the housing section 49 so as to provide an exhaust to the atmosphere in the event of failure of the seals 54. The cap forming member 51, which is fabricated of electrically insulating material, has a plug portion 56 depending in the center hole of the housing section 49 which carries acontact block 57 in a downwardly opening recess 56 in its bottom face. The block 57 is adapted to be contacted by the upper end 59 of the probe 45 when the piston member 66 is raised by a build-up of counterpressure on the bottom face of the piston 66. The counterpressure is delivered through the line 69 from a cam operated control valve 61, with the latter mounted at the top of the housing 12. The delivery line 69 is connected through a nipple 62 with a passageway 63 in the wall of the housing member 49 to the recess 64 between the top of the distributor 27 and the bottom of the piston 46. The recess 66 is connected by passageway 65 with the passageway 46 in the bore 44 of the valve body 36 so as to provide a pathway through the valve body 36 and into the container below the sealing bell assembly 20. When the counterpressure builds up in a container, the top of which is closed by the bell assembly, it exerts a force against the bottom face of the piston 66 which overcomes the force of the spring 52 and the force exerted by the pressure of the product downwardly on the valve 32 and raises the top end 59 of the probe 45 into engagement with the contact block 57. The contact block 57 is held in the insulated cap 511 by contact screw 66 to which lead 70 (FIG. 7) is attached for connecting the same into the electrical circuit controlling the operation of the product valve as hereinafter described.

The contact carrying block 56 is secured on the top of the top flange 51 of the housing section 69 by bolts 71 and a clamp block 72 above the: same. A radial passageway 73 extends into the block 72 and connects with an axial passageway 73' which in turn extends downwardly through the contact carrying member 51 and the flange 50 at the top of the housing section 49 so as to provide for passage of compressed air from the open upper end of housing 14 to the top of the piston member 46. A passageway 74 extends through the closed top end of the top housing member 12 and has a connection with a compressed air line 75 enabling the piston 48 to be depressed so as to close the product valve by compressed air the delivery of which is controlled by an electronic relay circuit as hereinafter described.

A three-way magnetic valve 66 (FIGS. 3 and 8) is carried on the top of the clamp block 72 and a small tubular section 61 is carried on its upper end which ex tends into an axial bore 82 in an anchor block 83 at the top of the upper housing member 12. The tubular section or member 611 has an upper end forming a head thereon of enlarged diameter 84 which is sealed in sliding relation in the bore 62 by O ring 85 and which moves with the housing member 14 when the head is lowered into engagement with the top of a receptacle C. The axial bore 66 in the member 81 serves to provide a passage for compressed air to escape through a radial port 87 when the piston 68 is raised. The space 88 in the block 83 below the head 84 of the tube 81 provides a built-in air cushion for slowing down the movement of the housing 14 in the event of a burst container. A rubber buffer ring 90 is provided on the lower face of the head portion 86 0f the tube member 81 which provides a stop member for engagement with the internal shoulder 92 at the bottom of the recess 88 when the head 84 reaches the bottom of its stroke. A magnet 93 mounted on the bottom of the anchor block 83 serves to open a normally closed reed switch 94 (FIGS. 6 and 12) in the relay circuit when the head 10 is raised to disengage the same from a container C.

The counterpressure valve 61 is mounted in a bracket forming extension 95 (FIGS. 3 and 9) on the top of the fixed housing member 12. The valve 61 is a three-way air valve which is actuated by a cam follower 96 engaging with a cam track forming member 97 which may be supported by means of a bracket 98 on the box cam member 16.

Provision is made for preventing operation of the head 16 in the event no container C is presented below the same for filling. A latch plate 161 (FIGS. 1, 2 and 9) is pivoted at 102 on the valve 61 and normally held in non-operative position by a compression spring 103 on a pulldown rod I which is mounted in a guideway 105 in the housing 12 and extends to a position where the lower end rests on an abutment shelf 106 on the lower section 69 of the valve housing. A compression spring 107 on the bottom end of the pulldown rod 104 normally urges it in a downward direction to close the latch plate 101. The upper end of the pulldown rod 104 has a stop washer or pin 108 for engaging the top face of the latch plate 191 when the rod 104 is pulled down by the release of the spring 1167 which occurs when the lower end 19 of the housing member 14 drops below the container top level by reason of the absence of a container. This latches the valve 61 against delivery of counterpressure and operation of the product feed valve assembly.

As shown in FIG. 11, the valve assembly may be readily removed from the lower housing member 14 for cleaning and replacement by removing first the sealing bell assembly 20 after which the product distributor member 27 and the piston 48 may be withdrawn in an axial direction from the lower housing section 49. The piston 48 and the valve body 30 may then be separated and the valve body 30 removed from the product distributor member 27. The entire inner or lower housing member 14 and associated elements may be removed from the upper housing member 12 by withdrawing the pin 110 (FIGS. 9 and 10) from the co-operating bore 111 which extends through the top side wall portions of the upper or outer housing member 12 and the anchor block 83. The pin 110 normally locks the housing 14 and associated elements in the housing 12. The housing 14 is prevented from turning about its vertical axis by the cross head block 112 mounted on pin 115 extending from member 49 (FIGS. 1 to 3) and which is disposed for vertical receprocation in a downwardly opening slot 113 in a downward extension 114 of the side wall of the upper housing 12. The cam follower 17 is mounted on the pin 115.

The delivery of counterpressure air through the line 60 is controlled by the three-way valve 61 which is operated by cam 97 in timed relation to the lowering of the housing member 14 to bring the sealing bell assembly 20 into sealing engagement with the mouth of a container C to be filled. The counterpressure air pressure is delivered through a connection 60 (FIG. 9) to the three way valve 61 from a manifold or other source of supply.

The operation of the solenoid valve is controlled as shown by the circuit illustrated in FIG. 12. The 24 volt circuit includes a silicon controlled rectifier (SCR) 121 which is connected in series with the solenoid for the valve 80. A diode 122 is connected across the solenoid for valve 80 to protect the SCR in the inductive circuit formed by the solenoid coil. The rectifier 121 is activated by probe end 59 engaging contact 68 to complete a circuit through line 70 and resistor 123 to the gate of the rectifier for applying a turn-on signal to the gate of the rectifier. The magnitude of the turn-on signal is determined by the resistor 123 and a gate biasing resistor 124 connected between the gate and the rectifier cathode. When the product level reaches the bottom of the probe 45 the circuit is completed which triggers the relay to pass current to the solenoid to open the valve 80 which in turn opens air pressure line 75 and through piston 48 closes product valve 30. The switch 94 is opened by magnet 93 when the housing member 14 is raised by cam 16 to release a container, after filling, which inactivates the circuit and resets it for the next operation. The switch 94 and magnet 93 may be replaced by an externally mounted and mechanically operated switch, as an alternative arrangement.

The product supply line 36 is provided immediately adjacent the inlet port 38 with a flow restrictor device 125 for creating highly turbulent flow conditions. The restrictor device is of a character to create extreme turbulence and a high pressure drop between the elevated pressure of the product and the substantially lower pressure of the counterpressure gas in the container which will result in stabilizing the product for sufficient length of time to package the product at high speed. A suitable restrictor device may take several different forms, for example, a simple pipe having a relatively small bore compared to its length, or alternatively, a length of relatively thin strip material twisted as shown (FIG. 3) may be used. Another form of restrictor which may be used comprises several smaller diameter tubes arranged side by side in the larger diameter feed line. Still another form of restrictor which may be employed is a commercially available static mixer which consists of a number of elements each of which is a single twist of relatively thin strip material, some having a right hand helix and others a left hand helix, assembled in axially aligned alternate relation in the product feed line which result in alternately swirling the product flow through it in opposite directions thereby causing extreme turbulence and pressure drop.

In operating the apparatus, an open top container C is positioned beneath sealing bell assembly 20 and the vertically movable valve housing member 14 is lowered by the box cam 16 into sealing engagement with the container top. The counterpressure valve 61 is opened by operation of the cam 97 allowing counter-pressure to flow to the line 60,

passageways

63, 64, 65 and down through the valve assembly 30 and into the container. As the counterpressure builds up, sufficient force is exerted on the valve assembly 30 and the bottom face of the piston 48 to lift the valve assembly 30 and open the product control valve 30 for flow of product from the line 36 where it has been conditioned by the turbulence member 125 through the passageway 35 into the recess 31 and past the open valve into the guide cone 23. A flow diverting flange 126 near the bottom end of the valve assembly 30 aids in diverting the product outwardly against the wall 26 of the guide cone 23 where it flows in a film down the inside wall of the container. The counterpressure which lifts the piston 48 also engages the tip 58 of the probe 45 with the contact member 57 in the top of the housing 29 and completes the control circuit so that when the level of the fluid in the container reaches the bottom end of the probe 45 the circuit is activated and the valve is opened admitting compressed air above the piston 48 so as to depress the valve assembly 30 and close the product valve. Counterpressure air or gas flows back through the line 60 and the valve 61 as the container is filled so that it does not mix with the product. The counterpressure valve 61 which has remained open is closed by the cam 97 and the housing 14 for the valve assembly is raised by the box cam 16 to release the filled container C. As the housing 14 for the valve assembly reaches its top position the magnet 93 operates the normally closed switch 94 to break or open the control circuit which is then reset when the housing descends onto the next container so allowing the switch 94 to close and activate the relay for another cycle of operation. The compressed air for operating the piston is vented through the passageway 87, leaving the head in condition for repetition of the filling cycle.

With the present arrangement there are no vent tubes or check valves immersed in the product when filling a container and no snifting is required prior to breaking the seal with the container top. Consequently, the filling operation is carried out under dry and hygenic conditions. Also, the filling operation can be carried out with lower counterpressure than in previous filling heads and there is less chance of included air pick-up.

The head is lowered on the container for the filling which enables the containers to be handled in a single horizontal plane which is advantageous when a rotary type filling machine is employed where centrifugal force is a factor at high speeds by causing spillage from the open topped containers as they are removed from the filling valves.

A simple means has been provided for the complete cleaning and sterilization of all the ways and parts which are in either the product and counterpressure air circuits. This is accomplished by turning off the counterpressure air supply and substituting for it a high pressure liquid cleaning or sterilizing fluid. Due to the restriction of the probe guide 45 (FIG. 4A) incorporated in the valve stem 30 the liquid will build up pressure under the piston 48 causing it to lift and open the product valve 32 even though no container is sealably engaged with the head. Thus by disconnecting the electric supply to the controlling the solenoid valve 80, cleaning or sterilizing liquid will flow at high velocity through all the counterpressure and product ways, scouring and cleaning them.

The embodiments shown in FIGS. 3, l3 and M are designed for bottle filling, can filling and filling of a container for carbonated beverages. The embodiments illustrated in FIGS. l3 and M are drawn to a universal type system. The filler assemblies differ from each other only in that a variety of subassemblies may be inserted at the lower end thereof. This is particularly apparent from consideration of FIGS. 3, l3 and 114. In FIGS. 13 and 114, it is readily apparent that a variety of subassemblies may be inserted into the two threaded areas I25, 126 which may be called the container sealing assembly at the lower end of my universal filler assembly. The lower sleeve 1127 is externally threaded and the inner sleeve T28 is internally threaded to permit insertion of a variety of subassemblies which vary according to the particular type of filling job which is at hand. Each of these subassemblies has a few parts in common and a part of two not in common. By making the correct assembly of parts, the head it may be adapted to fill a number of different shaped and size containers. A different probe located in approximately the same central position may be used with each different filling job also. The filling head til is in each of the above embodiments mounted on a turret with as many filling heads as desired; for example, a machine having one hundred filling heads around the turret. Mounted in each filling head is a lower cylindrical sleeve member 1128. At the lower portion and external to it is another cylindrical sleeve member 127. The lower inner cylindrical member l2fi is threaded internally and the lower outer cylindrical member B27 is threaded externally. Lower outer cylindrical member I27 is slidable vertically on the inner cylindrical member 12% and limited in its motion by shoulders I29, 130. This particular structure is not found in FIG. 3 but is found in FIGS. 13 and M. However, common to all these embodiments of the filling head is a piston member 48, a distributor 27, a valve body having a roughly similar shape, a valve seat 3%, a valve seal ring 33, and a spring 52. The piston, distributor, and spring are all substantially identical.

The sealing device for sealing the unit during filling to a container for filling is modified and now includes a spring loaded counterbalance device. The device has a dual purpose, firstly, it provides a means for sealing the container, bottle, can or other suitable container during filling, and provides a cushion which permits the filling valve to be moved vertically within a range of half an inch or so without breaking the seal. This allows the filling valve to be raised or lowered with respect to the can or container in such a way that the filling level in the can is achieved when the tip of the electronic probe is touched by the rising level of liquid in the can during the filling operation. The probe is attached to the movable part of the valve which can be raised and lowered with respect to the can. When the probe touches the liquid in the can, a circuit is completed to cause the filling to stop. In the case of a bottle or other small aperture container, the functions of this device are similar. Spring operation is common to FIGS. 13 and M. Secondly, in conjunction with a pressure counterbalance ring and when used in conjunction with wide mouthed can effect a considerable reduction in high axial loads for sealing containers during the filling process. This is discussed in detail later in this specification.

To discuss a little further the common elements, the filling head is located in the same position in each of the three (3) embodiments. The piston member 48 lies within inner cylindrical element 11.28 and reciprocates about one-sixteenth of an inch vertically in a cylindrical forming element. The probe structure is different in each of the three embodiments shown in FIGS. 3, 13 and 14. In FIG. 3, the probe 45 extends a short distance up into the filling head. In the embodiment of FIG. 13, the probe 131 extends completely through the filling head 10 and is fastened in place or held in place by a collar 132 located in a recess 133 in the piston 134. The probe I31 is thus fastened through collar 1132 to the piston and as the piston is moved upward and downward under the influence of the various pressures, the probe also moves upward and downward to the same extent; i.e., approximately one-sixteenth of an inch when piston 134 operates up and down in its nor mal cycle.

'In the bottle filling embodiment: shown in FIG. 14; however, cavity 132 which housed the collar in FIG. 13, now houses a gland 135 to avoid flow of air upward and out of the universal filler. In the bottle embodiment, the probe is in two parts-the part 1136 above being of greater diameter than the part 1137 below. In the bottle embodiment, the vertical probe I38 i.e., the smaller lower part slides through gland 135 in order to extend the probe 138 into the bottle and thus accommodate the probe to a deeper filling level relative to the mouth of the container. In the case of a can or a wide mouth container, the probe may sit approximately seven-sixteenths of an inch down into the container. For different filling levels, different probe levels, of course, are possible. In a bottle, one may wish the probe to extend up to three inches or some such distance down into the bottle. This is necessary to obtain the correct filling level for each bottle size and give the consumer an accurate quantity of product. As pointed out above, probe 138 in the bottle embodiment is made integral but in two sections. The upper actuating section E36 is heavy and the lower probe section 1.37 is relatively small in diameter. The heavier section 136 above is for the purpose of stiffening the probe so that the probe is not bent as it is reciprocated up and down by the lever shown above the bottle embodiment. It can be readily appreciated that the length of the central probe in the modifications of FIGS. 13 and 14 can be varied somewhat for greater or lesser penetration into the container being filled. The probe is used for controlling the level of fill in all types of containers and may take a variety of different forms. By having an assortment of probes and an assortment of holes in the lever arm, as well as by means of adjustment that may be made on the lever arm and actual length of the arm, bottles of different neck height as well as different fill levels may be accommodated.

As the lower assembly contacts the container, the lower sleeve 128 is arrested and lever 1411 is moved by a cam on the lower sleeve of the unit. The lever 140 in turn actuates the counterpressure valve 141. In this way, the action of the filling head in moving downwardly and making contact with the can and sealing itself automatically causes the counterpressure valve to open so that the filling operation may commence.

In normal use, the movement of the inner cylinder sliding members is vertical, the lower inner and outer member is thus vertically reciprocated and as the lower assembly strikes the can or the container, the lowest sleeve is brought to a halt and the counterpressure valve is actuated by the cam surface located on the lowest outermost sleeve 127 as the counterpressure valve lever 140 slides over the cam surface 141 on this lowermost outer sleeve 127. Inner member 128 continues to descend when the lower sleeve 127 is arrested by the can. The lever 140 in its motion opens the counterpressure valve 141. Gas under counterpressure is supplied to the inside of the can. Pressure in the can builds up and this gas then moves upward through the inside channel 142 of the valve stem 143. The pressure in the can builds up and this pressure is then applied against the lower piston surface 144 and causes piston 134 to move upwardly a short distance. The valve stem 143 is threaded into the piston 134. When the piston 134 moves upward, the piston 134 lifts the valve stem 143 and the flange 145 around the valve stem lifts off of the valve seat 146 to allow product to flow into the can.

ring 33 or other molded resilient sealing ring forms a tight seal when the valve is closed. The

product valve

143, 146 thus opens and product flows through the entrance passageway 38 into the distributor circumferential slot 35. The product then flows down the short passageway into the recess 31 and through the space between the valve stem and the conical shaped member 148 (FIG. 13). In a large mouth container, such as an open top can, in addition to being a means of readily adjusting the filling level in a container as previously described, the device incorporates a pressure counterbalance ring 149. This ring is used to counterbalance the high axial loads which may be applied to a container during the filling process due to the large area of the filling aperture as, for instance, when filling an open top can. When the filling head 10 moves down onto the stationary container, it forms a pressure tight seal with the container. Seal ring 221 presses against the upper rim of the can. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, a very considerable pressure must be applied downwardly against the can wall because of the force acting in an upward direction. This force comes from the pressurized air or gas inside of the can. In the embodiment of FIG. 13, force is applied downwardly both by the lower cylindrical section which acts through the sealing member, and also through the central stem area of the valve. This central stem area includes the valve seat 146. In this way a total force of only about 50 to 60 pounds is necessary to seal the container and is provided by a spring 150. All other force is taken up by the central valve area and the annular gas chamber 151 which is filled with air or gas at a suitable counterpressure required to fill the product. If the annular chamber were not under counterpressure, then the amount of force necessary to apply downwardly against the can wall would be increased. The 50 to 60 pounds pressure is adequate for keeping a good seal between the upper rim ofa can and the sealing ring 221 of the filling valve. The counterpressure coming through the counterpressure valve is also applied to the annular pressure counterbalance channel and thus to the counterbalance ring 149 mentioned above. This counterbalance channel 151 is a unique feature of the can filling embodiment of FIG. 13. The annular channel 151 is filled with gas at counterpressure.

As the counterpressure in the container builds up, pressurized gas is also conducted through apertures 174 in the walls of the fluid guide 175 to the annular channel 151.

In FIG. 14 the apertures 174 are omitted from the walls of the fluid guide 176 and the annular channel 177 does not receive counterpressure and is always at atmospheric pressure. Pressure build up is prevented by provision of a port 178 in the seal support 179. In this way, the container is sealed through the agency of the spring 150.

The drilled port 173 (FIG. 13) extends downwardly to area 180 and communicates with the annular channel 151 so that during sterilization sterilizing fluid is conducted to the channel 151. In the case of the filling head 181 (FIG. 14) the downwardly extending port 180 is plugged at its lower end by a plug 182 as in this case the annular channel 177 does not communicate directly with either counterpressure or product so that sterilization is not necessary. With the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, it was necessary to apply a downward force on the can walls equal to the gas pressure per square inch multiplied by the number of lateral square inches of can cross section. This force has to be applied upwardly against the can bottom. Thus the force supplied vertically against the can walls was on the order to 250 pounds or more in FIG. 3, a nearly crushing force. In the present embodiment, the vertical force arising from this counterpressure will be on the order of 50 to 60 pounds total since the annular seal ring 221 and supporting ring 222 are vertically slidable relative to the inner conical element. The seal ring is made of an elastomeric material and the L supporting ring is a selected hard plastic or metal. The force applied through this angular area onto the vertically extending wall of the container is the pressure inside the recess multiplied by the horizontal area of the ring shown above the seal ring 221. Hence, this force is quite small in comparison to the total force necessarily exerted by the other embodiments. This force will, of course, be something on the order of one quarter the amount of force necessary under the other embodiments. For this reason, the can walls may be made of lighter stock and pressure does not become a problem. In each of the embodiments shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, a solenoid valve 155 is located on the top of the universal filler assembly. As the product liquid coming in conduit 36 fills the container, the liquid in the container rises and at some point the liquid touches the probe 131. In the case of a container such as a can when the liquid in the can touches the probe, a circuit is closed. The probe 131 in the can embodiment is fitted to the piston by a collar which is sealed inside a housing in the piston 48 and is thus movable up and down approximately onesixteenth of an inch when the piston operates up and down in its normal cycle. The electrical pathway to ground is through the filling liquid itself. The liquid being electrically conductive carries a ground potential due to its passage through and over the metal parts of the filling valve. That is to say, as the liquid surface rises in the container, it finally touches the probe I3I and a closed low voltage circuit is formed from the probe ll3I through the liquid in the container and then through the filling liquid which comes through the product valve. When the product valve 33, I46 closes, the circuit is broken; however, its function has been fulfilled. The function of the low voltage circuit is to close the valve through actuation of the solenoid I56 and solenoid valve I55. The solenoid I56 and solenoid valve 155 operate when electricity under low voltage flows through the closed circuit of either FIGS. I3 and I4 and actuates the solenoid I56 on top of the assembly to open a valve I55 at the top of the assembly.

As described above, an electric relay I56 and solenoid valve I55 is located on the top of the filler assembly 10. When the liquid fills the can to a predetermined height, the liquid content contacts the probe and an electric signal is passed to the relay I56 which then actuates the solenoid valve I55. Controlled air at a pressure about 20 pounds higher than the counterpressure gas is now conducted into the area above the piston 134, which is thus forced downward. This closes the product valve and the product ceases to flow into the container. The new location of the relay and solenoid control valve (FIGS. I3 and I4) allows convertability and improved accessibility. The relocation of the relay and solenoid valve also allows extension of the probe through the top of the assembly. This facilitates the placement and changing of the probe for different containers.

The pressure manifold I58 shown to the right in FIG. I3 contains a control gas which is under pressure of about III pounds per square inch higher than the pressure of the counterpressure gas. Control gas at a pressure of about pounds higher than the counterpressure gas is now conducted into the area I59 above the piston. Since the pressure above the piston 134 is now about It) pounds per square inch higher than the pressure below piston 134, the piston moves downwardly. As the piston I34 moves downwardly, the product valve 33, I46 closes when the flange I45 and valve seal ring 33 seat against the lower valve seat I46. Product ceases to flow into the container. The new location of the control valve solenoid I56 and control valve I55 allows convertibility and accessibility of the solenoid 156 and solenoid valve I55 for repair and replacement purposes. This new location allows removal of solenoid I56 and solenoid valve I55 so that the embodiments of either FIG. I3 and 14 can be used without drastic alteration of the universal filler head 10. The relocation of the solenoid and solenoid valve allows extension of the probe I3I and I38 (FIGS. I3 and I4) through the top of the assembly. It is noted that the probe of FIG. 3 cannot extend through the top of the assembly unless it pass through a three-way magnetic valve 80. Further, the operation of the

valve

83 and 31 etc. would be impossible. (Radial port 87, piston 43, etc. The position of the probe is not affected by the movement of the piston in the embodiment of FIG. 14. The relocation of solenoid I56 and solenoid valve I55 allow extension of the probe I311 through the top of the assembly. Without this relocation, convertibility from one probe to another or replaceability of one probe by another would involve a major teardown as can readily be appreciated by reference to FIG. 3.

The control pressure manifold 158 extends completely around the machine, feeding gas to all of the filling heads and is made of copper. The control pressure manifold I56 has a dual purpose, it serves as a buss bar to conduct electric current to the various relays I59 on the filling valves, and also for conducting the control pressure air to the filling valves. The conduit 160 between the pressure manifold and each of the valves is of insulating material in order to prevent electrical conduction between the pressure manifold and the filling heads. A separate conduit I60 connects air pressure from the manifold to each one of the filling heads. The gas is fed to the inlet port of the solenoid valve I55 and is conducted through the valve surface directly into space I62 through port I63. This pressure causes the piston 164 to exert a downward pressure so that when 7 the main cam 16 (shown in FIG. 3) allows the lower moving part of the head to descend the sealing rubber 221 is pressed onto the container to be filled in a pressure tight manner. A second port within the solenoid valve I55 will, when the solenoid valve is operated by the electronic relay, pass gas through port I65 into the cavity 166 and the space around the probe 131 to the head of piston I34 so closing the filling valve.

The filling valve remains in a closed position until the filled container is removed and a new empty container has been substituted. The electronic relay 156 is attached to the top of the filling head. The filling head is attached to the rotating turret of a filling machine. At the point where the new empty container is being placed under the filling head, a fixed permanent magnet is positioned. As the electronic relay passes the magnet the reed switch 163 (FIG. I7) is closed momentarily. This immediately deenergizes the solenoid and the air pressure on the head of piston I34 is relieved through the space I67 to cavity 166 and port 165 through the solenoid valve to atmosphere.

This now allows the piston 134 to be lifted by the counterpressure gas which is built up in the space 144 as the container is counterpressured. The counterpressure exerts force on the underside of piston I34 and causes this piston I34 to move upward against spring I52 and the pressure exerted downwardly by product on flange I45 of the filling valves. This causes the filling valve to open.

The counterpressure gas is fed to each filling valve from an annular manifold 169 through conduit I and port 171 to the counterpressure control valve 141. As the moving part of the filling head moves down and seals onto the container, the sleeve I27 is arrested by the container through the sealing rubber 221. This action compresses the spring I50 and at the same time the lever I40 is moved by the cam 172 into contact with counterpressure valve 141 so opening it and allowing the counterpressure gas to pass down port 173 to the space 144. From the space I44 the counterpressure traverses the space I44 and thus will build up the pressure in the container now sealed to the filling head. The

pressure simultaneously builds up in space 144 as described in the preceding paragraph. This description is relevant to FIGS. 13 and 14.

Electricity is conducted from the buss bar 158 to the electronic relay 159 by means of an electrical conductor 161. Most of the elements in the filling apparatus are made of non-conducting plastic to avoid the possibility of short circuits.

In all of the embodiments shown in FIGS. 3, 13 and 14, the probe is lowered to some desired level as the head descends onto the container. In each of the embodiments, the probe is used to determine the level of filling of the container. It may be necessary to have the probe pivotal to different levels. This type of operation as shown in FIG. 14 where the probe is shown in a bottle filling adaption. The probe of this embodiment is an integral piece made of two parts. By having probes of suitable length and holes suitably provided along the lever arm as well as by means of fine adjustment provided by filling head height adjustment. Bottles of different neck height as well as different levels of liquid fill as related to the container upper lip are controlled. When the probe is lowered to its bottle level control position inside the bottle neck, the probe is electrically connected to the electronic relay. The filling liquid coursing down inside of the bottle neck provides an electrical connection to ground. When the probe contacts the liquid, a circuit is closed and the relay operates the solenoid valve.

In the bottle embodiment, the cavity which houses the probe collar 132 now houses a gland 135 and the probe 138 is arranged to slide through this gland in order to extend it into the bottle and thus accommodate the probe 138 to provide a given filling level relative to the mouth of the container. The probe 138 is moved up and down through a series of links and levers 190 actuated by the movement of the filling valve as it moves up and downduring the sealing and unsealing of a new container.

The exploded view of FIGS. 15 and 16 shows in greater detail the differences in the valve stems 143, 184; fluid guides 175, 176; collar 132 and gland 135 of the embodiments shown in FIGS. 15 and 16.

The lower section of the valve stem 143 has flared end 185 to guide flowing product away from the probe. The lower section of valve stem 184 has a fairly straight end 186 to fit inside of guide 176. The annular protuberance 187 extending around valve stem 143 acts in a similar fashion to divert fluid flow away from the valve stem. The annular protuberance 188 of the bottle filler valve stem 184 is for the same purpose as annular protuberance 187 but smaller because of the restricted space.

Collar 132 of FIG. 15 is fastened to probe 131 while gland 135 of FIG. 16 prevents the passage of fluid under pressure along the passageway through which probe 138 extends.

One form which the electronic relay may take is as shown in FIG. 17 and is similar in operation to the relay shown in FIG. 12 but with the addition of a time delay circuit which prevents the reinstatement of current to the silicon controlled rectifier 225 (SCR1) switch after the module has been reset by the closing by magnet (not shown) of switch 226.

In the time delay circuit, initially SCR 225 is off and there is no voltage applied at

points

231, 232. Timing is initiated by briefly shortcircuiting SCR 225 through switch 226 and the magnet, at the same time current is cut off from SCR 227 exactly as was the case shown in FIG. 12 by switch 94 and magnet 93 so resetting the switch circuit for the next operation. As soon as the switch 226 opens, the timing capacitor 228 (C1) is charged through a'first resistor 229 (R1) until the voltage across capacitor 228 (C1) reaches the peak point voltage of the unijunction transistor 2311 (UJT) at which time the UJT 230 fires, generating a pulse across

points

231, 232 and thus applies current across SCRZ 227 which no is fully active so that when a positive current (ground) is passed to one of the probes 131, 138 (FIGS. 13 and 14) then the SCR2 227 fires and passes current to the solenoid valve 156 (FlGs. 13 and 14). The holding current for SCRl 225 is provided by the current through resistor 232 (R4) and diode 233 (CR1). Resistor 232 (R4) and the Zener diode 234 provide a stable voltage supply for the UJT 230. When silicon controlled rectifier 225 (SCR1) triggers, the voltage across the UJT 230 drops significantly due to the clamping action of the CR1 233 (one way valve action). This acts to rapidly set and maintain a low voltage on capacitor 228 (C1) so that the time interval is maintained with reasonable accuracy if the circuit is rapidly recycled. A time delay is set by appropriate choice of resistor 229 (R1) and capacitor 228 (C 1) and these are chosen so that the probe is inactive for approximately one-third of the filling cycle. The filling cycle is usually about three seconds. Resistor 235 (R2) is a temperature compensator for the circuit. lt limits the temperature of the UJT by limiting the current which may be fed to the UJT. Resistor 236 (R3) is a bias resistor to SCR] 225. Resistor 237 (R6) is a current limiting resistor leading from the probe to the electronic relay.

A partial list of advantages of this machine are that containers may be filled with carbonated beverages under pressure, rapid filling of carbonated beverages into a container, that the machine is adaptable to a wide variety of container sizes and container filling openings, that provision is made for venting of gas as the container fills with liquid, relief of vertical force on the container wall during filling, special adaptability to bottle filling, practicality of multiple filling heads mounted on a single turret, the use of a common pressure gas supply, the filling valve is opened by moving the filling head down into a pressure fit with the container filling opening, a higher output per valve resulting in fewer filling heads for a given output, more hygenic construction suitable for automatic control, that product comes directly from the source with no possible contact with air until it is in the container, low counterpressure, the electronic level control resulting in no components dipping into the product, easy head removal and servicing, high fill accuracy and less turbulence in container to avoid air inclusion.

I claim:

1. In a container filling machine, a filling head which comprises:

a hollow cylindrical housing having a downwardly opening, upper housing member and a lower housing member in sliding telescoped relation within the upper housing member;

a sealing bell mounted on the lower end of said lower housing member which is adapted to be brought into sealing engagement with the mouth of a container positioned in vertical alignment beneath the same when the housing member is lowered;

a hollow liquid product distributor mounted in said lower housing member which has a passageway connecting with a product inlet port for directing a liquid product through said lower housing member and into said container;

a fluid product supply line connected to said product inlet port, a device in said supply line immediately adjacent said inlet port for creating extreme turbulence and high pressure drop;

a product feed valve assembly having a body member mounted in said product distributor for axial movement between valve opening and closing positions so as to control the entry of the product into said container;

a piston having an upper and a lower surface and mounted for axial sliding movement in said lower housing member and connected to said feed valve body member;

resilient means biased to normally hold said feed valve body member in valve closing position;

means for supplying counterpressure to the lower surface of said piston which is operative to pressurize said container and to move said product feed valve to open position;

piston operating means for conducting a fluid from a control pressure supply means to a space above said piston to press against the upper surface of said piston; a control valve for said piston operating means; and

means actuated upon the filling of the container to a predetermined level to operate the control valve comprises:

a sealing ring mounted on the lower end of said lower housing member which is adapted to be brought into sealing engagement with the mouth of a container positioned in vertical alignment beneath the same when the housing member is lowered;

a hollow liquid product distributor mounted in said lower housing member which has a passageway connecting with a product inlet port for directing liquid product through said lower housing member and into said container;

a fluid product supply line connected with said product inlet port;

a device in said supply line immediately adjacent said inlet port for creating extreme turbulence and high pressure drop;

a product feed valveassembly having a body member mounted in said product distributor for axial movement between valve opening and closing positions so as to control the entry of the product into said containers;

a piston having an upper and a lower surface and resilient means biased to normally 'hold said feed valve body member in valve closing position;

means for supplying counterpressure which is operative to pressurize said container and to move said product feed valve to open position;

conduit means for conducting atluid from said counterpressure supplying means to a space below said piston to press against the lower surface of said piston;

a counterpressure control valve in said conduit means;

, means responsive to movement of said sealing ring and cylindrical sleeve of said lower housing member against a bias means for opening a counterpressure valve having an input port and an output port to release fluid under counterpressure through the filling machine and into the space in the container; and

means including probe means actuated upon the filling of the container to a predetermined level to operate the control valve for said piston operating fluid means whereby said product feed valve is moved to closed position and flow of product into said container is stopped.

3. In a container filling machine, a filling head as set forth in claim 2 in which said sealing ring comprises:

an annular sealing ring of elastomeric material for engaging the upper rim of a container to form an air tight seal;

an adapter for holding the sealing ring; and

external means on the lower outer surface of said lower outer housing for mounting said adapter.

'4. In a container filling machine, a filling head as set forth in claim 2 comprising further:

a hollow adapter for engaging the upper rim of a container to form an air tight seal; external cylindrical means on the lower surface of said lower outer housing for mounting said adapter;

3 in which said sealing ring comprises further:

an annular supporting ring having an L-shaped crosssection with the long annular leg slidable on the outside of said generally cylindrical fluid guide member.

6. In a container filling machine as set forth in claim 5 comprising further:

an annular elastomeric element mounted in the bight of said annular supporting ring whereby an air tight seal is formed between the upper edge of a container and the annular elastomeric element when said element is lowered onto said upper edge.

7. In a container filling machine, a filling head as set forth in claim 1 in which said control pressure supply means comprises:

a pressure manifold made of metal for conducting control fluid pressure and electrical current;

conduit means extending from said pressure manifold and said space above said piston to port means in said downwardly opening upper housing member;

an electrically non-conductive conduit extending between said pressure manifold and said port means;

a solenoid for actuating said counterpressure control valve; and

electric conducting means for conducting an electric current between said pressure manifold and said solenoid.

8. in a container filling machine, a filling head as set forth in claim 2 further comprising:

a probe extending along the vertical axis of the filling head and through the hollow cylindrical housing, the liquid product distributor, the feed valve assembly, and the piston.

9. In a container filling machine, a filling head as set forth in claim 8 further comprising:

a collar fastened to said probe and fastened to said piston whereby said probe is moved vertically as said piston is moved vertically in said filling head 10. ln a container filling machine, a filling head as set forth in claim 8 further comprising:

a gland located inside said piston and surrounding said probe forming a hermatic seal to prevent the escape of gas from said container through the vertical axis of said filling machine.

11. In a container filling machine, a filling head as set forth in claim 10 in which said probe means comprises:

a lower segment;

an upper segment of greater cross-section than said lower segment attached to said lower segment;

mechanical means for extending said probe into said container as said filling head descends onto said container and for extracting said probe as said filling head is elevated.

12. In a container filling machine, a filling head as set forth in claim 8 having:

an electrical conductor connected to the fluid product supply line to maintain said fluid product at first potential; and

an electrical conductor connected to the control pressure manifold to supply second potential to a relay whereby when said fluid product touches said probe a closed circuit is formed to conduit the first electrical potential to a relay.

13. In a container filling machine, a filling head as set forth in claim 2 comprising further:

a generally round sealing ring support means mounted on the lower end of said lower housing member;

a round fluid guide means mounted outside of said valve body and inside of said lower end of said lower housing member;

an annular gas chamber extending around said fluid guide means and insdie of said lower end of said lower housing member; and

one or more aperture passageways extending from said annular gas chamber to the closed spaced between said lower housing member and said container whereby pressure between said annular gas chamber and said space in said container is equal- Zil ized. 14. In a container filling machine, a filling head as set forth in claim 2 comprising further:

' a generally round sealing ring support means mounted on the lower end of said lower housing member and forming a pressure tight seal with the outer surface of said round cylindrical guide; and

a round cylindrical fluid guide means mounted outside of said valve body and inside of said lower end of said lower housing member.

15. In a container filling machine, a filling head as set forth in claim 14 in which said valve body means further comprises:

a generally cylindrical probe shielding member extending downwardly from said flange area of said valve body whereby splashing of the product does not touch the probe to cause a closed circuit. v

16. In a container filling machine, a filling head as set forth in claim 2 in which said means responsive to movement of said sealing ring conprises:

a cam connected to said sealing means and adapted for movement with said sealing means; and

a cam follower mounted on said lower housing for opening said counterpressure valve when said sealing ring and said container rim are pressed together.

17. A method of filling and terminating filling of a container which comprises the steps of:

extending an electrically conductive probe through the filling opening of the container and into the container to the desired level of fill;

initiating liquid product flow through a filling head and down the side of a container;

activating said probe after the pattern of flow into said container is established whereby splashing from said container or filling head wall does not occur to cause said circuit to be closed and product flow to be stopped before the level of product in said container has reached said probe; and

continuing product flow into said container until said level of product in said container rises to touch said probe, close said circuit and stop flow of product into said container.

18. A method of filling and terminating filling of a container which comprises the steps of:

deactivating said probe until after the pattern of flow into said container is established whereby splashing from said container or filling head wall does not occur to cause said circuit to be closed and product flow to be stopped before the level of product in said container has reached said probe; and

Claims

1. In a container filling machine, a filling head which comprises: a hollow cylindrical housing having a downwardly opening, upper housing member and a lower housing member in sliding telescoped relation within the upper housing member; a sealing bell mounted on the lower end of said lower housing member which is adapted to be brought into sealing engagement with the mouth of a container positioned in vertical alignment beneath the same when the housing member is lowered; a hollow liquid product distributor mounted in said lower housing member which has a passageway connecting with a product inlet port for directing a liquid product through said lower housing member and into said container; a fluid product supply line connected to said product inlet port, a device in said supply line immediately adjacent said inlet port for creating extreme turbulence and high pressure drop; a product feed valve assembly having a body member mounted in said product distributor for axial movement between valve opening and closing positions so as to control the entry of the product into said container; a piston having an upper and a lower surface and mounted for axial sliding movement in said lower housing member and connected to said feed valve body member; resilient means biased to normally hold said feed valve body member in valve closing position; means for supplying counterpressure to the lower surface of said piston which is operative to pressurize said container and to move said product feed valve to open position; piston operating means for conducting a fluid from a control pressure supply means to a space above said piston to press against the upper surface of said piston; a control valve for said piston operating means; and means actuated upon the filling of the container to a predetermined level To operate the control valve for said piston operating fluid means whereby said product feed valve is moved to closed position.

2. In a container filling machine, a filling head which comprises: a hollow cylindrical housing having a downwardly opening, upper housing member and a lower housing member in sliding telescoped relation within the upper housing member; a sealing ring mounted on the lower end of said lower housing member which is adapted to be brought into sealing engagement with the mouth of a container positioned in vertical alignment beneath the same when the housing member is lowered; a hollow liquid product distributor mounted in said lower housing member which has a passageway connecting with a product inlet port for directing liquid product through said lower housing member and into said container; a fluid product supply line connected with said product inlet port; a device in said supply line immediately adjacent said inlet port for creating extreme turbulence and high pressure drop; a product feed valve assembly having a body member mounted in said product distributor for axial movement between valve opening and closing positions so as to control the entry of the product into said containers; a piston having an upper and a lower surface and mounted for axial sliding movement in said lower housing member and connected to said feed valve body member; resilient means biased to normally hold said feed valve body member in valve closing position; means for supplying counterpressure which is operative to pressurize said container and to move said product feed valve to open position; conduit means for conducting a fluid from said counterpressure supplying means to a space below said piston to press against the lower surface of said piston; a counterpressure control valve in said conduit means; means responsive to movement of said sealing ring and cylindrical sleeve of said lower housing member against a bias means for opening a counterpressure valve having an input port and an output port to release fluid under counterpressure through the filling machine and into the space in the container; and means including probe means actuated upon the filling of the container to a predetermined level to operate the control valve for said piston operating fluid means whereby said product feed valve is moved to closed position and flow of product into said container is stopped.

3. In a container filling machine, a filling head as set forth in claim 2 in which said sealing ring comprises: an annular sealing ring of elastomeric material for engaging the upper rim of a container to form an air tight seal; an adapter for holding the sealing ring; and external means on the lower outer surface of said lower outer housing for mounting said adapter.

4. In a container filling machine, a filling head as set forth in claim 2 comprising further: a hollow adapter for engaging the upper rim of a container to form an air tight seal; external cylindrical means on the lower surface of said lower outer housing for mounting said adapter; a generally cylindrical fluid guide member having a valve seat on its top surface for cooperating with said feed valve body member to open and close said valve; and means for attaching said fluid guide member to said lower housing member.

5. In a container filling machine as set forth in claim 3 in which said sealing ring comprises further: an annular supporting ring having an L-shaped cross-section with the long annular leg slidable on the outside of said generally cylindrical fluid guide member.

6. In a container filling machine as set forth in claim 5 comprising further: an annular elastomeric element mounted in the bight of said annular supporting ring whereby an air tight seal is formed between the upper edge of a container and the annular elastomeric element when said element is lowered onto said upper edge.

7. In a container filling maChine, a filling head as set forth in claim 1 in which said control pressure supply means comprises: a pressure manifold made of metal for conducting control fluid pressure and electrical current; conduit means extending from said pressure manifold and said space above said piston to port means in said downwardly opening upper housing member; an electrically non-conductive conduit extending between said pressure manifold and said port means; a solenoid for actuating said counterpressure control valve; and electric conducting means for conducting an electric current between said pressure manifold and said solenoid.

8. In a container filling machine, a filling head as set forth in claim 2 further comprising: a probe extending along the vertical axis of the filling head and through the hollow cylindrical housing, the liquid product distributor, the feed valve assembly, and the piston.

9. In a container filling machine, a filling head as set forth in claim 8 further comprising: a collar fastened to said probe and fastened to said piston whereby said probe is moved vertically as said piston is moved vertically in said filling head

10. In a container filling machine, a filling head as set forth in claim 8 further comprising: a gland located inside said piston and surrounding said probe forming a hermatic seal to prevent the escape of gas from said container through the vertical axis of said filling machine.

11. In a container filling machine, a filling head as set forth in claim 10 in which said probe means comprises: a lower segment; an upper segment of greater cross-section than said lower segment attached to said lower segment; mechanical means for extending said probe into said container as said filling head descends onto said container and for extracting said probe as said filling head is elevated.

12. In a container filling machine, a filling head as set forth in claim 8 having: an electrical conductor connected to the fluid product supply line to maintain said fluid product at first potential; and an electrical conductor connected to the control pressure manifold to supply second potential to a relay whereby when said fluid product touches said probe a closed circuit is formed to conduit the first electrical potential to a relay.

13. In a container filling machine, a filling head as set forth in claim 2 comprising further: a generally round sealing ring support means mounted on the lower end of said lower housing member; a round fluid guide means mounted outside of said valve body and inside of said lower end of said lower housing member; an annular gas chamber extending around said fluid guide means and insdie of said lower end of said lower housing member; and one or more aperture passageways extending from said annular gas chamber to the closed spaced between said lower housing member and said container whereby pressure between said annular gas chamber and said space in said container is equalized.

14. In a container filling machine, a filling head as set forth in claim 2 comprising further: a generally round sealing ring support means mounted on the lower end of said lower housing member and forming a pressure tight seal with the outer surface of said round cylindrical guide; and a round cylindrical fluid guide means mounted outside of said valve body and inside of said lower end of said lower housing member.

15. In a container filling machine, a filling head as set forth in claim 14 in which said valve body means further comprises: a generally cylindrical probe shielding member extending downwardly from said flange area of said valve body whereby splashing of the product does not touch the probe to cause a closed circuit.

16. In a container filling machine, a filling head as set forth in claim 2 in which said means responsive to movement of said sealing ring conprises: a cam connected to said sealing means and adapted for movement with saiD sealing means; and a cam follower mounted on said lower housing for opening said counterpressure valve when said sealing ring and said container rim are pressed together.

17. A method of filling and terminating filling of a container which comprises the steps of: extending an electrically conductive probe through the filling opening of the container and into the container to the desired level of fill; initiating liquid product flow through a filling head and down the side of a container; activating said probe after the pattern of flow into said container is established whereby splashing from said container or filling head wall does not occur to cause said circuit to be closed and product flow to be stopped before the level of product in said container has reached said probe; and continuing product flow into said container until said level of product in said container rises to touch said probe, close said circuit and stop flow of product into said container.

18. A method of filling and terminating filling of a container which comprises the steps of: extending an electrically conductive probe through the filling opening of the container and into the container to the desired level of fill; initiating liquid product flow through a filling head and down the side of a container; deactivating said probe until after the pattern of flow into said container is established whereby splashing from said container or filling head wall does not occur to cause said circuit to be closed and product flow to be stopped before the level of product in said container has reached said probe; and continuing product flow into said container until said level of product in said container rises to touch said probe, close said circuit and stop flow of product into said container.