Rotary filling machine

A rotary filling machine, comprising:

• a hub member including an internal bore defining an inner surface portion with a plurality of material transfer openings, each material transfer opening having a same shape and a same size;
• a hub insert including a portion disposed within the internal bore, wherein the portion includes an outer surface portion that includes a plurality of material transfer openings, each material transfer opening of the hub insert having a same shape and a same size;
• wherein one of the hub member or the hub insert is rotatable and the other of the hub member or the hub insert is stationary;
• wherein the inner surface portion and the outer surface portion are in an axially aligned and mating relationship for bringing the material transfer openings of the hub member in and out of flow communication with the material transfer openings of the hub insert during rotation of the one of the hub member or the hub insert;
• a plurality of filling nozzles, wherein each material transfer opening of the one of the hub member or the hub insert feeds material to a respective one of the filling nozzles, and wherein the filling nozzles rotate with the one of the hub member or hub insert;
• wherein the outer surface portion is of right circular cylinder configuration and the inner surface portion is of right circular cylinder configuration;
• wherein:
• the material transfer openings of the one of the hub member or the hub insert are circumferentially spaced uniformly to provide a uniform center-to-center circumferential angular spacing between the material transfer openings;
• and
• a circumferential angular extent of each material transfer opening of the other of the hub member or the hub insert is set to match the center-to-center circumferential angular spacing of the material transfer openings of the one of the hub member or the hub insert.

A rotary filling machine, comprising:

• a hub member including a first end a second end and an internal bore extending from the first end toward the second end, the internal bore defining an inner surface portion with a plurality of material transfer openings, each material transfer opening having a same shape and a same size;
• a hub insert having a first end and a second end, at least part of the hub insert disposed within the internal bore, wherein the part of the hub insert includes an external sidewall defining an outer surface portion that includes a plurality of material transfer openings, each material transfer opening having same shape and a same size;
• wherein the hub member is rotatable and the hub insert is stationary;
• wherein the inner surface portion and the outer surface portion are in an axially aligned and mating relationship such that rotation of the hub member causes a relative sequential movement in and out of fluid transfer alignment as between each of the material transfer opening of the hub member and the material transfer openings of the hub insert;
• a plurality of filling heads, wherein each material transfer opening of the hub member feeds material to a respective one of the filling heads that rotates with the hub member;
• wherein the outer surface portion is of right circular cylinder configuration and the inner surface portion is of right circular cylinder configuration;
• wherein:
• the material transfer openings of the hub member are circumferentially spaced uniformly to provide a uniform center-to-center circumferential angular spacing between the material transfer openings;
• and
• a circumferential angular extent of each material transfer opening of the hub insert is set to match the center-to-center circumferential angular spacing of the material transfer openings of the hub member.