Cartridge filler and capping machine for filling and capping cartridges with consumable fluids

A cartridge handling machine for successive filling of cartridge bodies with a viscous consumable fluid defining a fill fluid, comprising:

• a filling module disposed adjacent a filling station into which each of the cartridge bodies may be placed empty and then removed after filling, wherein said filling module comprises:
• a feed supply for supplying the consumable fluid which defines a fill fluid dispensed by the filling module for filling of the cartridge bodies;
• a pump which receives said fill fluid from said feed supply and in turn pumps said fill fluid downstream under pressure;
• and
• an injector assembly, which receives said fill fluid under pressure from said pump and dispenses said fill fluid from an injector nozzle for injection into said cartridge body located in said filling station, said injector assembly being reversibly movable downwardly from a raised position, wherein said injector nozzle is separated from a mouth of the cartridge body, to a fill position in which said injector nozzle is engageable with the cartridge body in a filling operation in which said fill fluid is injected into said cartridge body, said injector body being displaceable after filling of the cartridge body to return to said raised position for subsequent removal of the cartridge body from the filling station after the respective filling operation, and positioning of another said cartridge body in said filling station for filling in successive filling operations;
• said injector nozzle being configured for sealing engagement with an open mouth of the cartridge body to prevent leakage of the consumable fluid when pressurized during filling, said injector nozzle defining an injection outlet injecting said fill fluid into a portion of said open mouth of said cartridge body and having a discharge passage opening into the cartridge body, which permits the removal of gases or air in the cartridge body during injection of fill fluid therein.

In an injector assembly for cartridge handling machine configured for successive filling of cartridge bodies with a viscous consumable fluid defining a fill fluid, said injector assembly configured to receive said fill fluid under pressure and having an injector nozzle to dispense said fill fluid for injection into said cartridge body located in a filling station, comprising the improvement wherein said injector assembly is reversibly movable downwardly from a raised position, wherein said injector nozzle is separated from a mouth of the cartridge body, to a fill position in which said injector nozzle is engageable with the cartridge body in a filling operation in which said fill fluid is injected into said cartridge body, said injector body being displaceable after filling of the cartridge body to return to said raised position for subsequent removal of the cartridge body from the filling station after the respective filling operation, and further comprising the improvement wherein said injector nozzle is configured for sealing engagement with an open mouth of the cartridge body to prevent leakage of the fill fluid when pressurized during filling, said injector nozzle defining an injection outlet injecting said fill fluid in an annular pattern into a portion of said open mouth of said cartridge body and having a central discharge passage centrally adjacent said injection outlet for opening into the cartridge body, which permits the removal of gases or air in the cartridge body simultaneously during injection of fill fluid therein.

A cartridge handling machine for successive filling of cartridge bodies with a viscous consumable fluid, comprising:

• a filling module disposed adjacent a filling station into which each of the cartridge bodies may be placed empty and then removed after filling, wherein said filling module comprises:
• a feed supply tank storing a supply of a consumable fluid which defines a fill fluid dispensed by the filling module for filling of the cartridge bodies;
• a pump which receives said fill fluid from said feed supply and in turn pumps said fill fluid downstream under pressure;
• and
• an injector assembly, which receives said fill fluid under pressure from said pump and includes an injector nozzle, which dispenses said fill fluid for injection into said cartridge body located in said filling station, said injector assembly being reversibly movable downwardly from a raised position, wherein said injector nozzle is separated from a mouth of the cartridge body, to a fill position in which said injector nozzle is engageable with the cartridge body in a filling operation, said injector body further being displaceable away from the filling station after filling of the cartridge body to return to said raised position for subsequent removal of the cartridge body from the filling station;
• said injector nozzle being configured for sealing engagement with an open mouth of the cartridge body to prevent leakage of said fill fluid when pressurized during filling, wherein said injector nozzle has a shaped injector passage that conforms to and injects said fill fluid into the mouth of the cartridge body in a shaped pattern and has a discharge passage for collecting gases displaced from the cartridge body.

A cartridge handling machine for successive filling of cartridge bodies with a viscous consumable fluid, comprising:

• a filling module disposed adjacent a filling station into which each of the cartridge bodies may be placed empty and then removed after filling, wherein said filling module comprises:
• a feed supply for supplying a bulk quantity of the consumable fluid which defines a fill fluid dispensed by the filling module for filling of the cartridge bodies;
• and
• an injector assembly, which receives said fill fluid from said feed supply and dispenses said fill fluid from an injector nozzle for injection into said cartridge body located in said filling station, said injector nozzle being reversibly movable downwardly from a raised position, wherein said injector nozzle is separated from the cartridge body, to a fill position in which said injector nozzle is engageable with the cartridge body in a filling operation during which said fill fluid is injected into said cartridge body, said injector nozzle being displaceable after filling of the cartridge body to return to said raised position;
• said injector nozzle being configured for sealing engagement with an open mouth of the cartridge body to prevent leakage of the consumable fluid when pressurized during filling and having an annular injector passage that injects said fill fluid into the mouth of the cartridge body in an annular pattern.