Vacuum filling system
AssigneePLF International Limited
InventorRobert E. Thomas
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A filling apparatus 20 includes a filler table structure 22 disposed within a protective and supporting main housing 24. The filler table structure 22 receives and supports containers 26 to be filled with product from filler heads 28 positioned above the filler table structure. The containers 26 to be filled arrive at the filler table structure 22 on infeed conveyances 30 and then are precisely positioned at a filling position beneath the filler heads 28 by indexing systems 32. Thereafter, the filled containers 26 are transferred by the indexing systems 32 to an out feed conveyance 34. Each filler head 28 is capable of cycling at a speed of at least 30 times per minute, whereby the filling station 20 is capable of filling containers 26 at a rate of at least 30 containers per minute per filler head.
Claims15
A filling station for filling containers of different sizes with product, comprising:
- a replaceable, container size-dependent rotary indexing wheel receiving a container from a receiving conveyance and positioning the container at a fill position for filling the container with product while the container is engaged with the rotary indexing wheel and then after the container has been filled while at the fill position transferring the filled container from the fill position to an outfeed conveyance;
- a replaceable, container size-dependent stationary arcuate guide guiding the containers from the receiving conveyance into engagement with the rotary indexing wheel and retaining the containers engaged with the rotary indexing wheel during the filling of the container and during transfer of the filled containers to the out-feed conveyor;
- a filler head disposed above the fill position in registry with the container at the fill position, the filler head connected to a source of vacuum to remove the air from the container and also including an inlet nozzle for simultaneously delivering product into the evacuated container;
- and
- a control system for controlling and sequencing the operation of the receiving conveyance, the rotary indexing wheel, the filler head, and the outfeed conveyance.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.