Apparatus and method for sensing a container positioned about a filling spout
AssigneeAltivity Packaging, LLC
InventorsChristopher Stephan Wadium, Benjamin Bradly Petersen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for filling at least one container includes a filling spout in flow communication with a source of filling material. The filling spout is configured to enable the opening of the at least one container to fit about the filling spout. Two sensor assemblies are positioned about the filling spout. The two sensor assemblies are configured to detect whether a container is positioned about the filling spout. A controller operatively coupled to each sensor assembly of the two sensor assemblies is configured to initiate a filling process.
Claims20
An apparatus for filling at least one container, the at least one container defining an opening, the apparatus comprising:
- a filling spout in flow communication with a source of filling material, the filling spout configured to enable the opening of the at least one container to fit about the filling spout;
- at least two sensor assemblies positioned about the filling spout, the at least two sensor assemblies configured to detect whether a container is positioned about the filling spout;
- and
- a controller operatively coupled to each sensor assembly of the at least two sensor assemblies and configured to initiate a filling process.
A detection system for determining whether a container is positioned about a filling spout of an apparatus for filling at least one container, the filling spout in flow communication with a source of filling material, the filling spout configured to enable an opening defined by the container to fit about the filling spout, the detection system comprising:
- at least two sensor assemblies positioned with respect to the filling spout, each sensor assembly of the at least two sensor assemblies including a sensing component, the sensing component calibrated to measure a first distance between a sensing component position and a first reference point and a second distance less than the first distance between the sensing component position and a second reference point such that a sensing range is at least partially defined between the first reference point and the second reference point;
- and
- a controller operatively coupled to each sensor assembly and configured to initiate a filling process.
A method for filling a container, the container defining an opening, an apparatus being positioned along a processing path, the method comprising:
- positioning at least two sensor assemblies with respect to a filling spout of the apparatus, each sensor assembly of the at least two sensor assemblies comprising at least one of a laser sensing component, an ultrasonic sensing component and a photoeye sensing component, the filling spout in flow communication with a source of filling material, the filling spout configured to enable the opening of the container to fit about the filling spout;
- calibrating the at least two sensor assemblies to define a sensing area;
- placing the container on a support configured for receiving, in succession, a plurality of containers, the support configured to maintain each successive container of the plurality of containers in an orientation with the opening extending toward the apparatus;
- confirming that the container is positioned about the filling spout;
- and
- filling the container with filling material.
A method for determining whether a container is positioned about a filling spout of an apparatus for filling the container, the filling spout in flow communication with a source of filling material and configured to enable an opening defined by the container to fit about the filling spout, the method comprising:
- providing at least two sensor assemblies positioned with respect to the filling spout, each sensing assembly of the two sensor assemblies including a sensing component;
- and
- calibrating the sensing component to measure a first distance corresponding to a first container position on the filling spout and a second distance greater than the first distance and corresponding to a second container position on the filling spout, the first distance and the second distance at least partially defining a sensing range.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.