Machine for filling bottles, cans and like containers

Abstract

A container filling machine is taught, said machine comprising one or more filling units, said filling units comprising a valve actuator assembly having a first end moveably connected to the filling machine to effect both lateral movement and reciprocating longitudinal movement; from a second end of the valve actuator assembly; and a valve removably connected to a second end of the valve actuator assembly, such that longitudinal movement of the valve actuator assembly actuates the valve to open and filler a container, wherein the valve is adapted to fill a plurality of varieties of containers. A method is also taught for filling one or more types of containers with a liquid. The method comprises feeding a stream of one more types of containers to a filling machine, said filling machine comprising one or more travelling filling units, each filling unit comprising a valve actuator, and a valve; associating each of said one or more types of containers with a filling unit; actuating said valve actuator as it travels along the filling machine to actuate said valve; actuating said valve to fill said associated container; and de-associating each of said one or more types of containers from said filling unit. Said one or more valves are adapted to fill one or more types of containers. A container filling unit adapted for filling one or more types of containers is further taught.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.