Machine for filling and sealing glass vials starting from closed vials

A machine for filling in and sealing glass vials comprising, in combination, a frame;

• endless conveyor means mounted on said frame, and including an endless conveyor having an upper substantially horizontal run and a lower substantially horizontal run;
• receptacle secured to said conveyor and arranged to frictionally receive vertically oriented vials;
• driving means operable to drive said conveyor means;
• indexing means operable to index the conveyor means during each cycle of operation;
• means, at a station adjacent said lower substantially horizontal run, operable to supply a plurality of closed empty vials to said conveyor means by displacing the vials, in inverted relation, into said receptacles from beneath said lower substantially horizontal run;
• engraving means disposed at a station adjacent said lower substantially horizontal run of said conveyor means and operable to engrave a fracturing mark on the neck of each vial mounted in inverted relation in a receptacle;
• fracturing means adjacent said lower substantially horizontal run, downstream of said engraving means in the direction of movement of said endless conveyor, operable to fracture the necks of the vials at said fracturing marks;
• filling means at a station adjacent said upper substantially horizontal run and operable to fill the now upright vials having open necks;
• sealing means adjacent said upper substantially horizontal run and downstream of said filling means in the direction of movement of said endless conveyor, said sealing means including multiple burners positioned to heat the necks of the filled vials and pinch means operable to simultaneously close the necks of a plurality of filled valves;
• and means adjacent said upper substantially horizontal run operable, during the action of said burners and pinch means on the vials, to rotate the vials.