Continuous rotary machine for uncapping, filling and recapping flexible bags having separable caps

A continuous rotary filling machine for receiving flexible bags with spouts having caps thereon that are removeable by relative axial movement, which comprises:

• a rotatable filler head support, a plurality of filler heads angularly disposed about the support, and means for rotating the support continuously;
• each filler head comprising spout-clamping means for receiving and clamping a spout, cap-engaging means for engaging the cap on the clamped spout, said spout-clamping and cap engaging means being movable relatively to move the spout and cap axially relatively, and a filler nozzle and cooperating filler valve, said filler nozzle and said clamping means being movable relatively to bring the nozzle into and out of cooperation with the bag spout;
• and control means for successively causing the clamping means to clamp the spout, the cap-engaging means and clamping means to move relatively to remove the cap axially from the spout, the filler nozzle and clamping means to move relatively to bring the nozzle into cooperation with the clamped spout to fill the bag and then out of cooperation with the spout, the capengaging means and spout-clamping means to move relatively to re-position the cap axially on the spout, and the clamping means to release the spout, all during the continuous rotation of the filler head support, said spout-clamping means including an open socket adapted to engage a bag-spout as the head moves past a loading position, and means at that position for presenting a bag spout to be engaged by said socket, said socket being a pivoted clamping plate in the form of an open mouth, and means for swinging said plate to closed position around the spout after it engages the spout at the loading position.

A continuous rotary filling machine for receiving flexible bags with spouts having caps thereon that are removable by relative axial movement, which comprises:

• a rotatable filler head support, a plurality of filler heads angularly disposed about the support, and means for rotating the support continuously;
• each filler head comprising spout-clamping means for receiving and clamping a spout, cap-engaging means for engaging the cap on the clamped spout, said spout-clamping and cap engaging means being movable relatively to move the spout and cap axially relatively, and a filler nozzle and cooperating filler valve, said filler nozzle and said clamping means being movable relatively to bring the nozzle into and out of cooperation with the bag spout;
• and control means for successively causing the clamping means to clamp the spout, the cap-engaging means and clamping means to move relatively to remove the cap axially from the spout, the filler nozzle and clamping means to move relatively to bring the nozzle into cooperation with the clamped spout to fill the bag and then out of cooperation with the spout, the cap-engaging means and spout-clamping means to move relatively to re-position the cap axially on the spout, and the clamping means to release the spout, all during the continuous rotation of the filler head support, said control means including a volume flow meter for controlling the filler valve to provide a predetermined volume of liquid in the bag during the filling operation;
• a bag support for each filler head carried by the rotatable filler head support and supporting each clamped bag during the filling operation, each of the bag supports comprising a platform movable into and out of cooperation with its respective filler head to support the bag during the filling operation and to permit discharge thereof after the filling operation upon release by said spout clamping means.

A continuous rotary machine for receiving flexible bags with spouts having caps thereon that are removable by axial outward movement which comprises:

• a turret rotatable about a vertical axis, drive means for rotating the turret continuously, a plurality of angularly-disposed filler heads disposed about the turret;
• each filler head comprising:
• spout-clamping means for receiving and clamping in upright position a capped bag spout presented to it during the continuous rotaton of the turret, cap-engaging means for engaging the cap on the clamped spout mounted for vertical and horizontal movement, a filler nozzle equipped with a flow control filler valve mounted for vertical and horizontal movement relative to the clamping means for the spout;
• and control means for successively actuating, during the continuous rotation of the turret, the clamping means to clamp the spout, the cap-engaging means to engage the cap on the spout and to move vertically to remove it from the spout and horizontally to move it out of alignment with the spout, and the filler nozzle to move horizontally over the spout and then downwardly into filling position therewith and the filler valve to fill the bag, and, after filling, to close the valve, return the nozzle upwardly and horizontally to its original position and the cap-engaging means horizontally and downwardly to replace the cap on the spout, and the clamping means to release the spout.