In-case container filling machine

#This invention relates in general to container filling apparatus and, in particular, to a device for rapidly transferring premeasured amounts of liquid product into a plurality of case held containers, such as jugs, bottles or the like.

#Container filling machines have long been used for simultaneously filling a number of bottles, or other containers, with liquids. Some incorporate predetermined measures of liquid for each container. Others employ the "in-case" filling features, wherein a number of empty containers in a packing box or case are position-oriented to communicate with individual ones of plural filling tubes. Various air venting means are known by which ready escape of air is provided for each bottle as it is filled, particularly where the bottle neck engagingly opens a fill valve between supply source and the container. Individual ones and combinations of these features are found, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,419,235 Desobry, 917,155 Sanders, 963,119 Champ, 630,309 Denham and 212,494 Paddock.

#Many prior art devices, such as those typified above, were generally concerned with gravity flow of liquid at a flow rate determined by restrictions imposed by fill tube geometry and the viscosity of the liquid being bottled.

#In the drawings:

#FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of the apparatus of the present invention mounted on a wheeled carrier for easy movement about a work site;

#FIG. 2, a front elevation view of the apparatus of the present invention mounted on a wheeled carrier and positioned for use with a conveyor system;

#Referring to the drawings:

#Reference is now made to the drawings, and particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, which show the automatic container filling apparatus 9 of the present invention in side and front views respectively. The apparatus comprises a frame 10 having upper and lower longitudinal members 11 and 12, upper and lower cross members 13 and 14, and upright members 15. A base plate 16 is affixed to the lower cross and longitudinal members. The frame 10 is mounted on four wheels, three of which, 17, 18 and 19, are visible in the drawings, through mounting plates 20, providing mobility of the apparatus. An elevator shelf 21 is mounted on the piston shaft 22 of a fluid cylinder 23. Mounted on front and rear top plates 24 and 25, respectively, are double acting piston controlled pump assemblies 26.

#The number and size of the pump assemblies 26 is dependent on the number and size of the containers to be filled. For purposes of illustration it will be assumed that the illustrated unit is designed to fill simultaneously six one-gallon containers nested in a single packing case. Additional upright members 27 act as guides for elevator shelf 21 and as mounting supports for a centering block and fill tube assembly designated generally as 28.