Apparatus for filling and emptying containers

A filler material dispensing and recycling machine, said recycling machine comprising:

• a. filler material dispensing means for dispensing filler material into a container, said dispensing means comprising:
• i. a filler material hopper for holding filler material, and
• ii. valve means attached to the filler material hopper for allowing the filler material to flow from the filler material hopper into the container;
• b. an emptying table, said emptying table comprising a plenum for pressurization by a source of air, said plenum having an upper surface for receipt of the contents of the container, said contents comprising filler material;
• said upper surface of said plenum having louver means for directing a flow of air from within the plenum, at an angle over the upper surface and toward an edge of the emptying table, thereby urging the filler material of the contents, which have been placed on the upper surface, along the upper surface and toward the edge of the emptying table;
• and,
• c. air conveyor means for moving the filler material which leaves the edge of the emptying table into the filler material hopper.

A filler material dispensing and recycling machine, said recycling machine comprising:

• a. filler material dispensing means for dispensing filler material into a container, said dispensing means comprising:
• i. a filler material hopper for holding filler material, and
• ii. valve means attached to the filler material hopper for allowing the filler material to flow from the filler material hopper into the container.
• b. an emptying table, said emptying table comprising a horizontal surface for receipt of the contents of the container, said contents comprising filler material, said emptying table further comprising air means for directing a flow of air over the surface toward an edge of the emptying table, thereby urging the filler material of the contents, which have been placed on the surface, along the surface and toward the edge of the emptying table;
• c. air conveyor means for moving the filler material which leaves the edge of the emptying table into the filler material hopper;
• and
• d. removable roller transport assembly means for moving the container over the emptying table,
• said machine having a filling configuration when the roller transport assembly means are in place above the emptying table, and said machine further having an emptying configuration when the roller transport assembly means are removed from above the emptying table.