Gang array filler with relocatable nozzles

A filling machine for filling containers of equal sizes, said filling machine being adjustable to fill at least two different sized containers, comprising:

• means for supporting the containers in an upright orientation with the containers occupying a plurality of evenly spaced container positions along at least one longitudinal axis of an array of the containers;
• a plurality of nozzles coupled to a source of material to be discharged into the containers, the nozzles being movably mounted on a fill station structure for occupying nozzle positions in registry with said evenly spaced container positions;
• actuator means mounted on the fill station structure and operable to displace at least a subset of the nozzles along both the longitudinal axis, the actuator means being operable to alter the nozzle positions for achieving at least two alternative spacings of the nozzles, corresponding to evenly spaced container positions of containers of at least two different sizes;
• wherein the means for supporting the containers in an upright orientation is further arranged such that the containers occupy a plurality of evenly spaced container positions in an X-Y array defined by a plurality of perpendicular axes, said subset of nozzles being displaceable by the actuator means for altering the nozzle positions along both of said axes for achieving the at least two alternative spacings of the nozzles;
• and,
• wherein the actuator means comprises at least one motor drive operable controllably to advance and retract the nozzles along at least one of said axes.

A filling machine for filling equally sized containers, said filling machine being adjustable to fill containers of at least two different sizes in bulk, comprising:

• a depalletizer operable periodically to provide said containers in a group with a plurality of upright containers along mutually perpendicular axes, the containers defining an X-Y array;
• a means for supporting and moving the containers in an upright orientation while in said X-Y array;
• at least one movable engagement bar operable to compress the array of containers laterally, whereupon the containers occupy a plurality of evenly spaced laterally abutting container positions, forming an array of evenly spaced abutting containers of which their centers intersect a plurality of parallel longitudinal axes intersected by a plurality of parallel lateral axes perpendicular thereto;
• a plurality of nozzles coupled to a source of material to be discharged into the containers, the nozzles being movably mounted on a fill station structure for occupying nozzle positions in registry with said evenly spaced container positions;
• and,
• actuator means mounted on the fill station structure and operable to displace at least a subset of the nozzles, the actuator means being controllable to alter the nozzle positions by changing from one spacing to another along both of said longitudinal axes and said lateral axes perpendicular thereto for achieving at least two alternative spacings of the nozzles, each spacing corresponding to evenly spaced container positions of containers for a given size container, chosen from said at least two different sizes.

A filling machine for filling equally sized containers, said filling machine being adjustable to fill at least two different sized containers in bulk, comprising:

• a depalletizer operable periodically to provide said containers in a group with a plurality of upright containers along mutually perpendicular axes, the containers defining an X-Y array;
• a means for supporting and moving the containers in an upright orientation while in said X-Y array;
• at least one movable engagement bar operable to compress the array of containers laterally, whereupon the containers occupy a plurality of evenly spaced laterally abutting container positions, forming an array of evenly spaced abutting containers of which their centers intersect a plurality of parallel longitudinal axes intersected by a plurality of parallel lateral axes perpendicular thereto;
• a plurality of nozzles coupled to a source of material to be discharged into the containers, the nozzles being movably mounted on a fill station structure for occupying nozzle positions in registry with said evenly spaced container positions;
• and,
• actuator means mounted on the fill station structure and operable to displace at least a subset of the nozzles, the actuator means being controllable to alter the nozzle positions for achieving at least two alternative spacings of the nozzles, corresponding to evenly spaced container positions for a given size container, chosen from said at least two different sized containers;
• wherein the movable engagement bar is contoured to define evenly spaced receptacles for containers along a periphery of the array of evenly spaced containers, whereby movement of the bar positions the containers along both of said longitudinal and lateral axes;
• wherein the fill station structure includes a fixed support and a movable support thereon, and drive means operable to raise and lower the movable support relative to the containers, the nozzles being mounted on the movable support and each of the nozzles including a valve operable to be opened by a respective container in registry therewith, for discharging only into container positions in the array that are occupied by a container;
• and,
• wherein the actuator mans comprises at least one motor drive operably controllably to advance and retract the nozzles along at least one of said longitudinal and lateral axes.