US 5,522,439 AGranted

Apparatus for filling containers

AssigneeAB IMIA Development

InventorsIvan Hakansson, Lajos Petho

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Abstract

For filling containers with a liquid product, the product is fed from a storage container to a manifold to which volume containers of given volumetric capacity are connected, and from which the product is fed to the containers. The outlets of the volume containers are fitted with point valves and the containers and the valves are blown clean by means of a stream of inert gas, so as to eliminate subsequent dripping of product therefrom. Remaining product which is not introduced into the volume containers is displaced by means of a gas stream to a collecting container and from there back to the storage container. The filled containers are advanced in a conveyor in a manner in which the containers are gently accelerated in their movement to a container sealing apparatus.

Claims7

Dependent claims

An apparatus for filling a succession of product containers each with liquid product, comprising

a) a generally horizontal manifold or branched pipe which is connected to a storage container for the delivery of product to be filled into said product containers at a product container filling section, and to a collecting container for collecting residual product that is not introduced into the product containers, and which manifold is provided with at least one outlet each of which leads to a respective volume container for introducing product into a respective product container, each said volume container having a determined, volume which corresponds to a product volume to be introduced into each product container, and wherein the outlet end of each said volume container is provided with a point valve in a product conduit which adjusts the outflow of liquid product to the respective product container, and wherein each outlet opening of the manifold leading to a respective said volume container discharges on a level which lies above the bottom level of the manifold;
b) a product return line for returning product from said collecting container to said storage container;
c) sensor means which monitor the highest and the lowest permitted liquid levels in the manifold;
d) at least one connection, including at least one conduit having a respective valve, to an at least one source of gas under overpressure, said gas functioning to expel liquid product from each said volume container to each product container and to blow residue of liquid product out from the respective said point valve, so as to transport remaining liquid product from the manifold to the collecting container and to transport liquid product from said collecting container to said storage container;
e) a conveyor for advancing product containers to be filled in succession along a linear conveyor path and for delivering the filled product containers in succession to a container sealing apparatus;
f) sensor means which detect the positions of the product containers in the conveyor;
and
g) a program mechanism which receives impulses from said sensor means which detect the liquid level in the manifold, and also from said sensor means which detect the positions of the product containers on the conveyor, and on the basis of these impulses functions to control settings of said valves in said product and gas conduits and also to control movement of said conveyor.

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Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

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Abstract

An apparatus for filling a succession of product containers each with liquid product, comprising

a) a generally horizontal manifold or branched pipe which is connected to a storage container for the delivery of product to be filled into said product containers at a product container filling section, and to a collecting container for collecting residual product that is not introduced into the product containers, and which manifold is provided with at least one outlet each of which leads to a respective volume container for introducing product into a respective product container, each said volume container having a determined, volume which corresponds to a product volume to be introduced into each product container, and wherein the outlet end of each said volume container is provided with a point valve in a product conduit which adjusts the outflow of liquid product to the respective product container, and wherein each outlet opening of the manifold leading to a respective said volume container discharges on a level which lies above the bottom level of the manifold;
b) a product return line for returning product from said collecting container to said storage container;
c) sensor means which monitor the highest and the lowest permitted liquid levels in the manifold;
d) at least one connection, including at least one conduit having a respective valve, to an at least one source of gas under overpressure, said gas functioning to expel liquid product from each said volume container to each product container and to blow residue of liquid product out from the respective said point valve, so as to transport remaining liquid product from the manifold to the collecting container and to transport liquid product from said collecting container to said storage container;
e) a conveyor for advancing product containers to be filled in succession along a linear conveyor path and for delivering the filled product containers in succession to a container sealing apparatus;
f) sensor means which detect the positions of the product containers in the conveyor;
and
g) a program mechanism which receives impulses from said sensor means which detect the liquid level in the manifold, and also from said sensor means which detect the positions of the product containers on the conveyor, and on the basis of these impulses functions to control settings of said valves in said product and gas conduits and also to control movement of said conveyor.

5 more elements