High speed aseptic filling machine

A filling head apparatus comprising:

• a filling head housing having an inlet portion for receiving fluid from a source to be filled in a container, a filling tip for delivering the fluid to the container, a returning portion for returning the fluid to the source from the filling head housing;
• an external valve coupled to said returning portion for controlling the flow of the fluid;
• and
• a regulating valve positioned within said filling head housing and extends through said filling head housing for regulating flow of the fluid from said filling head housing to the container through the spout opening, said regulating valve having at least two positions, said at least two positions comprising an open position and a closed position, wherein when said regulating valve is in said open position, said fluid is allowed to flow into said container, and wherein when said regulating valve is in said closed position, said fluid is blocked from flowing into said container and is diverted to flow into said returning portion.

A filling head apparatus comprising:

• a filling head housing having an inlet portion for receiving fluid from a source to be filled in a container, a filling tip for delivering the fluid to the container, a returning portion for returning the fluid to the source from the filling head housing;
• a regulating valve positioned within said filling head housing and extends through said filling head housing for regulating flow of the fluid from said filling head housing to the container through the spout opening, said regulating valve having at least two positions, said at least two positions comprising an open position and a closed position, wherein when said regulating valve is in said open position, said fluid is allowed to flow into said container, and wherein when said regulating valve is in said closed position, said fluid is blocked from flowing into said container and is diverted to flow into said returning portion;
• and
• an escape path positioned inside said regulating valve for allowing residual fluid to escape from the interior of said spout opening.

A filling head apparatus comprising:

• a filling head housing having an inlet portion for receiving fluid from a source to be filled in a container, a filling tip for delivering the fluid to the container, a returning portion for returning the fluid to the source from the filling head housing;
• a regulating valve positioned within said filling head housing and extends through said filling head housing for regulating flow of the fluid from said filling head housing to the container through the spout opening, said regulating valve having at least two positions, said at least two positions comprising an open position and a closed position, wherein when said regulating valve is in said open position, said fluid is allowed to flow into said container, and wherein when said regulating valve is in said closed position, said fluid is blocked from flowing into said container and is diverted to flow into said returning portion;
• and
• wherein said at least two positions further comprises a displacement position, and said regulated valve terminates as a pushing cylinder so that when said regulated valve travels from said closed position to said displacement position, said pushing cylinder of the regulated valve protrudes into said spout opening;
• and wherein said filling head further comprises an escape path positioned inside said regulating valve for assisting residual fluid to escape from the interior of said spout opening.

A filling head apparatus comprising:

• a filling head housing having an inlet portion for receiving fluid from a source to be filled in a container, a filling tip for delivering the fluid to the container, a returning portion for returning the fluid to the source from the filling head housing;
• a regulating valve positioned within said filling head housing and extends through said filling head housing for regulating flow of the fluid from said filling head housing to the container through the spout opening, said regulating valve having at least two positions, said at least two positions comprising an open position and a closed position, wherein when said regulating valve is in said open position, said fluid is allowed to flow into said container, and wherein when said regulating valve is in said closed position, said fluid is blocked from flowing into said container and is diverted to flow into said returning portion;
• and
• wherein the filling of the container is performed under a sterile condition.

A device for aseptically filling a container through a spout thereof with fluid in a sterile environment, comprising:

• an enclosed sterile chamber having a first opening in a wall thereof for accepting the container spout;
• a gripper mechanism positioned outside of said chamber to engage the spout of the container and move the spout into and out of the first chamber opening;
• a filling head extended into the sterile chamber through a second opening for providing the fluid to the container, said filling head being movable with respect to the sterile chamber for engaging to the spout of the container within the chamber, wherein when said filling head engages the spout of the container, the fluid flows from said filling head to the container through said spout of the container;
• and
• a mechanism positioned within said chamber to remove and replace a cap of the container spout when inserted through the first chamber opening and the filling head is removed from engagement with the spout.

A device for aseptically filling a container with fluid in a sterile environment, comprising:

• an enclosed sterile chamber having a first opening in a wall thereof for accepting a spout of the container;
• a filling head extended into the sterile chamber through a second opening for providing the fluid to the container, said filling head is able to move independently with respect to the sterile chamber for engaging to the spout of the container, wherein when said filling head is engaging with the spout of the container, the fluid flows from said filling head to the container through said spout of the container;
• and
• a rolling diaphragm seal positioned between the filling head and the second opening of the sterile chamber for preventing contamination from entering the sterile chamber.

A device for aseptically filling a container with fluid in a sterile environment, comprising:

• an enclosed sterile chamber having a first opening in a wall thereof for accepting a spout of the container;
• a filling head extended into the sterile chamber through a second opening for providing the fluid to the container, said filling head is able to move independently with respect to the sterile chamber for engaging to the spout of the container, wherein when said filling head is engaging with the spout of the container, the fluid flows from said filling head to the container through said spout of the container;
• and
• wherein said filling head is hingedly coupled with the sterile chamber so that the filling head moves substantially along a longitudinal axis of the spout of the container.

A device for aseptically filling a container with fluid in a sterile environment, comprising:

• an enclosed sterile chamber having a first opening in a wall thereof for accepting a spout of the container;
• and
• a filling head extended into the sterile chamber through a second opening for providing the fluid to the container, said filling head is able to move independently with respect to the sterile chamber for engaging to the spout of the container, wherein when said filling head is engaging with the spout of the container, the fluid flows from said filling head to the container through said spout of the container, said filling head further comprising:
• a filling head housing defining a filling head chamber, said filling head housing has a fluid inlet portion for receiving the fluid to be filled in the container, a filling tip for delivering the fluid to the container;
• a regulating valve disposed within said filling head housing for regulating flow of the fluid from said filling head chamber to said container through a spout opening of the container, said regulating valve being displaceable within said filling head housing in at least three positions, said at least three positions comprising an open position, a closed position, and a displacement position, wherein when said regulating valve is in said open position, said fluid is allowed to flow into said container from said filling head chamber, and when said regulated valve is in said closed position and said displacement position, said fluid is blocked to flow from said filling head chamber into said container, and said regulated valve terminating as a pushing cylinder so that when said regulated valve travels from said closed position to said displacement position, said pushing cylinder of the regulated valve protrudes into said spout opening;
• and
• an escape path positioned inside said regulating valve for allowing residual fluid to escape from the interior of said spout opening.

A method of filling a container with liquid through an opening of a spout thereof that contains a cap attached thereover, comprising:

• positioning the capped container spout through a first opening of a chamber,
• thereafter gripping the cap within the chamber in order to cause its removal from the spout,
• thereafter removing the spout a distance through the first chamber opening but maintaining the spout opening within the chamber,
• thereafter moving a filling head nozzle through a second opening of the chamber to engage the spout opening within the chamber,
• thereafter discharging liquid through the filling head nozzle and through the spout into the container,
• thereafter removing the filling head nozzle from engaging the container spout opening,
• thereafter moving the spout further into the chamber through the first opening, and
• positioning the cap onto the spout within the chamber, and
• removing the capped spout from the chamber through the first opening.

A filling head assembly for filling a container with liquid through a spout thereof, comprising:

• a filling head housing defining a filling head chamber, said filling head housing having a liquid inlet portion for receiving liquid with which the container is filled, and a filling tip that engages the container spout to deliver liquid therethrough;
• a regulating valve disposed within said filling head housing for regulating flow of the liquid from said filling head chamber to said container through the container spout opening, said regulating valve being moveable within said filling head housing along an axis thereof among at least an open position, a closed position, and a displacement position, wherein when said regulating valve is in said open position, said liquid is allowed to flow into said container from said filling head chamber, and when said regulated valve is in said closed position and said displacement position, said liquid is blocked from flowing from said filling head chamber into said container, and said regulated valve terminates as a pushing cylinder so that when said regulated valve travels from said closed position to said displacement position, said pushing cylinder of the regulated valve protruding into said spout opening, said pushing cylinder having a diameter substantially equal to a diameter of an inner wall of said spout opening so that when said regulating valve travels from said closed position to said displacement position, said pushing cylinder of said regulating valve removes residual liquid from inside the spout opening.