US 6,079,460 A · Rotary filling machine for filling containers with liquids

Abstract

A rotary liquid container-filling machine has valve assemblies (3), mounted on a rotating platform (2), each of provided with a duct (4) intercepted by an obturator (5) for regulating the supply of liquid from a storage tank (6) to the container (7) and having an air return pipe (8). A centering cone (10) receives in abutment the mouth of the container (7) to cause opening of the obturator (5) mounted at the bottom of each valve assembly (3). A flushing station (14) associated with the rotating platform (2), but fixed with respect thereto, is provided with at least one collecting tray (15) which is moved by a linear actuator (16) so as to be positioned underneath the valve assemblies (3) passing above it. For this purpose first a actuator means (17) opens each obturator (5) when valve assemblies (3) pass above the collecting tray (15). Each valve assembly (3) also has a blow-in pipe (23) provided with an outlet mouth (60) connected to the bottom end of the pipe (4) to introduce inert gas inside the container (7) to be filled before, during and after a step involving filling of the container (7) itself. Each air return pipe (8) has a third valve (31) which is actuated to open and close by activation means (32) which is integral with the centering cone (10).

Claims32

Dependent claims

A rotary filling machine for filling a container, with liquids, of the type including

a rotating platform (2) including a plurality of peripheral filling valve assemblies (3), each of which further comprises:
a duct (4) for supplying the liquid from a storage tank (6) to the container (7) to be filled with said liquid, when the container is positioned underneath the duct (4);
an obturator (5) intercepting said duct (4) in order to regulate a supply of liquid towards the container (7);
an air return pipe (8) along at least a section inside said duct (4) and including an end section for hydraulically regulating a maximum level of the liquid inside the container (7);
a centering cone (10) designed to receive in abutment a mouth of said container (7) and to cause opening of said obturator (5);
and an adjuster (12) moving said storage tank (6) and being connected to said valve assemblies (3);
said filling machine comprising
at least one fixed flushing station (14) in stationary relationship to said rotating platform (2), including at least one respective collecting tray (15),
a positioning actuator (16) moving, in accordance with predetermined operating steps, said collecting tray (15) to an operational position underneath one of said valve assemblies (3) passing above it, and
an obturator actuator (17) opening each obturator (5) when a respective valve assembly (3) passes above said collecting tray (15).

7 more elements

A rotary filling machine for filling containers with liquids, of the type consisting of a rotating platform (2) provided peripherally with a plurality of filling valve assemblies (3), each of which is provided with:

a duct (4) for supplying the liquid from a storage tank (6) to a container (7) to be filled with said liquid, positioned underneath the duct (4);
an obturator (5) arranged so as to intercept said duct (4) in order to regulate the supply of liquid towards the container (7);
an air return pipe (8) arranged along at least a section inside said duct (4) and provided with an end section for hydraulically regulating the maximum level of the liquid inside the container (7);
a centering cone (10) designed to receive in abutment the mouth of said container (7) and to cause opening of said obturator (5);
adjusting means (12) designed to move said storage tank (6) and connected to said valve assemblies (3);
said machine comprising at least one flushing station (14) in stationary relationship to said rotating platform (2) and provided with at least one collecting tray (15), said flushing station (14) being able to be actuated by moving means (16) so as be positioned operationally, in accordance with predetermined operating steps, underneath said valve assemblies (3) passing above it, first actuator means (17) being provided so as to cause opening of each obturator (5) when said valve assemblies (3) pass above said collecting tray (15).

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Rotary filling machine for filling containers with liquids

Life of this patent

Rotary filling machine for filling containers with liquids

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims32