US 6,662,828 B1Granted

Telescoping filling head

OwnerClifford W. Stover, Erik R. Ryberg +1inventors

InventorsClifford W. Stover, Erik R. Ryberg, Howard J. Biggins, Jr.

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Abstract

A telescoping filling head comprising a driving portion, a nozzle block portion and a two-stage telescoping nozzle, the innermost portion of the nozzle having positionable apertures. A telescoping filling head can be retrofitted on an existing filling device, or can be incorporated in a newly manufactured filling device. The telescoping action permits a longer nozzle to be used in any given space, because the two portions which extend to create a relatively long filling nozzle retract within a relatively short outer nozzle. The longer nozzle increases the rate at which foaming liquids can be introduced into a container. The positionable apertures can also direct the flow of the liquid at the shoulders of the bottle, further increasing the rate at which foaming liquids can be introduced into a container.

Claims33

Dependent claims

A telescoping filling head comprising:

a nozzle block including a first and second surface, a passage through said nozzle block from the first surface to the second surface, and at least one inlet into the nozzle block which opens into the passage and which permits the introduction of a product flow into the passage;
a nozzle unit comprising two portions, an inner nozzle and nozzle holder, wherein the nozzle unit passes through the passage and extends out of the first and second surfaces of the nozzle block,
wherein the inner nozzle includes an inner nozzle tip and a driving portion,
wherein the inner nozzle tip is hollow and includes walls and a closed base end,
wherein the walls include one or more apertures adjacent the base end;
and
wherein the nozzle holder is adapted to transmit a driving force to the inner nozzle;
a telescoping unit extending from the second surface of said nozzle block, said telescoping unit including:
an outer nozzle which includes first and second ends, wherein the outer nozzle is hollow, wherein the first end of the outer nozzle is open and adapted to sealingly connect to the second surface of the nozzle block, wherein the second end of the outer nozzle includes an opening;
and
a telescoping nozzle which includes first and second ends, and which is hollow and open at both ends, wherein the telescoping nozzle is adapted to slide back and forth sealingly within the opening in the second end of the outer nozzle, wherein the second end of the outer nozzle is adapted to prevent the first end of the telescoping nozzle from exiting the opening in the second end of the outer nozzle;
and
a first biasing device which biases the nozzle holder away from the first surface of the nozzle block;
and
a second biasing device which biases the telescoping nozzle away from the second surface of the nozzle block.

12 more elements

A method of filling containers with liquid using a telescoping filling head comprising:

(a) positioning a container below the opening of a telescoping filling head, wherein the telescoping filling head includes an outer nozzle, a telescoping nozzle, an inner nozzle, and an inlet through which liquid flows into the outer nozzle;
(b) extending the telescoping nozzle into the neck of the container by driving the inner nozzle in concert with the telescoping nozzle through an opening in the outer nozzle, wherein the inner nozzle includes at least one aperture adjacent an end of the inner nozzle which aperture is sealed by the telescoping nozzle;
(c) halting the extension of the telescoping nozzle;
(d) continuing to extend the inner nozzle into the neck of the container by continuing to drive the inner nozzle through telescoping nozzle, thereby exposing the at least one aperture;
and
(e) permitting the liquid to flow through the outer nozzle, through the extended telescoping nozzle and through the apertures in the inner nozzle into the container.

3 more elements

A telescoping filling head comprising:

a nozzle block, wherein the nozzle block includes an inlet, and an outer nozzle, wherein said outer nozzle includes a passage and wherein said passage connects to an opening on one surface of the nozzle block and terminates in a second opening in the outer nozzle, wherein the second opening is narrower than the passage, and wherein the inlet is in fluid connection with the second opening;
a telescoping nozzle in sliding connection with the outer nozzle through the second opening, wherein the telescoping nozzle has a first and a second end and includes a passage connecting said ends, wherein the outside portion of the first end of the telescoping nozzle is larger than the second opening in the outer nozzle, and wherein the telescoping nozzle passage is in fluid connection with the outer nozzle passage;
an inner nozzle which includes a driving portion and a nozzle portion, wherein the driving portion of the inner nozzle passes through an opening in the first surface of the nozzle block, wherein the nozzle portion is in sliding connection within the passage in the telescoping nozzle adjacent the second end of the telescoping nozzle, wherein the driving portion is in operative connection with the nozzle portion, wherein the nozzle portion of the inner nozzle includes an open end, a closed end, a walled passage between the ends, and at least one aperture in the walls of the passage adjacent to the closed end, wherein the at least one aperture is in fluid connection with the telescoping nozzle passage;
at least one driving device, wherein the at least one driving device is operative, in conjunction with the driving portion of the inner nozzle, to urge the inner nozzle to move relative to the nozzle block;
at least one first biasing device, wherein the at least one first biasing device is operative to urge the inner nozzle to return to, or to remain in, its position which is farthest from the container;
at least one second biasing device, wherein the second biasing device is operative in conjunction with the at least one driving force to urge the telescoping nozzle to move in concert with the inner nozzle between a first position and a second position relative to the outer nozzle toward the opening of a container to be filled, whereby the telescoping nozzle and the inner nozzle move into the container through the opening of the container;
and
wherein the at least one driving force is further operative to urge the inner nozzle further into the container between the second position and a third position relative to the outer nozzle, wherein the first end of the telescoping nozzle being larger that the second opening in the outer nozzle prevents the telescoping nozzle from further motion into the container, thereby extending the at least one aperture outside the second end of the telescoping nozzle passage, whereby an interior portion of the container is placed in fluid connection with the inlet to the nozzle block.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.