Rotary filling machine and related components, and related method
AssigneeHartness International, Inc.
InventorsThomas P. Hartness, William R. Hartness, III, Mark W. Davidson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A rotary filling machine is disclosed for filling containers, the machine including a rotating platform rotatable relative to a vertical rotating axis through a filling zone, and a conveyor configured to convey empty containers to be filled to the rotating platform for filling and to convey filled containers from the rotating platform. Various aspects and designs of the above elements are disclosed, as well as a related method.
Claims54
A rotary filling machine for filling containers, comprising:
- a rotating platform rotatable relative to a vertical rotating axis through a filling zone;
- a conveyor configured to convey empty containers to be filled to the rotating platform for filling and to convey filled containers from the rotating platform;
- cooperating elements disposed on the rotating platform and conveyor for releasably attaching the conveyor to the rotating platform at least in the filling zone;
- and
- a filling turret disposed generally above the rotating platform and rotatable relative to the vertical rotating axis at a speed corresponding generally to that of the rotating platform, the filling turret including a plurality of filling heads movable from a rest position to a filling position as said turret rotates through the filling zone, each of the filling heads having a plurality of filling elements, the filling elements movable into engagement with the containers as the filling heads move to the filling position for filling the containers.
A rotary filling machine for filling containers conveyed by a conveyor conveying containers with a predetermined spacing, the machine comprising:
- a rotating platform rotatable relative to a vertical rotating axis through a filling zone;
- the rotating platform configured for releasably attaching itself to the conveyor at least in the filling zone;
- and
- a filling turret disposed generally above the rotating platform and rotatable relative to the vertical rotating axis at a speed corresponding generally to that of the rotating platform, the filling turret including a plurality of filling heads movable from a rest position to a filling position as said turret rotates through the filling zone, each of the filling heads having a plurality of filling elements, the filling elements movable into engagement with the containers as the filling heads move to the filling position for filling the containers.
A rotary filling machine for filling containers conveyed by two substantially parallel conveyors, the machine comprising:
- a rotating platform rotatable relative to a vertical rotating axis through a filling zone;
- the rotating platform configured for releasably attaching itself to the conveyors at least in the filling zone;
- and
- a filling turret disposed generally above the rotating platform and rotatable relative to the vertical rotating axis at a speed corresponding generally to that of the rotating platform, the filling turret including a plurality of filling heads arranged in two substantially concentric groups about the vertical rotating axis, the filling heads being movable from a rest position to a filling position as said turret rotates through the filling zone, each of the filling heads having a plurality of filling elements, the filling elements movable into engagement with the containers as the filling heads move to the filling position for filling the containers.
A method of filling containers using a rotating filling machine, the method comprising:
- conveying empty containers to the rotating filling machine using a conveyor;
- attaching a portion of the conveyor to the rotating filling machine including releasably attaching cooperating elements on the conveyor and on a rotating platform on the rotatable filling machine;
- filling the empty containers on the attached portion of the conveyor;
- and
- detaching the portion of the conveyor from the rotating filling machine after the containers are filled wherein the rotary filling machine further includes a filling turrent disposed generally above the rotating platform and rotatable relative to a vertical rotating axis of the rotating platform at a speed corresponding generally to that of the rotating platform, the filling turret including a plurality of filling heads movable from a rest position to a filling position as said turret rotates through a filling zone, each of the filling heads having a plurality of filling elements, the filling elements movable into engagement with the containers as the filling heads move to the filling position for filling the containers.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.