Patent ID: 6082418
Filing Date: 2000-07-04
Classification: B65B,B67C

Abstract:
A container filling assembly (10) for filling a plurality of containers (22), said filling assembly (10) comprising,a carousel (12) for rotating about an axis (14),an in-feed station (20) disposed adjacent said carousel (12) for feeding empty containers (22) into said carousel (12),an exit station (30) disposed adjacent said carousel (12) for exiting filled containers (22) from said carousel (12),a plurality of valve stations (34) supported by said carousel (12) for filling the containers (22) as the containers (22) are moved by said carousel (12) between said in-feed (20) and exit (30) stations,an enclosure (42) associated with each valve station (34) for enclosing the container (22) on said valve station (34), said enclosure (42) having an elongated endless wall (44) with an upper periphery (46) for sealing engagement about said valve station (34),an actuation mechanism (48) moving said enclosure (42) vertically between a sealed position with said upper periphery (46) in said sealing engagement and an open position with said upper periphery (46) spaced vertically from said valve station (34) sufficiently for the container (22) to move out of and into said valve station (34) above said upper periphery (46), andsaid enclosure (42) including a bottom (50) disposed within said elongated endless wall (44) for creating a sealed chamber (70) when said endless wall (44) is in said sealed position,said assembly characterized by said bottom (50) being fixedly supported by said carousel (12) and remaining below said upper periphery (46) of said endless wall (44) during said movement of said enclosure (42) from said sealed position to said open position.