Patent ID: 8528606
Filing Date: 2013-09-10
Classification: B65B

Abstract:
1. An apparatus useful for filling non-liquid material into a container, the container being releasably engageable with the apparatus, the apparatus having a framework that includes an upper portion, a base, a front end and a rear end, and at least one filling spout associated with the upper portion, the apparatus comprising: first and second front grippers associated with the framework, each said front gripper being releasably engageable with a different portion of the container; first and second rear grippers associated with the framework, each said rear gripper being releasably engageable with a different portion of the container, said first and second rear grippers being linearly aligned with said first and second front grippers, respectively, wherein at least one of said front and rear grippers is power-operated; at least one driver associated with at least one of said grippers and capable of causing the non-manual lateral movement of all of said grippers; and a first dragger engaged between said first front and rear grippers and a second dragger engaged between said second front and rear grippers, said first and second draggers capable of allowing said first and second rear grippers to pull said respective first and second front grippers from said second to said respective first positions thereof, wherein said first and second rear grippers are each non-manually laterally movable between a first position that allows filling of a container engaged therewith and a second position that is forward of said first position and allows engagement of a container therewith, and said first and second front grippers are each non-manually laterally movable between a first position that allows filling of a container engaged therewith and a second position that is laterally forward of said first position and provides clearance for movement of said respective associated rear gripper into its second said position.