Patent ID: 6119440
Filing Date: 2000-09-19
Classification: B65B

Abstract:
A product filler for filling product pouches and comprising:a single wheel having a circumferential portion of predetermined thickness, said wheel having upper and lower surfaces and an axis of rotation;at least two sets of product funnels defined in said wheel, said funnels having respective inlets proximate said upper surface and respective outlets proximate said lower surface;a first set of funnels being oriented in a circular path around said wheel;a second set of funnels being oriented in a circular path in said wheel outside said first set;a plurality of spouts mounted on and depending from said lower surface of said wheel, each spout having an inlet in operative communication with one of said outlets of said funnels and a discharge outlet oriented in a circular path below said wheel,at least two product channels oriented on the upper surface of said wheel proximate said circumferential portion, a first channel being disposed about a first circular path at least partially defined by said inlets of said funnels of said first set and in operative product transfer relation therewith, and a second channel being disposed about a second circular path at least partially defined by said inlets of said funnels of said second set,a feeder for providing a product to each of said channels;wherein a product is fed into each channel and from there drops into a respective set of funnels and spouts for alternative feeding from the discharge openings of respective alternate spouts;wherein pouches are conveyed through a pouch filling station; andsaid discharge openings of said spouts are moved into operative position for feeding product directly from said spouts into said pouches at said filling stations.