Liquid filling machine

A liquid filling machine comprising a plurality of discrete stations that cooperatively provide for automatic filling and capping containers including a cup dispensing station, a liquid filling station, a foil supply station, a heat sealing station and discharge station operatively disposed about a rotatably mounted container support to sequentially feed containers from the cup dispensing station to the container support and incrementally advance the container support through each discrete station to fill, seal and discharge the filled container.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
A liquid filling machine comprising a plurality of discrete stations that 
cooperatively provide for the automatic filling and capping of containers. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
A vast number of automatic filling machines have been designed to apply 
preformed lids or caps to close the filled cups or containers. Generally 
such machines employ a relatively limited supply of lids or caps. This 
requires unnecessary operator attention to replenish the supply. 
To reduce the need of replenishing the lid or cap supply, machines using 
foil rolls have been developed. Unfortunately such machines often become 
fouled with the foil as it is fed from the foil roll. 
In addition numerous machines often imprint or emboss the lids or foil 
strip with an identification code. The use of foil rolls is greatly 
inhibited since the code may be removed or obliterated. 
Thus a real need exists for an automatic filling machine capable of code 
identification with a significant number of lids or foil closures. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to a liquid filling machine comprising a 
plurality of discrete stations that cooperatively provide a means of 
automatically filling plastic containers with a liquid and capping the 
cups for ultimate use. The plurality of discrete stations includes a 
control module, a cup dispensing station, a liquid filling station, a foil 
supply station, a code identification station, a heat sealing station, a 
discharge station and a rotatable turn table or container support all 
operatively mounted on a base. 
The control module comprises state of the art circuitry disposed within a 
control housing to control the sequential operation of the liquid filling 
machine. 
The cup dispensing station comprises four (4) substantially vertical 
retainer members supported on a housing. A cup release mechanism is 
disposed within the housing to selectively feed the cups to the container 
support. The cup release mechanism comprises a pair of cup release 
elements each comprising a first and second release member. The first 
release member comprises a first plate including an aperture to fixedly 
attach the first release member on a rotatable shaft. An upper and lower 
release element extend outwardly from the first plate in cup engaging 
disposition. An adjustable centering element is movable attached to the 
lower edge of the first plate to permit selective movement of the 
adjustable centering element. The second release member comprises a second 
plate including aperture to rotatably mount the second release member on 
the rotatable shaft. An upper stop element extends outwardly from the 
second plate in cup engaging disposition. Upward movement of the second 
plate is restricted by a limit member extending downwardly from the second 
member. The shaft is coupled to the drive means or motor by a mechanical 
coupling means. 
The liquid filling station comprises a vertically disposed liquid reservoir 
having a liquid fill nozzle extending outwardly therefrom in liquid 
filling disposition relative to the container support means 28. 
The foil supply station comprises a foil mounting means to hold a 
continuous roll of foil. The tape or foil is fed through a tape drive 
means comprising a lower metal drive roller and an upper rubber idle 
roller. This configuration allows the foil to preform in a downward trend 
since the rubber idle roller tends to deform and follow the shape of the 
drive roller. 
The foil supply station further includes a cutting means comprising a 
substantially vertical cutting member or blade including a plurality of 
cutting elements extending across a portion thereof. As described more 
fully hereinafter, the tape or foil is only partially cut or perforated. 
The cutting blade is fixedly attached to a support member operatively 
coupled to the drive motor by a drive linkage or mechanical coupling to 
reciprocally move the support member. 
The code identification station comprises an embossing head. A detachable 
coding plate is mounted in a retainer means. A securing means or magnetic 
means is secured to the embossing head to retain the coding plate on the 
embossing head. 
The heat sealing station of essentially conventional design comprising a 
base support rods, a plate with interconnecting rods and a bias extending 
downwardly therefrom. The heat sealing head including a heater element is 
attached to the lower portion of the interconnecting rods. The entire heat 
sealing station is operatively coupled to the drive means by a mechanical 
coupling. 
It should be noted that the cutting element extends below the embossing 
head and the heat sealing head only in the lower or cutting position. As a 
result, when the embossing head and heat sealing head engage the strip of 
foil, sealing head without a cup no slice or cut only perforated 
thereafter continuous strip and no fouling. 
The discharge station comprises a lifter pedestal mounted on the base to 
move vertically between a lower and upper position relative to a discharge 
plate including a discharge aperture to register with the container 
support to receive filled cups therefrom. A wiper structure or means 
comprising a rotatable vertical wiper shaft and a horizontal wiper arm are 
mounted on the base to sweep the cups from the lifter pedestal when in the 
upper position. The lifter pedestal and a wiper shaft are operatively 
coupled to the drive motor by a drive linkage or mechanical couplings. 
The container support comprises a circular horizontally disposed turn table 
attached to the upper portion of a turn table shaft operatively coupled to 
the drive motor by a drive linkage or mechanical coupling. A plurality of 
container retainers each comprising a container aperture having an annular 
cup pocket disposed therein are formed in the turn table. 
In use the liquid filling machine is actuated by a plurality switches. The 
cups vertically disposed within the retainer members serially and singly 
feed under the control of the cup release mechanism. The adjustable 
centering elements on each side of the cup maintains center line alignment 
to prevent the cup from inadvertently becoming dislodged from either the 
lower release element or upper stop element during operation. Once the 
lowermost cup is released, the first and second release members and rotate 
upwardly for reloading. The turn table is then driven one increment 
immediately below the liquid filling station where it is filled 
volumetrically. As the turn table continues to advance or rotate through 
two increments the uncapped cup is disposed immediately below the heat 
sealing head. As the cup passes from the liquid filling station to the 
heat sealing station the strip of foil is fed from the foil supply to 
cover the opening of the cup. Once the cup is disposed beneath the heat 
sealing station, the heat sealing head, the cutting blade and the coding 
plate are moved downwardly such that the strip of foil is securely held 
between the code station and heat sealing station permitting a partial 
cutting of the strip. As the turn table is then rotated, the strip being 
bonded to the cup, the linear travel of the turn table being relatively 
greater than the travel of the foil strip causes a tearing of the 
remaining portion of the strip releasing the foil closure formed on the 
cup. 
As the turn table continues to rotate, the pedestal moves upwardly forcing 
the enclosed cup, through the aperture in the discharge plate. The wiper 
arm then rotates, pushing the filled enclosed cup down along the discharge 
plate. The operation is thus continued. 
The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, 
combination of elements, and arrangement of parts which will be 
exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth, and the scope of 
the invention will be indicated in the claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
As best shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the present invention relates to a liquid 
filling machine generally indicated as 10. The liquid filling machine 10 
comprises a plurality of discrete stations that cooperatively provide a 
means of automatically filling plastic containers (cups) 12 with a liquid 
and capping the caps 12 for ultimate use. The plurality of discrete 
stations include a control module 14, a cup dispensing station 16, a 
liquid filling station 18, a foil supply station 20, a code identification 
station 22, a heat sealing station 24, a discharge station 26 and a 
rotatable turn table or container support 28 all operatively mounted on a 
base 30. 
The control module 14 comprises state of the art circuitry disposed within 
a control housing 32. The controls include a temperature control dial 34 
to selectively control the temperature of the heat sealing station 24, a 
heater "on/off" switch 36 to selectively activate the heater 38 within the 
heat sealing station 24, a machine "on/off" switch 40 to activate the 
power source or drive means 42, an incremental operator switch 44 and an 
emergency stop switch 46. Simultaneous actuation of the switches 40 and 44 
will continuously actuate the machine 10 to periodically advance the 
container support 28 incrementally through each station. Actuation of the 
switch 44 causes incremental advance of the container support 28. 
The cup dispensing station 16 comprises four (4) substantially vertical 
retainer members each indicated as 48 supported on a housing 50. The 
housing 50 comprises a first member 52 extending upwardly from the base 30 
and a second member 54 including a cup feed aperture 56 extending 
outwardly therefrom. A cup release mechanism is disposed within the 
housing 50 to selectively feed the cups 12 to the container support 28 as 
more fully described hereinafter. As best shown in FIG. 3, the cup release 
mechanism comprises a pair of cup release elements on opposite sides of 
the cup feed aperture 6. Each cup release element comprises a first and 
second release member (phantom lines) 58 and 60 respectively. The first 
release member 58 comprises a first plate 62 including an aperture 64 to 
fixedly attached the first release member 58 on a rotatable shaft 66. An 
upper and lower release element 68 and 70 respectively extend outwardly 
from the first plate 62 in cup engaging disposition as more fully 
described hereinafter. An adjustable centering element 72 is movable 
attached to the lower edge of the first plate 62 by a fastner means 74 to 
permit selective movement of the adjustable centering element 72 relative 
to the first plate 62. The second release member 60 comprises a second 
plate 76 including an aperture 78 concentric aligned with an aperture 64 
to rotatably mount the second release member 60 on the rotatable shaft 66. 
An upper stop element 80 extends outwardly from the second plate 76 in cup 
engaging disposition as more fully described hereinafter. The cup release 
element further includes a spring bias means 82 to normally bias the upper 
stop element 80 downward and a positioner or post 84 on the first plate 62 
disposed to selectively engage the second plate 76 to provide rotation of 
first and second release members 58 and 60 as more fully described 
hereinafter. Upward movement of the second plate 76 is restricted by limit 
member 85 extending downwardly from the second member 54. The shaft 66 is 
coupled to the drive means or motor 42 by a mechanical coupling means 
partially indicated as 86. 
The liquid filling station 18, affixed to the base 30, comprises a 
vertically disposed liquid reservoir 88 having a liquid fill nozzle 90 
extending outwardly therefrom in liquid filling disposition relative to 
the container support means 28 as more fully described hereinafter. The 
filling station 18 is state of the art means to volumerically fill the 
cups 12 on the container support 28. A pair of control valves are 
activated by a piston which is in turn coupled to the drive means 42 by a 
mechanical coupling means generally indicated as 92 to selectively feed 
the liquid beverage to the cups 12. 
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the foil supply station 20 comprises a foil 
mounting means 100 including a substantially horizontal member or bar 102 
supported by side plates 104 and 106 to hold a continuous roll of foil 
108. The tape or foil is fed through a tape drive means comprising a lower 
metal drive roller and an upper rubber idle roller 110 and 112 
respectively. This configuration allows the foil to preform in a downward 
trend since the rubber idle roller 112 tends to deform and follow the 
shape of the drive roller 110. 
The drive roller 110 is mechanically coupled to the drive means or motor 42 
by a drive linkage or mechanical coupling partially shown as 114. The foil 
supply station 20 further includes a cutting means comprising a 
substantially vertical cutting member or blade 116. As best shown in FIG. 
4, the cutting blade 116 including a plurality of cutting elements 118 
extending across a portion of the cutting blade 116. As described more 
fully hereinafter, the tape or foil is only partially cut or perforated. 
The cutting blade 116 is fixedly attached to a support member 120 
operatively coupled to the drive motor 42 by a drive linkage or mechanical 
coupling partially shown as 122 to reciprocally move the support member 
120 vertically. A substantially L-shaped plate 124 is attached to the base 
30 having an inclined forming member 126. 
The code identification station 22 comprises an embossing head 128 mounted 
on an interconnecting member 130 with a bias 132 mounted thereon and a 
resilient member 134 in the plate 124. A detachable coding plate 136 
including an inclined tab 138 is mounted in a retainer means or groove 
140. A securing means or magnetic means 142 are secured to the embossing 
head 128 to retain the coding plate 136 on the embossing head 128. 
As best shown in FIG. 2 the heat sealing station 24 of essentially 
conventional design comprises a base 144, a plurality of support rods 146, 
a plate 148 with interconnecting rods 150 and a bias 152 extending 
downwardly therefrom. The heat sealing head 154 including a heater element 
38 is attached to the lower portion of the interconnecting rods 150. The 
entire heat sealing station 24 is operatively coupled to the drive means 
42 by a mechanical coupling partially shown as 156. 
It should be noted that the cutting element 118 extends below the embossing 
head 128 and the heat sealing head 154 only in the lower or cutting 
position. As a result, when the embossing head 128 and the heat sealing 
head 154 engage the strip of foil, the sealing head 154 without a cup 12 
no slice or cut only perforated thereafter continuous strip and no 
fouling. 
The discharge station 26 comprises a lifter pedestal 160 mounted on the 
base 30 to move vertically between a lower and upper position relative to 
a discharge plate 162 including discharge aperture 164 to register with 
the container support 28 to received filled cups 12 therefrom. A wiper 
structure or means comprising a rotatable vertical wiper shaft 166 and a 
horizontal wiper arm 168 are mounted on the base 30 to sweep the cups 12 
from the lifter pedestal 160 when in the upper position. The lifter 
pedestal 160 and the wiper shaft 166 are operatively coupled to the drive 
motor 42 by a drive linkage or mechanical couplings partially shown as 168 
and 170 respectively. 
The container support 28 comprises a circular horizontally disposed turn 
table 172 attached to the upper portion of a turn table shaft 174 
operatively coupled to the drive motor 42 by a drive linkage or mechanical 
coupling partially shown as 176. A plurality of container retainers each 
comprising a container aperture 178 having an annular cup pocket 180 
disposed therein are formed in the turn table 172. 
In use the liquid filling machine 10 is normally actuated by the switches 
40 and 44 together with actuation of the heater element through switch 36 
and setting of the desired temperature by control dial 34. Alternately the 
machine 10 may be manually advanced incrementally by depression of the 
switch 44. The cups 12 vertically disposed within the retainer members 48 
serially and singly fed through the cup feed aperture 56 under control the 
cup release mechanism. Specifically in the first or upper retainer 
position the upper lip of the cup 12 is engaged by the lower release 
element 70. Upon rotation of the shaft 66, the first release member 58 
rotates downwardly while at the same time permitting the second release 
member 60 to follow through the spring bias action 82. As rotation 
continues through the horizontal, the upper release element 68 engages the 
upper lip of the cup forcing the lower most cup downwardly through the 
aperture 56 onto the container support means 28. Simultaneously the upper 
stop element 80 engages the lower portion of the next adjacent cup lip 
preventing it from following. The adjustable centering elements 72 on each 
side of the cup 12 maintains center line alignment to prevent the cup from 
inadvertently becoming dislodged from either the lower release element 70 
or the upper stop element 80 during operation. Once the lower most cup 12 
is released, the first and second release members 58 and 60 rotate 
upwardly for reloading. Specifically the shaft 66 rotates in the opposite 
direction causing the first release member 58 to rotate upwardly while the 
pin or element 84 engages the upper portion of second release member 60 
and causing it to rotate upwardly with the first release member 58. The 
turn table 164 is then driven one increment immediately below the liquid 
filling station 18 where it is filled volumetrically from the beverage 
reservoir 88 through fill nozzle 90. As the turn table 164 continues to 
advance or rotate through two increments the uncapped cup 12 is disposed 
immediately below the heat sealing head 154. As the cup 12 passes from the 
liquid filling station 18 to the heat sealing station 24 the strip of foil 
is fed from the foil supply 20 to cover the opening of the cup 12. Once 
disposed beneath the heat sealing station 24 the heat sealing head 154, 
the cutting blade 116 and the coding plate 136 are moved downwardly such 
that the strip of foil is securely held between the code station 22 and 
heat sealing station 24 permitting a partial cutting of the strip. As the 
turn table 164 is then rotated, the strip bonded to the cup 12, the linear 
travel of the turn table 164 being relatively greater then the travel of 
the foil strip causes a tearing of the remaining portion of the strip 
releasing the foil closure formed on the cup 12. 
As the turn table 164 continues to rotate, the pedestal 152 moves upwardly 
forcing the enclosed cup, 12 through the aperture 156 in the discharge 
plate 154. The wiper arm 160 then rotates, pushing the filled enclosed cup 
12 down along the discharge plate 154. The operation is thus continued. 
It should be noted that since the foil supply and strip are in line with 
the rotation of the turn table 164 there is no pocket hang-up or grab as 
is commonly associated with many such machines. 
It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those made 
apparent from the preceding description are efficiently attained and since 
certain changes may be made in the above construction without departing 
from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained 
in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be 
interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. 
It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover 
all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein 
described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a 
matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween. 
Now that the invention has been described,