Multi-Hole Nozzle and Components Thereof

A multi-hole nozzle component for a filling machine is described herein. The multi-hole nozzle component may be part of a nozzle assembly. The nozzle component has a periphery, an inlet side having a surface, and an outlet side having a surface. The nozzle component has a plurality of separate passageways extending through the nozzle component from adjacent its inlet side to its outlet side, wherein the passageways form a plurality of openings in the surface of the outlet side of the nozzle component. In one embodiment, the surface of the outlet side of the nozzle component has a plurality of grooves therein that are disposed to run between said openings in the surface of the outlet side of the nozzle component.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1 and 2show one non-limiting example of a multi-hole nozzle assembly20.FIG. 2shows that the multi-hole nozzle assembly20may generally comprise an air cylinder22, an optional connecting body24, and a nozzle body26. The air cylinder22moves the stopper28inside the nozzle body26to open and close the nozzle. The optional connecting body24connects the air cylinder22to the nozzle body26. It should be understood that the nozzle body26, or components thereof, may comprise inventions in their own right separate and apart from the nozzle assembly20, and that the description of the nozzle assembly is provided to show these components in context.

FIG. 2shows that the air cylinder22may comprise a housing30having an interior hollow space32therein. The air cylinder22further comprises a rod34, a piston36, and a spring38. In its usual orientation, during operation, the air cylinder22will move the rod34upward in order to open the nozzle, and downward to close the nozzle. The spring38holds the stopper28against the openings in the nozzle body26and keeps liquid from running out of the nozzle in the event air pressure to the filling machine is turned off (for an emergency, maintenance, air tubing failure, etc). The air cylinder22may comprise any suitable commercially available air cylinder.

The optional connecting body24can comprise an element of any configuration that is suitable for connecting the air cylinder22to the nozzle body26.

The nozzle body26is joined to the other portion(s) of the nozzle assembly20, and forms the outlet of the nozzle assembly20. The nozzle body26comprises a housing42and has at least one inlet conduit40joined thereto so that it is in liquid communication with the inner chamber44of the nozzle body26. The nozzle assembly20may further comprise an optional stem46that is joined to the air cylinder rod34. A flexible diaphragm48encircles at least a portion of the length of the air cylinder rod34or stem46.

The nozzle body26has a plurality of spaced passageways50that pass through the nozzle body. The passageways50may be integrally formed in a portion of the nozzle body26itself, such as the housing42, or the passageways50may be formed in a separate nozzle piece, such as an insert or an attachment, that it joined to the remainder of the nozzle body26. For example, such a separate nozzle piece52may be removably affixed (such as by a clamp) to the nozzle body housing42. The term “nozzle component” will be used herein to describe either of the following nozzle constructions: the portion of the nozzle body26that has the passageways50formed therein; or a separate nozzle piece that has the passageways50formed therein. The nozzle body26has a stopper28therein at the end of the air cylinder rod34or optional stem46for closing the passageways50and shutting off the nozzle.

FIG. 3shows one embodiment of a nozzle component52, in the form of a nozzle piece, in greater detail. The nozzle component52has a periphery54, an inlet side56having a surface, and an outlet side58having a surface. The nozzle component52has a centerline L extending from its inlet side to its outlet side. The nozzle component52comprises a plurality of separate spaced passageways50that extend through the nozzle component from adjacent its inlet side to its outlet side. In some embodiments, a plurality of the passageways50may be formed into the surface of the inlet side56of the nozzle component52. In other embodiments, such as shown inFIG. 2, the inlet side56of the nozzle component52may have a single opening or recess (or, in some cases, more than one opening) formed therein. The recess may have a base (for example, it may form a shelf) adjacent the inlet side56of the nozzle component52, and the plurality of passageways50may be formed in this shelf. The term “adjacent” is intended to cover both types of embodiments. The passageways50, thus, may form a single, or a plurality of openings50A in the inlet surface56of the nozzle component52, and form a plurality of openings in the outlet side58of the nozzle component52. It should be understood in instances when the nozzle body26, or housing42thereof, comprises the nozzle component that has the passageways50formed therein, the nozzle body26(or housing42thereof) will have features that correspond to those described herein for the nozzle piece.

FIG. 3shows that the nozzle component52further may comprise a centering feature60extending outwardly from the outlet side58thereof. The centering feature60is used to align the nozzle component with the neck of the bottles to be filled. In this embodiment, the centering feature60comprises several spaced apart centering elements60A-60E that comprise extensions of the periphery54of the nozzle component. The centering elements60A-60E have inner surfaces that are tapered so that they are wider at their base (or “proximal ends”) and narrower at their distal ends.

As shown inFIGS. 3 and 4, in some embodiments, the passageways50extending through the nozzle component52may be substantially parallel to each other, and may also be parallel to the centerline of the nozzle component52. The passageways50may be of any suitable size and have any suitable cross-sectional configuration. The passageways50may all be of the same cross-sectional size, or they may have different cross-sectional sizes. Suitable cross-sectional configurations include, but are not limited to substantially circular cross-sections. The passageways50may be sized and configured so that when liquid is dispensed through the nozzle, the liquid exits the outlet side in the form of separate streams from each passageway50.

As shown inFIGS. 3 and 4, the surface of the outlet side58of the nozzle component52may have a plurality of grooves62therein that are disposed to run between the openings50A in the surface of the outlet side58of the nozzle component58. The grooves62in the surface of the outlet side58of the nozzle component may be of any suitable configuration, and be arranged in any suitable pattern. The grooves62may be rectilinear, curvilinear, or combinations thereof. The grooves62may be sized and configured to reduce dripping of liquid from the passageways50after the nozzle is closed. The grooves62do this by separating the openings50A on the outlet side58from each other so that any individual liquid meniscuses formed at the openings50A on the outlet side of the nozzle component cannot combine to produce a large drop. The grooves62may, thus, at least partially surround the openings50A to separate the openings from each other. The number of openings50A that are separated from each other by the grooves62can range from one to six or more, depending on characteristics, such as viscosity, of the liquid being dispensed. While it is possible to separate passageways50by distances that are large enough to avoid any individual liquid meniscuses formed at the openings50A on the outlet side of the nozzle component from combining to produce a large drop, the grooves62permit the passageways50to be located closer to each other without this occurring.

In the embodiment shown inFIGS. 3 and 4, the grooves62extend radially outward from the centerline L toward the periphery of the nozzle component. The grooves62may intersect with each other at the centerline L of the nozzle component. The grooves62may, but need not, extend all the way to the periphery of the nozzle component. In the particular embodiment shown, the grooves62separate the openings50A into groups of three. In this embodiment, the openings50A are about 2 to about 5 mm in diameter, and are spaced apart by a distance of 3.4 mm The grooves62are about 2 to about 4 mm in width, and about 2 mm deep.

FIGS. 5 to 7are non-limiting examples of several other possible nozzle passageway opening50A and groove62configurations. These figures show that the openings50A (and, thus the cross-sectional dimensions of the passageways) can be of different sizes, and that the grooves62that divide the openings50A formed thereby can be arranged in many different patterns.

FIG. 8shows that the outlet side58of the nozzle component52may have a configuration in which the central portion of the outlet side58of the nozzle component projects outward relative to the remainder of the outlet side58. In the embodiment shown inFIG. 8, the configuration may be in the form of a truncated cone configuration, or other configuration. Some bottles are more amenable to centering by a nozzle component that extends from the center of the nozzle component. In this embodiment, the beveled portion can stick into the mouth of the bottle and center the bottle to the nozzle rather than centering by contacting the exterior of the bottle.

FIGS. 2 and 9show one embodiment of a stopper28for the filling nozzle. The stopper28can be of any suitable configuration, and can be made of any suitable material(s). In the embodiment shown, the stopper28is configured to have a substantially flat distal end that is large enough to simultaneously cover all of the opening(s) formed by the passageways50in the inlet side56of the nozzle body. The stopper28can be made of a single material, such as stainless steel. In the embodiment shown inFIG. 9, the stopper28comprises a metal insert70and a compressible material72at least at the end thereof for shutting off the nozzle. As shown inFIGS. 2 and 9, the compressible material72may encase the metal insert70.

The components of the multi-hole nozzle assembly20can be made in any suitable manner from any suitable materials. The various components (other than any compressible material used for the stopper) can be machined or cast from metal, such as stainless steel, or from plastic, or certain components may be made out of metal, and certain components may be made out of plastic.

The multi-hole nozzle assembly20functions as follows. The liquid to be filled into containers is delivered under pressure to the nozzle inlet40. The air cylinder rod34is in the closed position. In this position, the liquid is contained inside the chamber44of the nozzle body26. After a container is in position to be filled, the machine program sends a signal to a solenoid valve which shifts and sends air pressure to the air cylinder. The air cylinder rod34moves upward allowing the liquid to flow through the passageways50into the bottle. When the machine program detects the correct amount of fluid has been delivered to the container, a signal is sent to the solenoid valve which shifts and moves the air cylinder rod34downward closing off the passageways50and preventing any additional liquid from flowing out of the nozzle.

As used herein, the term “joined to” encompasses configurations in which an element is directly secured to another element by affixing the element directly to the other element; configurations in which the element is indirectly secured to the other element by affixing the element to intermediate member(s) which in turn are affixed to the other element; and configurations in which one element is integral with another element, i.e., one element is essentially part of the other element. The term “joined to” encompasses configurations in which an element is secured to another element at selected locations, as well as configurations in which an element is completely secured to another element across the entire surface of one of the elements.